Refractory Metal 50Cr-50Ni
UNS R20500 · ASTM A560 Gr 50Cr-50Ni
50Cr-50Ni is a cast chromium-nickel refractory alloy with near-equal chromium and nickel, produced to UNS R20500 and ASTM A560 Grade 50Cr-50Ni as static, centrifugal or investment castings.
Reference datasheet — 50Cr-50Ni 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 F condition
50Cr-50Ni tempers and conditions
50Cr-50Ni is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. F is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stress relieved | Pick when complex castings or weld repairs need residual stress removed before machining or thermal cycling service. | 310 | 520 | 12 | 17 HRC | 1.7 % IACS |
As-welded deposit | Condition of 50Cr-50Ni filler deposited as cladding on boiler supports and incinerator walls; expect low ductility and mandatory preheat. | 330 | 480 | 4 | 23 HRC | 1.7 % IACS |
FDefault As fabricated | Standard supply condition for ASTM A560 castings; use for boiler tube supports and incinerator hardware where only high-temperature corrosion resistance matters. | 340 | 550 | 8 | 20 HRC | 1.7 % IACS |
What is 50Cr-50Ni?
50Cr-50Ni is a cast chromium-nickel refractory alloy with near-equal chromium and nickel, produced to UNS R20500 and ASTM A560 Grade 50Cr-50Ni as static, centrifugal or investment castings. It is chosen for resistance to carburizing and oxidizing furnace atmospheres up to 1100 °C, at 340 MPa yield, 550 MPa tensile, 8% elongation and 230 HB. Ductility is low, the alloy cannot be cold formed, welding is crack-sensitive, and machinability (score 15) is very poor. Cast heat-resistant stainless grades are the lower-cost alternative where temperature and carburizing severity are lower. 50Cr-50Ni has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), lighter than 53% of refractory metal grades. It melts at 1,390°C (2,534 °F). 50Cr-50Ni has a yield strength of 340 MPa (49.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — stronger than 53% of refractory metal grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
What is 50Cr-50Ni used for?
- heat-treating furnace fixtures
- radiant tubes
- trays and baskets for carburizing
- high-temperature process equipment
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 9.5 kg CO₂/kg, better than 91% of refractory metal grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 98% of refractory metal grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 1.7 % IACS, worse than 93% of refractory metal grades
- Limited formability — 5/100, worse than 93% of refractory metal grades
- Poor heat conductor — 14 W/m·K (8.09 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 90% of refractory metal grades
- Difficult to machine — 15/100, worse than 83% of refractory metal grades
50Cr-50Ni properties
Typical room-temperature values for 50Cr-50Ni-F; bars are the position among refractory metal grades.
Physical3
50Cr-50Ni has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), lighter than 53% of refractory metal grades. It melts at 1,390°C (2,534 °F).
Mechanical17
50Cr-50Ni has a yield strength of 340 MPa (49.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — stronger than 53% of refractory metal grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal5
50Cr-50Ni is rated for continuous service to 1,100°C (2,012 °F). It conducts heat at 14 W/m·K (8.09 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 90% of refractory metal grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
50Cr-50Ni conducts electricity at 1.7 % IACS, worse than 93% of refractory metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (85/100), better than 52% of refractory metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 50Cr-50Ni takes about 100 MJ of energy and emits 9.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 93% of refractory metal grades. Typical recycled content is 20%.
Manufacturability8
50Cr-50Ni's machinability is poor (15/100, worse than 83% of refractory metal grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability not recommended (5/100).
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 refractory metal family
Yield strength against density for every refractory metal grade FabDigit runs. 50Cr-50Ni is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 50Cr-50Ni
Is 50Cr-50Ni easy to machine?
Hard, abrasive duplex structure — use rigid setups, negative-rake carbide or ceramic inserts, low speed and heavy flood coolant; grinding is often preferred for finish surfaces.
Can 50Cr-50Ni be welded?
Weldable only with matching 50Cr-50Ni(-Nb) filler using GTAW/SMAW, 200–300 °C preheat, low heat input and slow cooling; highly crack-sensitive, so avoid restrained joints.
Can 50Cr-50Ni be formed, bent or molded?
Not cold formable — produced exclusively as static, centrifugal or investment castings; allow generous fillets and controlled solidification to avoid hot tears.
50Cr-50Ni 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 | 48 – 52 | 50 |
| C | ≤ 0.1 | 0.05 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.5 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.3 | 0.15 |
| Fe | ≤ 1 | 0.5 |
| Al | ≤ 0.25 | 0.1 |
| Ti | ≤ 0.5 | 0.1 |
| N | ≤ 0.16 | 0.05 |
| P | ≤ 0.02 | |
| S | ≤ 0.02 | |
| Nibalance, nominally ~48–50 % | balance |
What surface finishes work on 50Cr-50Ni?
Relies on its self-forming Cr2O3 scale; blast or pickle castings clean, no anodizing or plating is used, and painting is unnecessary for high-temperature service.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Refractory Metal 50Cr-50Ni in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- R20500
- ASTM
- A560 Gr 50Cr-50Ni
How much does 50Cr-50Ni cost?
50Cr-50Ni is a high-cost refractory metal ($$$$), 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.
50Cr-50Ni — frequently asked
What is 50Cr-50Ni used for?
50Cr-50Ni is typically used for heat-treating furnace fixtures, radiant tubes, trays and baskets for carburizing and high-temperature process equipment. In short: best carburization resistance; cast-only furnace alloy; very difficult to machine.
What is the yield strength of 50Cr-50Ni?
50Cr-50Ni has a typical yield strength of 340 MPa (49.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — stronger than 53% of refractory metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is 50Cr-50Ni easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (15/100, worse than 83% of refractory metal grades). Hard, abrasive duplex structure — use rigid setups, negative-rake carbide or ceramic inserts, low speed and heavy flood coolant; grinding is often preferred for finish surfaces.
Can 50Cr-50Ni be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Weldable only with matching 50Cr-50Ni(-Nb) filler using GTAW/SMAW, 200–300 °C preheat, low heat input and slow cooling; highly crack-sensitive, so avoid restrained joints.
What surface finishes work on 50Cr-50Ni?
Relies on its self-forming Cr2O3 scale; blast or pickle castings clean, no anodizing or plating is used, and painting is unnecessary for high-temperature service.
Can 50Cr-50Ni be formed, bent or molded?
Not cold formable — produced exclusively as static, centrifugal or investment castings; allow generous fillets and controlled solidification to avoid hot tears.
What is the maximum service temperature of 50Cr-50Ni?
50Cr-50Ni 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 50Cr-50Ni-F and 50Cr-50Ni-SR?
F is the default condition — standard supply condition for ASTM A560 castings; use for boiler tube supports and incinerator hardware where only high-temperature corrosion resistance matters. SR: pick when complex castings or weld repairs need residual stress removed before machining or thermal cycling service. Yield strength is 340 MPa in F versus 310 MPa in SR.
How much does 50Cr-50Ni cost?
50Cr-50Ni is a high-cost refractory metal ($$$$), 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 A560/A560M — Standard Specification for Castings, Chromium-Nickel Alloy — ASTM International (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1: Properties and Selection — Heat-Resistant Castings — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 13B: Corrosion — Materials for High-Temperature Fuel-Ash Corrosion — ASM International (2005)
- IN-657 / 50Cr-50Ni-Nb alloy technical bulletin — Special Metals / Inco (2004)
- UNS R20500 alloy record — SAE/ASTM Metals & Alloys in the Unified Numbering System (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.