Nickel Alloy Monel 400 vs Monel 401
Nickel Alloy · grade comparison
Nickel Alloy Monel 400 and Monel 401 are both nickel alloy grades. Monel 400 is the stronger of the two: yield strength 240 MPa (34.8 ksi) against 170 MPa (24.7 ksi) for Monel 401, about 41% more; tensile strength follows at 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) vs 470 MPa (68.2 ksi). Monel 400 is harder — 125 HB against 115 HB for Monel 401 — which matters for wear surfaces and threads. Monel 400 is stiffer (179 GPa vs 160 GPa) and Monel 400 runs hotter in service (480°C vs 425°C continuous). On the shop floor, Monel 400 welds better (very good vs good) and Monel 400 sits in a lower cost tier (premium, $$$) than Monel 401 (high, $$$$).
Monel 400Choose it when strength drives the design, or when surface hardness matters.
Monel 400 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
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)
Elongation at Break
Shear Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Rockwell B
Hardness, Vickers
Same in both: Poisson's Ratio 0.32 · Reduction in Area 65%
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)
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 Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)
Weldability
Brazeability / Solderability
Castability
Same in both: Machinability 30 / 100 · Formability (cold) 85 / 100 · Polishability 70 / 100
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 Shock Resistance Index
Same in both: Thermal Diffusivity 5.8 mm²/s
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 | Monel 400 | Monel 401 |
|---|---|---|
| CNC machining | Yes | — |
| Sheet metal | Yes | — |
| Default condition | O | — |
| Relative cost | $$$ Premium | $$$$ High |
| Min. machined wall | 1.5 mm | — |
| Best machined surface | Ra 1.6 µm | — |
| Electropolishing | Yes | — |
| HVOF Coating | Yes | — |
They share 3 finishes: Gold Plating, Plasma Spray, Silver Plating.
Monel 400 vs Monel 401 — frequently asked
Is Monel 400 stronger than Monel 401?
Yes. Monel 400 has a typical yield strength of 240 MPa (34.8 ksi) against 170 MPa (24.7 ksi) for Monel 401 — about 41% more. Tensile strength is 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) vs 470 MPa (68.2 ksi).
Which is cheaper, Monel 400 or Monel 401?
Monel 400 is the lower-cost material: it sits in the premium tier ($$$) 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 welds better, Monel 400 or Monel 401?
Monel 400. Its weldability rates very good (82/100) against good (65/100) for Monel 401.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Monel 400 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.