Nickel Alloy Monel 401 vs Monel K500
Nickel Alloy · grade comparison
Nickel Alloy Monel 401 and Monel K500 are both nickel alloy grades. Monel K500 is the stronger of the two: yield strength 310 MPa (45 ksi) against 170 MPa (24.7 ksi) for Monel 401, about 82% more; tensile strength follows at 690 MPa (100 ksi) vs 470 MPa (68.2 ksi). Monel K500 is harder — 150 HB against 115 HB for Monel 401 — which matters for wear surfaces and threads. Monel K500 is lighter (8.44 g/cm³ vs 8.86 g/cm³ for Monel 401) and Monel K500 is stiffer (179 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 very good), and Monel K500 sits in a lower cost tier (premium, $$$) than Monel 401 (high, $$$$).
Monel 401Choose it when the part is machined in volume.
Monel K500Choose it when strength drives the design, or when surface hardness matters.
Monel 401 vs Monel K500: 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
Reduction in Area
Shear Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Rockwell B
Hardness, Vickers
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Hardness, Rockwell C
Same in both: Poisson's Ratio 0.32
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
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)
Formability (cold)
Castability
Brazeability / Solderability
Same in both: Weldability 65 / 100 · Polishability 70 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Same in both: Typical Recycled Content 30%
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Modulus of Resilience
Thermal Diffusivity
Thermal Shock Resistance Index
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 401 | Monel K500 |
|---|---|---|
| CNC machining | — | Yes |
| Sheet metal | — | 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.
Monel 401 vs Monel K500 — frequently asked
Is Monel K500 stronger than Monel 401?
Yes. Monel K500 has a typical yield strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) against 170 MPa (24.7 ksi) for Monel 401 — about 82% more. Tensile strength is 690 MPa (100 ksi) vs 470 MPa (68.2 ksi).
Which is cheaper, Monel 401 or Monel K500?
Monel K500 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, Monel 401 or Monel K500?
Monel 401, by a small margin. Both rate poor for machinability — 30/100 against 18/100 for Monel K500.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Monel 401 and Monel K500 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.