Nickel Alloy Inconel 601 vs Inconel 625
Nickel Alloy · grade comparison
Nickel Alloy Inconel 601 and Inconel 625 are both nickel alloy grades. Inconel 625 is the stronger of the two: yield strength 490 MPa (71.1 ksi) against 310 MPa (45 ksi) for Inconel 601, about 58% more; tensile strength follows at 930 MPa (135 ksi) vs 690 MPa (100 ksi). Inconel 625 is harder — 190 HB against 150 HB for Inconel 601 — which matters for wear surfaces and threads. Inconel 601 is lighter (8.11 g/cm³ vs 8.44 g/cm³ for Inconel 625) and Inconel 601 runs hotter in service (1,150°C vs 650°C continuous). On the shop floor, Inconel 601 machines more easily (28 vs 18 out of 100), Inconel 625 welds better (excellent vs very good), and Inconel 625 sits in a lower cost tier (premium, $$$) than Inconel 601 (high, $$$$).
Inconel 601Choose 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.
Inconel 601 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
Bulk Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)
Reduction in Area
Shear Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Rockwell B
Hardness, Vickers
Compressive Strength
Same in both: Shear Modulus 79 GPa11.5 Msi · Elongation at Break 45% · Fracture Toughness (K_IC) 110 MPa·√m100 ksi·√in
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
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)
Weldability
Formability (cold)
Castability
Brazeability / Solderability
Polishability
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 | Inconel 601 | 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.
Inconel 601 vs Inconel 625 — frequently asked
Is Inconel 625 stronger than Inconel 601?
Yes. Inconel 625 has a typical yield strength of 490 MPa (71.1 ksi) against 310 MPa (45 ksi) for Inconel 601 — about 58% more. Tensile strength is 930 MPa (135 ksi) vs 690 MPa (100 ksi).
Which is cheaper, Inconel 601 or Inconel 625?
Inconel 625 is the lower-cost material: it sits in the premium tier ($$$) while Inconel 601 is high ($$$$). 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, Inconel 601 or Inconel 625?
Inconel 601, by a small margin. Both rate poor for machinability — 28/100 against 18/100 for Inconel 625; for welding the order is Inconel 625 first (excellent, 88/100) then Inconel 601 (very good, 78/100).
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Inconel 601 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.