Nickel Alloy Alloy 45TM vs Inconel 625
Nickel Alloy · grade comparison
Nickel Alloy Alloy 45TM and Inconel 625 are both nickel alloy grades. Inconel 625 is the stronger of the two: yield strength 490 MPa (71.1 ksi) against 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) for Alloy 45TM, about 48% more; tensile strength follows at 930 MPa (135 ksi) vs 730 MPa (106 ksi). Inconel 625 is harder — 190 HB against 180 HB for Alloy 45TM — which matters for wear surfaces and threads. Alloy 45TM is lighter (7.6 g/cm³ vs 8.44 g/cm³ for Inconel 625) and Inconel 625 is stiffer (207.5 GPa vs 195 GPa). On the shop floor, Inconel 625 welds better (excellent vs good), Inconel 625 forms better (very good vs good), and Inconel 625 sits in a lower cost tier (premium, $$$) than Alloy 45TM (high, $$$$).
Alloy 45TMChoose it when weight is the constraint, or when the part sees heat.
Inconel 625Choose it when strength drives the design, or when surface hardness matters.
Alloy 45TM vs Inconel 625: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all nickel alloy grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all nickel alloy grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Shear Modulus
Bulk Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)
Elongation at Break
Reduction in Area
Compressive Strength
Shear Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Rockwell B
Hardness, Vickers
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Melting Point (Solidus)
Liquidus Temperature
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Specific Heat Capacity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Min Service Temperature
Latent Heat of Fusion
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Conductivity
Electrical Resistivity
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Weldability
Formability (cold)
Brazeability / Solderability
Polishability
Castability
Same in both: Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %) 12%
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Typical Recycled Content
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Modulus of Resilience
Thermal Diffusivity
Same in both: Thermal Shock Resistance Index 3
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every nickel alloy grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Alloy 45TM | Inconel 625 |
|---|---|---|
| CNC machining | — | Yes |
| Sheet metal | — | Yes |
| 3D printing | — | Yes |
| Default condition | — | O |
| Relative cost | $$$$ High | $$$ Premium |
| Min. machined wall | — | 1.5 mm |
| Best machined surface | — | Ra 1.6 µm |
| Electropolishing | — | Yes |
| HVOF Coating | — | Yes |
They share 3 finishes: Gold Plating, Plasma Spray, Silver Plating.
Alloy 45TM vs Inconel 625 — frequently asked
Is Inconel 625 stronger than Alloy 45TM?
Yes. Inconel 625 has a typical yield strength of 490 MPa (71.1 ksi) against 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) for Alloy 45TM — about 48% more. Tensile strength is 930 MPa (135 ksi) vs 730 MPa (106 ksi).
Which is cheaper, Alloy 45TM or Inconel 625?
Inconel 625 is the lower-cost material: it sits in the premium tier ($$$) while Alloy 45TM is high ($$$$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Which is easier to machine, Alloy 45TM or Inconel 625?
Alloy 45TM, by a small margin. Both rate poor for machinability — 25/100 against 18/100 for Inconel 625; for welding the order is Inconel 625 first (excellent, 88/100) then Alloy 45TM (good, 60/100).
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Alloy 45TM and Inconel 625 side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.