Nickel Alloy Inconel 603-AW (As-welded deposit)
Heat-treated state
UNS N06603
Property basis for fabricated furnace assemblies welded with matching Ni-Cr-Al or 617/601-type filler and used without PWHT.
Values for the AW condition
Other Inconel 603 tempers and conditions
Inconel 603 is listed in 5 conditions; see the grade overview at Inconel 603.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hot Rolled + Annealed + Pickled plate | Thick plate (≥5 mm) for radiant tubes, muffles and furnace retorts, supplied descaled. | 330 | 690 | 42 | 178 HB | 1.4 % IACS |
ANNDefault Annealed | Standard stocked condition for sheet, plate, bar and tube used in furnace and combustion hardware. | 340 | 700 | 45 | 180 HB | — |
Cold Rolled + Annealed sheet / strip | Thin gauge (<5 mm) for burner liners, baskets, muffle and fixture fabrication where forming is required. | 350 | 710 | 45 | 185 HB | 1.4 % IACS |
AWThis page As-welded deposit | Property basis for fabricated furnace assemblies welded with matching Ni-Cr-Al or 617/601-type filler and used without PWHT. | 380 | 660 | 30 | 195 HB | 1.4 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Choose for closer dimensional tolerance and higher room-temperature strength in shafts, pins and small tubes. | 600 | 850 | 25 | 22 HRC | 1.4 % IACS |
What is Inconel 603-AW?
Inconel 603-AW is Inconel 603 heat treated to AW — property basis for fabricated furnace assemblies welded with matching Ni-Cr-Al or 617/601-type filler and used without PWHT. Inconel 603-AW has a yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 660 MPa (95.7 ksi) — weaker than 53% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). Inconel 603-AW has a density of 7.75 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), lighter than 97% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,340°C (2,444 °F). ANN is the default condition FabDigit quotes; AW is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High service temperature — 1,100°C (2,012 °F), better than 88% of nickel alloy grades
Inconel 603-AW properties
Typical room-temperature values for Inconel 603-AW; 21 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Inconel 603 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among nickel alloy grades.
Physical3
Inconel 603-AW has a density of 7.75 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), lighter than 97% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,340°C (2,444 °F).
Mechanical14
Inconel 603-AW has a yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 660 MPa (95.7 ksi) — weaker than 53% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
Inconel 603-AW is rated for continuous service to 1,100°C (2,012 °F). It conducts heat at 11 W/m·K (6.36 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 60% of nickel alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 13.4 µm/m·K (7.44 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Inconel 603-AW conducts electricity at 1.4 % IACS, worse than 65% of nickel alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (74/100), worse than 66% of nickel alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Inconel 603-AW takes about 160 MJ of energy and emits 13.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 53% of nickel alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability7
Inconel 603-AW's machinability is poor (18/100, worse than 61% of nickel alloy grades); weldability fair (50/100); formability poor (30/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Inconel 603-AW
Is Inconel 603 easy to machine?
Machine like a tough Ni-Cr alloy: rigid setup, positive-rake carbide, low surface speed (15–25 m/min) with heavy constant feed and flood coolant to avoid work-hardened glazing.
Can Inconel 603 be welded?
GTAW/GMAW with matching 603-type or Ni-Cr-Co (617/601) filler; clean off aluminum oxide before welding, keep interpass below ~150 °C and heat input low, no preheat or PWHT normally required.
Can Inconel 603 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold forms in the annealed condition but work-hardens rapidly — allow interstage anneals at ~1120–1180 °C with rapid cooling; hot work at 1180–950 °C.
What surface finishes work on Inconel 603?
Not anodizable; pickle or grit-blast plus pickling to remove the tenacious Al/Cr oxide, then passivate or leave bare — the service-formed alumina scale is the intended protective layer.
Inconel 603 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 | 24 – 26 | 25 |
| Fe | 8 – 11 | 9.5 |
| Alforms protective alumina scale | 2.4 – 3 | 2.7 |
| Chigh C for creep strength | 0.2 – 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Yreactive element for scale adhesion | 0.01 – 0.15 | 0.06 |
| Ti | 0.01 – 0.25 | 0.15 |
| Zr | 0.01 – 0.1 | 0.05 |
| Si | ≤ 0.5 | 0.2 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.5 | 0.15 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.5 | 0.05 |
| S | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| P | ≤ 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Nibalance, 58 % min | ≥ 58 (balance) | — |
Inconel 603-AW — frequently asked
What is Inconel 603-AW used for?
Inconel 603-AW is typically used for furnace muffles and retorts, heat-treating baskets, radiant tube heaters and high-temperature fixtures. In short: 1150 °C oxidation resistance; alumina-forming Ni-Cr alloy; carburization-resistant furnace grade.
What is the yield strength of Inconel 603-AW?
Inconel 603-AW has a typical yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 660 MPa (95.7 ksi) — weaker than 53% of nickel alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is Inconel 603-AW easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (18/100, worse than 61% of nickel alloy grades). Machine like a tough Ni-Cr alloy: rigid setup, positive-rake carbide, low surface speed (15–25 m/min) with heavy constant feed and flood coolant to avoid work-hardened glazing.
Can Inconel 603-AW be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (50/100). GTAW/GMAW with matching 603-type or Ni-Cr-Co (617/601) filler; clean off aluminum oxide before welding, keep interpass below ~150 °C and heat input low, no preheat or PWHT normally required.
What surface finishes work on Inconel 603-AW?
Not anodizable; pickle or grit-blast plus pickling to remove the tenacious Al/Cr oxide, then passivate or leave bare — the service-formed alumina scale is the intended protective layer.
Can Inconel 603-AW be formed, bent or molded?
Cold forms in the annealed condition but work-hardens rapidly — allow interstage anneals at ~1120–1180 °C with rapid cooling; hot work at 1180–950 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of Inconel 603-AW?
Inconel 603-AW 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 603-ANN and Inconel 603-CD?
ANN is the default condition — standard stocked condition for sheet, plate, bar and tube used in furnace and combustion hardware. CD: choose for closer dimensional tolerance and higher room-temperature strength in shafts, pins and small tubes. Yield strength is 340 MPa in ANN versus 600 MPa in CD.
Sources
- INCONEL alloy 603XL material datasheet — Special Metals Corporation (2004)
- VDM Alloy 603 XL / Nicrofer 6025 HT class high-temperature alloys — VDM Metals (2018)
- ASTM B168 / B166 — Ni-Cr-Fe alloy plate, sheet, strip, rod and bar (UNS N06603) — ASTM International (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials — ASM International (1990)
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.