Nickel Alloy Nimonic 86
UNS N12160 · EN 2.4880
A solid-solution-strengthened nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy in the Nimonic series, offering good high-temperature strength, oxidation resistance and fabricability for hot-section engine components.
Reference datasheet — Nimonic 86 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 SA condition
Nimonic 86 tempers and conditions
Nimonic 86 is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. SA is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SADefault Solution Annealed | Standard supply condition for plate, sheet, bar and tube — maximum ductility, corrosion resistance and formability before service. | 380 | 800 | 48 | 195 HB | — |
As-welded deposit | Properties of all-weld-metal deposits used when qualifying joints in Nimonic 86 fabrications without post-weld solution treatment. | 420 | 760 | 35 | 210 HB | 1.4 % IACS |
Hot Finished / Hot Rolled | Heavy bar, billet and forgings delivered directly from hot work when subsequent machining and a final solution anneal are planned. | 450 | 850 | 40 | 17 HRC | 1.4 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Choose for close-tolerance bar and wire where higher proof strength and a bright finish are needed at moderate service temperature. | 700 | 950 | 25 | 25 HRC | 1.4 % IACS |
Cold Rolled Hard | Spring-hard strip and thin sheet for stampings and clips that will not be re-annealed; limited to lower temperatures because of recovery/recrystallisation. | 900 | 1,100 | 8 | 32 HRC | 1.4 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways Nimonic 86 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
BA | Bright Annealed | Surface finish |
What is Nimonic 86?
A solid-solution-strengthened nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy in the Nimonic series, offering good high-temperature strength, oxidation resistance and fabricability for hot-section engine components. Nimonic 86 has a density of 8.5 g/cm³ (0.307 lb/in³), heavier than 64% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,330°C (2,426 °F). Nimonic 86 has a yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 800 MPa (116 ksi) — weaker than 53% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 48% and the elastic modulus is 218 GPa (31.6 Msi).
What is Nimonic 86 used for?
- gas turbine combustion chambers
- afterburner and hot-section sheet parts
- high-temperature springs and fasteners
- aerospace exhaust components
Advantages
- High service temperature — 1,100°C (2,012 °F), better than 88% of nickel alloy grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 48%, better than 83% of nickel alloy grades
Nimonic 86 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Nimonic 86-SA; bars are the position among nickel alloy grades.
Physical3
Nimonic 86 has a density of 8.5 g/cm³ (0.307 lb/in³), heavier than 64% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,330°C (2,426 °F).
Mechanical14
Nimonic 86 has a yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 800 MPa (116 ksi) — weaker than 53% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 48% and the elastic modulus is 218 GPa (31.6 Msi).
Thermal6
Nimonic 86 is rated for continuous service to 1,100°C (2,012 °F). It conducts heat at 10 W/m·K (5.78 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 88% of nickel alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 12.2 µm/m·K (6.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Nimonic 86 conducts electricity at 1.4 % IACS, worse than 65% of nickel alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (80/100), better than 61% of nickel alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Nimonic 86 takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 14.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 78% of nickel alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability8
Nimonic 86's machinability is poor (22/100, better than 64% of nickel alloy grades); weldability very good (75/100); formability good (65/100).
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. Nimonic 86 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Nimonic 86
Is Nimonic 86 easy to machine?
Machine like a gummy solid-solution Ni alloy: rigid setups, sharp positive-rake carbide, 15–30 m/min, heavy constant feed to cut under the work-hardened layer, and copious high-pressure coolant.
Can Nimonic 86 be welded?
Readily welded by GTAW/GMAW/PAW with matching or Ni-Cr-Mo filler; no γ′ so strain-age cracking is not a concern, but keep interpass temperature low and heat input modest to limit hot cracking and σ-phase.
Can Nimonic 86 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work at 1150–1200 °C and cold form with ~2× the force needed for stainless; interstage annealing at ~1150 °C followed by rapid cooling restores ductility.
Nimonic 86 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 |
| Mo | 9 – 11 | 10 |
| C | 0.03 – 0.1 | 0.05 |
| Cerare-earth addition for oxide-scale adhesion | 0.02 – 0.1 | 0.05 |
| Fe | ≤ 1 | 0.3 |
| Mn | ≤ 1 | 0.3 |
| Si | ≤ 0.4 | 0.2 |
| Ti | ≤ 0.2 | 0.05 |
| Al | ≤ 0.2 | 0.05 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.2 | 0.05 |
| S | ≤ 0.02 | 0 |
| P | ≤ 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Nibalance, typically ~63 % | balance |
What surface finishes work on Nimonic 86?
Not anodisable — pickle in nitric-hydrofluoric or blast-and-passivate after heat treatment; electropolishing or mechanical polishing gives a durable bright surface, and no plating is needed for oxidation service.
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 Nimonic 86 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- N12160
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 2.4880
How much does Nimonic 86 cost?
Nimonic 86 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.
Nimonic 86 — frequently asked
What is Nimonic 86 used for?
Nimonic 86 is typically used for gas turbine combustion chambers, afterburner and hot-section sheet parts, high-temperature springs and fasteners and aerospace exhaust components. In short: 1100 °C oxidation service; weldable solid-solution nickel; sheet-fabrication superalloy.
What is the yield strength of Nimonic 86?
Nimonic 86 has a typical yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 800 MPa (116 ksi) — weaker than 53% of nickel alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is Nimonic 86 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (22/100, better than 64% of nickel alloy grades). Machine like a gummy solid-solution Ni alloy: rigid setups, sharp positive-rake carbide, 15–30 m/min, heavy constant feed to cut under the work-hardened layer, and copious high-pressure coolant.
Can Nimonic 86 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (75/100). Readily welded by GTAW/GMAW/PAW with matching or Ni-Cr-Mo filler; no γ′ so strain-age cracking is not a concern, but keep interpass temperature low and heat input modest to limit hot cracking and σ-phase.
What surface finishes work on Nimonic 86?
Not anodisable — pickle in nitric-hydrofluoric or blast-and-passivate after heat treatment; electropolishing or mechanical polishing gives a durable bright surface, and no plating is needed for oxidation service.
Can Nimonic 86 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work at 1150–1200 °C and cold form with ~2× the force needed for stainless; interstage annealing at ~1150 °C followed by rapid cooling restores ductility.
What is the maximum service temperature of Nimonic 86?
Nimonic 86 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 Nimonic 86-SA and Nimonic 86 CR-H?
SA is the default condition — standard supply condition for plate, sheet, bar and tube — maximum ductility, corrosion resistance and formability before service. CR-H: spring-hard strip and thin sheet for stampings and clips that will not be re-annealed; limited to lower temperatures because of recovery/recrystallisation. Yield strength is 380 MPa in SA versus 900 MPa in CR-H.
How much does Nimonic 86 cost?
Nimonic 86 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
- Nimonic alloy series technical data — Special Metals Corporation (2020)
- Werkstoff 2.4880 (NiCr25Mo10) material designation — DIN/Stahl-Eisen-Liste (2017)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 13B: Corrosion — Materials — ASM International (2005)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Nickel, Cobalt and Their Alloys — ASM International (2000)
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.