Nickel Alloy Inconel 718 vs Monel 401
Nickel Alloy · grade comparison
Nickel Alloy Inconel 718 and Monel 401 are both nickel alloy grades. Inconel 718 is the stronger of the two: yield strength 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) against 170 MPa (24.7 ksi) for Monel 401, about 3.2 times as much; tensile strength follows at 965 MPa (140 ksi) vs 470 MPa (68.2 ksi). Inconel 718 is harder — 200 HB against 115 HB for Monel 401 — which matters for wear surfaces and threads. Inconel 718 is lighter (8.19 g/cm³ vs 8.86 g/cm³ for Monel 401) and Inconel 718 is stiffer (200 GPa vs 160 GPa). On the shop floor, Monel 401 machines more easily (30 vs 18 out of 100), Monel 401 forms better (excellent vs good), and Inconel 718 sits in a lower cost tier (premium, $$$) than Monel 401 (high, $$$$).
Inconel 718Choose it when strength drives the design, or when surface hardness matters.
Monel 401Choose it when the part is machined in volume.
Inconel 718 vs Monel 401: 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
Shear Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Rockwell B
Hardness, Vickers
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Liquidus Temperature
Same in both: Melting Point (Solidus) 1,260°C2,300 °F
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Specific Heat Capacity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Latent Heat of Fusion
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Min Service Temperature
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)
Brazeability / Solderability
Polishability
Same in both: Castability 45 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Typical Recycled Content
Same in both: Embodied Water 250 L/kg30 gal/lb
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 4
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 718 | Monel 401 |
|---|---|---|
| CNC machining | Yes | — |
| Sheet metal | Yes | — |
| 3D printing | Yes | — |
| Default condition | Solution Annealed | — |
| Relative cost | $$$ Premium | $$$$ High |
| Min. machined wall | 1.5 mm | — |
| Best machined surface | Ra 1.6 µm | — |
| Electropolishing | Yes | — |
| HVOF Coating | Yes | — |
They share 3 finishes: Gold Plating, Plasma Spray, Silver Plating.
Inconel 718 vs Monel 401 — frequently asked
Is Inconel 718 stronger than Monel 401?
Yes. Inconel 718 has a typical yield strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) against 170 MPa (24.7 ksi) for Monel 401 — about 3.2 times as much. Tensile strength is 965 MPa (140 ksi) vs 470 MPa (68.2 ksi).
Which is cheaper, Inconel 718 or Monel 401?
Inconel 718 is the lower-cost material: it sits in the premium tier ($$$) while Monel 401 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 718 or Monel 401?
Monel 401, by a small margin. Both rate poor for machinability — 30/100 against 18/100 for Inconel 718; for welding the order is Inconel 718 first (very good, 70/100) then Monel 401 (good, 65/100).
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Inconel 718 and Monel 401 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.