Nickel Alloy Alloy 59 CR-A
Finish state
UNS N06059 · EN 2.4605, NiCr23Mo16Al · also Hastelloy 59
CR-A = cold rolled and bright annealed sheet/strip
Thin sheet and strip for lining, bellows and formed parts; fine grain, bright surface, best formability and weld appearance.
Values for the CR-A condition
Other Alloy 59 tempers and conditions
Alloy 59 is listed in 5 conditions; see the grade overview at Alloy 59.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hot finished then solution annealed | Choose for thick plate, forgings and heavy bar where hot working precedes the anneal; slightly lower strength and coarser grain than thin cold-rolled product. | 340 | 715 | 50 | 190 HB | 1.3 % IACS |
SADefault Solution annealed | Standard supply condition for sheet, plate, bar, pipe and fittings; maximum corrosion resistance and ductility. | 360 | 740 | 50 | 200 HB | — |
CR-AThis page Cold rolled and bright annealed sheet/strip | Thin sheet and strip for lining, bellows and formed parts; fine grain, bright surface, best formability and weld appearance. | 380 | 760 | 48 | 210 HB | 1.3 % IACS |
As-welded deposit | Matching filler / weld deposit properties for joint design; used as-welded without post-weld heat treatment in almost all corrosion service. | 460 | 720 | 38 | 215 HB | 1.3 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Use where higher strength and tighter tolerances are needed (fasteners, shafts, instrument tubing); corrosion resistance retained but ductility and formability drop. | 750 | 950 | 22 | 30 HRC | — |
What is Alloy 59 CR-A?
Alloy 59 CR-A is Alloy 59 supplied in the CR-A condition — thin sheet and strip for lining, bellows and formed parts; fine grain, bright surface, best formability and weld appearance. Alloy 59 CR-A has a yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — weaker than 53% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 48% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi). Alloy 59 CR-A has a density of 8.6 g/cm³ (0.311 lb/in³), heavier than 67% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,310°C (2,390 °F). SA is the default condition FabDigit quotes; CR-A is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 85/100, better than 100% of nickel alloy grades
- Readily welded — 90/100, better than 96% of nickel alloy grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 93/100, better than 95% of nickel alloy grades
- Forms and bends easily — 80/100, better than 91% of nickel alloy grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 48%, better than 83% of nickel alloy grades
Alloy 59 CR-A properties
Typical room-temperature values for Alloy 59 CR-A; 23 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Alloy 59 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among nickel alloy grades.
Physical3
Alloy 59 CR-A has a density of 8.6 g/cm³ (0.311 lb/in³), heavier than 67% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,310°C (2,390 °F).
Mechanical15
Alloy 59 CR-A has a yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — weaker than 53% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 48% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
Alloy 59 CR-A is rated for continuous service to 1,000°C (1,832 °F). It conducts heat at 10.4 W/m·K (6.01 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 76% of nickel alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 12.4 µm/m·K (6.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Alloy 59 CR-A conducts electricity at 1.3 % IACS, worse than 82% of nickel alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (93/100), better than 95% of nickel alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Alloy 59 CR-A takes about 180 MJ of energy and emits 14 kg of CO₂ — more than 69% of nickel alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability7
Alloy 59 CR-A's machinability is poor (18/100, worse than 61% of nickel alloy grades); weldability excellent (90/100); formability very good (80/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Alloy 59 CR-A
Is Alloy 59 easy to machine?
Machine like a gummy austenitic superalloy: rigid setup, positive-rake sharp carbide, low speed with heavy feed, generous flood coolant, and never dwell - the alloy work hardens fast and glazes the cut.
Can Alloy 59 be welded?
Readily welded by GTAW/GMAW/PAW autogenously or with matching ERNiCrMo-13 filler, no preheat and no PWHT; keep heat input and interpass temperature low and clean oxides between passes.
Can Alloy 59 be formed, bent or molded?
Very ductile but strongly work hardening - allow extra power/springback in bending and deep drawing, and interstage anneal at ~1100 °C with rapid cooling for severe forming.
What surface finishes work on Alloy 59?
Pickle and passivate or electropolish after hot working/welding to restore the passive film; not anodizable, takes a bright mechanical polish for hygienic surfaces.
Alloy 59 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Cr | 22 – 24 | 23 |
| Mo | 15 – 16.5 | 16 |
| Aldeoxidiser, improves structural stability | 0.1 – 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Fe | ≤ 1.5 | 0.5 |
| Cvery low C for intergranular corrosion resistance | ≤ 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Si | ≤ 0.1 | 0.03 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.5 | 0.2 |
| Co | ≤ 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.5 | 0.05 |
| Ti | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| P | ≤ 0.02 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.01 | — |
| Nibalance, typically ≥59 % | ≥ 59 (balance) | — |
Alloy 59 CR-A — frequently asked
What is Alloy 59 CR-A used for?
Alloy 59 CR-A is typically used for flue gas desulfurization, seawater equipment and chemical process vessels. In short: top pitting resistance of family; excellent weldability for Ni-Mo-Cr; hardest of the group to machine.
What is the yield strength of Alloy 59 CR-A?
Alloy 59 CR-A has a typical yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — weaker than 53% of nickel alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is Alloy 59 CR-A easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (18/100, worse than 61% of nickel alloy grades). Machine like a gummy austenitic superalloy: rigid setup, positive-rake sharp carbide, low speed with heavy feed, generous flood coolant, and never dwell - the alloy work hardens fast and glazes the cut.
Can Alloy 59 CR-A be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (90/100). Readily welded by GTAW/GMAW/PAW autogenously or with matching ERNiCrMo-13 filler, no preheat and no PWHT; keep heat input and interpass temperature low and clean oxides between passes.
What surface finishes work on Alloy 59 CR-A?
Pickle and passivate or electropolish after hot working/welding to restore the passive film; not anodizable, takes a bright mechanical polish for hygienic surfaces.
Can Alloy 59 CR-A be formed, bent or molded?
Very ductile but strongly work hardening - allow extra power/springback in bending and deep drawing, and interstage anneal at ~1100 °C with rapid cooling for severe forming.
What is the maximum service temperature of Alloy 59 CR-A?
Alloy 59 CR-A is rated for continuous use to about 1,000°C (1,832 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Alloy 59-SA and Alloy 59-CD?
SA is the default condition — standard supply condition for sheet, plate, bar, pipe and fittings; maximum corrosion resistance and ductility. CD: use where higher strength and tighter tolerances are needed (fasteners, shafts, instrument tubing); corrosion resistance retained but ductility and formability drop. Yield strength is 360 MPa in SA versus 750 MPa in CD.
Sources
- ASTM B575 - Ni-Cr-Mo alloy plate, sheet and strip (UNS N06059) — ASTM International (2023)
- ASTM B574 - Ni-Cr-Mo alloy rod and bar — ASTM International (2023)
- ASTM B622 / B619 - seamless and welded Ni-alloy pipe and tube — ASTM International (2022)
- DIN EN 10088 / VdTÜV-Werkstoffblatt for 2.4605 NiCr23Mo16Al — DIN / VdTÜV (2018)
- VDM Alloy 59 (Nicrofer 5923 hMo) material data sheet — VDM Metals (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 - Properties of Nonferrous Alloys (Ni-Cr-Mo corrosion alloys) — ASM International (1990)
- GB/T 15007 / GB/T 15062 — (SAC) (2017)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.