Nickel Alloy Nimonic 90 SOFT
Hardness band
UNS N07090 · EN 2.4632, NiCr20Co18Ti
SOFT = softened / annealed
Most ductile condition; choose for deep drawing, bending or spinning of sheet before ageing.
Values for the SOFT condition
Other Nimonic 90 tempers and conditions
Nimonic 90 is listed in 5 conditions; see the grade overview at Nimonic 90.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SOFTThis page Softened / annealed | Most ductile condition; choose for deep drawing, bending or spinning of sheet before ageing. | 360 | 850 | 50 | 10 HRC | 1.4 % IACS |
Solution annealed | Supply condition for parts that will be machined or formed before final ageing. | 400 | 880 | 45 | 200 HB | — |
STADefault Solution treated and aged | Standard service condition for turbine blades, discs, rings and bolts requiring full γ′ strength to ~900 °C. | 810 | 1,240 | 27 | 35 HRC | — |
Cold drawn | Cold-drawn stock for close-tolerance small bar and wire that will be aged after fabrication. | 850 | 1,100 | 18 | 34 HRC | 1.5 % IACS |
Hard drawn spring wire | For high-temperature springs and fasteners where maximum room-temperature strength and relaxation resistance are needed. | 1,200 | 1,450 | 8 | 44 HRC | 1.5 % IACS |
What is Nimonic 90 SOFT?
Nimonic 90 SOFT is Nimonic 90 heat treated to SOFT — most ductile condition; choose for deep drawing, bending or spinning of sheet before ageing. Nimonic 90 SOFT has a yield strength of 360 MPa (52.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) — weaker than 57% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 50% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi). Nimonic 90 SOFT has a density of 8.19 g/cm³ (0.296 lb/in³), lighter than 68% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,310°C (2,390 °F). STA is the default condition FabDigit quotes; SOFT is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 50%, better than 88% of nickel alloy grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 130 MPa·√m (118.3 ksi·√in), better than 85% of nickel alloy grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 16 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 93% of nickel alloy grades
Nimonic 90 SOFT properties
Typical room-temperature values for Nimonic 90 SOFT; 23 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Nimonic 90 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among nickel alloy grades.
Physical3
Nimonic 90 SOFT has a density of 8.19 g/cm³ (0.296 lb/in³), lighter than 68% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,310°C (2,390 °F).
Mechanical16
Nimonic 90 SOFT has a yield strength of 360 MPa (52.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) — weaker than 57% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 50% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal5
Nimonic 90 SOFT is rated for continuous service to 850°C (1,562 °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 12.7 µm/m·K (7.06 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Nimonic 90 SOFT 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 Nimonic 90 SOFT takes about 240 MJ of energy and emits 16 kg of CO₂ — more than 96% of nickel alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
Nimonic 90 SOFT's machinability is poor (22/100, better than 64% of nickel alloy grades); weldability fair (50/100); formability good (55/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Nimonic 90 SOFT
Is Nimonic 90 easy to machine?
Machine preferably in the solution-treated condition with rigid setups, positive-rake carbide or ceramic tooling, low speeds (15–25 m/min carbide), heavy constant feed and flood coolant to avoid work hardening and glazing.
Can Nimonic 90 be welded?
GTAW/EB weld in the solution-treated state using matching or Ni-Cr filler, then re-solution and age; welding aged material risks γ′ strain-age cracking in the HAZ.
Can Nimonic 90 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work at 1050–1180 °C with frequent reheats; cold forming only from the softened condition with high forces and interstage anneals.
What surface finishes work on Nimonic 90?
Descale by grit blasting plus HF-HNO₃ pickling; can be electropolished or fine ground, and aluminide/MCrAlY or thermal-barrier coatings are used for hot-gas-path parts (no anodizing).
Nimonic 90 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 | 18 – 21 | 19.5 |
| Co | 15 – 21 | 18 |
| Tiγ′ former | 1.8 – 3 | 2.4 |
| Alγ′ former | 1 – 2 | 1.4 |
| Fe | ≤ 1.5 | 0.5 |
| Mn | ≤ 1 | 0.3 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.3 |
| C | ≤ 0.13 | 0.07 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.2 | 0.05 |
| Zr | ≤ 0.15 | 0.06 |
| B | ≤ 0.02 | 0.01 |
| S | ≤ 0.02 | 0 |
| Nibalance, plus Co | balance | — |
Nimonic 90 SOFT — frequently asked
What is Nimonic 90 SOFT used for?
Nimonic 90 SOFT is typically used for turbine blades, turbine discs, exhaust valves and high-temperature springs and fasteners. In short: classic gas-turbine Nimonic; 920 °C creep strength; gamma-prime hardened Ni-Cr-Co.
What is the yield strength of Nimonic 90 SOFT?
Nimonic 90 SOFT has a typical yield strength of 360 MPa (52.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) — weaker than 57% of nickel alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is Nimonic 90 SOFT easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (22/100, better than 64% of nickel alloy grades). Machine preferably in the solution-treated condition with rigid setups, positive-rake carbide or ceramic tooling, low speeds (15–25 m/min carbide), heavy constant feed and flood coolant to avoid work hardening and glazing.
Can Nimonic 90 SOFT be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (50/100). GTAW/EB weld in the solution-treated state using matching or Ni-Cr filler, then re-solution and age; welding aged material risks γ′ strain-age cracking in the HAZ.
What surface finishes work on Nimonic 90 SOFT?
Descale by grit blasting plus HF-HNO₃ pickling; can be electropolished or fine ground, and aluminide/MCrAlY or thermal-barrier coatings are used for hot-gas-path parts (no anodizing).
Can Nimonic 90 SOFT be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work at 1050–1180 °C with frequent reheats; cold forming only from the softened condition with high forces and interstage anneals.
What is the maximum service temperature of Nimonic 90 SOFT?
Nimonic 90 SOFT is rated for continuous use to about 850°C (1,562 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Nimonic 90-STA and Nimonic 90 SOFT?
STA is the default condition — standard service condition for turbine blades, discs, rings and bolts requiring full γ′ strength to ~900 °C. SOFT: most ductile condition; choose for deep drawing, bending or spinning of sheet before ageing. Yield strength is 810 MPa in STA versus 360 MPa in SOFT.
Sources
- NIMONIC alloy 90 technical datasheet — Special Metals Corporation (2007)
- AMS 5829 — Nickel Alloy Bars, Forgings and Rings, 57Ni-19.5Cr-18Co-2.4Ti-1.4Al — SAE International (2018)
- BS HR 501/HR 601 (Nimonic 90 bar and sheet) — BSI (1991)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Heat-Resistant Materials / ASM Handbook Vol.1 — ASM International (1997)
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.