Nickel Alloy Inconel 600
UNS N06600 · ASTM B168 · EN 2.4816, NiCr15Fe
Inconel 600 (N06600 / 2.4816, NiCr15Fe, ASTM B168) is a solid-solution Ni-Cr-Fe alloy with good oxidation resistance to 1150 °C and resistance to chloride-ion stress corrosion cracking, making it a workhorse for furnace and nuclear components.
Reference datasheet — Inconel 600 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the ANN condition
Inconel 600 tempers and conditions
Inconel 600 is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. ANN is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANNDefault Annealed | Default stocked condition for plate, sheet, tube and bar: maximum ductility, best corrosion behaviour and full weldability. | 255 | 620 | 42 | 150 HB | — |
Hot Worked / Hot Finished | Pick for heavy bar, forgings and hot-rolled plate where slightly higher strength than annealed is acceptable and full anneal is not required. | 330 | 660 | 38 | 170 HB | — |
As-welded deposit | Typical all-weld-metal properties for joints in alloy 600 fabrications; strength matches annealed base metal. | 380 | 620 | 35 | 165 HB | 1.6 % IACS |
Cold Drawn, Stress Relieved | Cold-drawn rod and tube with a low-temperature stress relief: tighter tolerance, better surface and moderately raised yield strength. | 480 | 720 | 25 | 200 HB | — |
Quarter hard | Light cold work for springy strip and stampings that still need appreciable bend ductility. | 520 | 750 | 22 | 18 HRC | 1.7 % IACS |
Half hard | Choose when higher yield strength is needed for springs, clips, bellows or thin-wall tubing with limited forming afterwards. | 700 | 880 | 12 | 25 HRC | — |
Full hard | Maximum strength and spring properties in strip and wire; almost no residual formability and cold work must not be exposed to high service temperature. | 930 | 1,070 | 4 | 34 HRC | — |
What is Inconel 600?
Inconel 600 (N06600 / 2.4816, NiCr15Fe, ASTM B168) is a solid-solution Ni-Cr-Fe alloy with good oxidation resistance to 1150 °C and resistance to chloride-ion stress corrosion cracking, making it a workhorse for furnace and nuclear components. Annealed material gives 255 MPa yield, 620 MPa tensile strength, 42 % elongation and about 150 HB, with a maximum service temperature of 1100 °C on file; sheet, plate, bar, tube and cold-drawn stress-relieved product are widely stocked. Strength above 800 °C is modest because there is no precipitation hardening, and machinability is low (score 28). Inconel 601 adds aluminium for better scale adhesion in cyclic oxidation. Inconel 600 has a density of 8.47 g/cm³ (0.306 lb/in³), heavier than 63% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,354°C (2,469 °F). Inconel 600 has a yield strength of 255 MPa (37 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — weaker than 85% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 42% and the elastic modulus is 214 GPa (31 Msi).
What is Inconel 600 used for?
- furnace muffles
- heat-treating fixtures
- nuclear steam generator tubing
- chemical processing
Advantages
- High service temperature — 1,100°C (2,012 °F), better than 88% of nickel alloy grades
- Forms and bends easily — 78/100, better than 87% of nickel alloy grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 130 MPa·√m (118.3 ksi·√in), better than 85% of nickel alloy grades
- Conducts heat well — 14.9 W/m·K (8.61 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 80% of nickel alloy grades
- High electrical conductivity — 1.7 % IACS, better than 76% of nickel alloy grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 255 MPa (37 ksi), worse than 85% of nickel alloy grades
Inconel 600 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Inconel 600-ANN; bars are the position among nickel alloy grades.
Physical3
Inconel 600 has a density of 8.47 g/cm³ (0.306 lb/in³), heavier than 63% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,354°C (2,469 °F).
Mechanical14
Inconel 600 has a yield strength of 255 MPa (37 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — weaker than 85% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 42% and the elastic modulus is 214 GPa (31 Msi).
Thermal6
Inconel 600 is rated for continuous service to 1,100°C (2,012 °F). It conducts heat at 14.9 W/m·K (8.61 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 80% of nickel alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 13.3 µm/m·K (7.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Inconel 600 conducts electricity at 1.7 % IACS, better than 76% of nickel alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (78/100), better than 51% of nickel alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Inconel 600 takes about 150 MJ of energy and emits 11.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 68% of nickel alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability8
Inconel 600's machinability is poor (28/100, better than 82% of nickel alloy grades); weldability very good (80/100); formability very good (78/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the nickel alloy family
Yield strength against density for every nickel alloy grade FabDigit runs. Inconel 600 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Inconel 600
Is Inconel 600 easy to machine?
Gummy and work-hardening: use rigid setups, positive-rake sharp carbide, low speed (20–35 m/min) with heavy feed, generous flood coolant and never dwell in the cut.
Can Inconel 600 be welded?
Readily welded by GTAW/GMAW/SMAW with ERNiCr-3 or ENiCrFe-3, no pre- or post-weld heat treatment normally required; keep interpass heat input low and surfaces free of sulphur-bearing contaminants.
Can Inconel 600 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in the annealed state but high work-hardening rate demands ~50 % more press force than austenitic stainless; hot work 870–1230 °C and anneal near 980–1010 °C after heavy cold work.
Inconel 600 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Niplus cobalt, per ASTM B168 | ≥ 72 | 76 |
| Cr | 14 – 17 | 15.5 |
| Fe | 6 – 10 | 8 |
| C | ≤ 0.15 | 0.05 |
| Mn | ≤ 1 | 0.25 |
| Si | ≤ 0.5 | 0.25 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.5 | 0.15 |
| S | ≤ 0.02 | 0 |
What surface finishes work on Inconel 600?
Not anodizable — pickle in HNO₃/HF or grind/blast to remove hot-work oxide, then passivate or electropolish; takes a good mechanical polish and can be electroplated after nickel strike.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on nickel alloy parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Plating
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Nickel Alloy Inconel 600 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- N06600
- ASTM
- B168
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 2.4816NiCr15Fe
- Also called
- NA14
How much does Inconel 600 cost?
Inconel 600 is a high-cost nickel alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Inconel 600 — frequently asked
What is Inconel 600 used for?
Inconel 600 is typically used for furnace muffles, heat-treating fixtures, nuclear steam generator tubing and chemical processing. In short: general-purpose 1100 °C nickel alloy; resists chloride SCC; widest stock availability in family.
What is the yield strength of Inconel 600?
Inconel 600 has a typical yield strength of 255 MPa (37 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — weaker than 85% of nickel alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is Inconel 600 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (28/100, better than 82% of nickel alloy grades). Gummy and work-hardening: use rigid setups, positive-rake sharp carbide, low speed (20–35 m/min) with heavy feed, generous flood coolant and never dwell in the cut.
Can Inconel 600 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (80/100). Readily welded by GTAW/GMAW/SMAW with ERNiCr-3 or ENiCrFe-3, no pre- or post-weld heat treatment normally required; keep interpass heat input low and surfaces free of sulphur-bearing contaminants.
What surface finishes work on Inconel 600?
Not anodizable — pickle in HNO₃/HF or grind/blast to remove hot-work oxide, then passivate or electropolish; takes a good mechanical polish and can be electroplated after nickel strike.
Can Inconel 600 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in the annealed state but high work-hardening rate demands ~50 % more press force than austenitic stainless; hot work 870–1230 °C and anneal near 980–1010 °C after heavy cold work.
What is the maximum service temperature of Inconel 600?
Inconel 600 is rated for continuous use to about 1,100°C (2,012 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Inconel 600-ANN and Inconel 600-FH?
ANN is the default condition — default stocked condition for plate, sheet, tube and bar: maximum ductility, best corrosion behaviour and full weldability. FH: maximum strength and spring properties in strip and wire; almost no residual formability and cold work must not be exposed to high service temperature. Yield strength is 255 MPa in ANN versus 930 MPa in FH.
How much does Inconel 600 cost?
Inconel 600 is a high-cost nickel alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASTM B168 — Ni-Cr-Fe Alloy Plate, Sheet and Strip (UNS N06600) — ASTM International (2019)
- ASTM B166 — Ni-Cr-Fe Alloy Rod, Bar and Wire — ASTM International (2019)
- INCONEL alloy 600 technical bulletin — Special Metals Corporation (2008)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties of Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.13B — Corrosion: Materials — ASM International (2005)
- GB/T 15007 / NS3102 (2017)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.