What Is Inconel 601 Used For？

Features of Inconel 601

Inconel 601 is a nickel-chromium alloy used for applications that require resistance to corrosion and heat. This nickel alloy stands out due to its resistance to high temperature oxidation, remaining highly resistant to oxidation through 2200° F. Alloy 601 develops a tightly adherent oxide scale which resists spalling even under conditions of severe thermal cycling. This nickel alloy has good high temperature strength, and retains its ductility after long service exposure. It has good resistance to aqueous corrosion, high mechanical 

strength, and is readily formed, machined and welded. Inconel 601’s properties make it a material of broad utility in fields like thermal processing, chemical processing, pollution control, aerospace, and power generation. However, alloy 601 is not suggested for use in strongly reducing, sulfur bearing environments.

Nickel Inconel 601 has good mechanical strength, but its mechanical property changes depending on the form of the material. The optimal temperature for this alloy is 1004°F (540°C) and above for solution-treated condition, and 1004°F (540°C) and below for annealed condition. Being used primarily in high-temperature applications, the Inconel Alloy 601 can retain its high tensile properties at higher temperatures, and it is not embrittled by extended exposure.

Alloy 601 is a general-purpose engineering material for applications that require resistance to heat and corrosion. The outstanding characteristic of alloy 601 is its resistance to high-temperature oxidation. The alloy also has good resistance to aqueous corrosion, has high mechanical strength, and is readily formed, machined, and welded. As is expected, Nickel Alloy 601 is composed mostly of nickel (58-63%) and also includes:

Cr 21-25%The composition is a face-centered-cubic solid solution with a high degree of metallurgical stability. The alloy’s nickel base, in conjunction with a substantial chromium content, provides resistance to many corrosive media and high-temperature environments. Oxidation resistance is further enhanced by the aluminum content. The combination of nickel (61.5 %), chromium (22.5 %), and aluminium (1.4 %) content of Inconel alloy 601 makes it a superalloy that offers excellent resistance to corrosion. Inconel alloy 601 can resist spalling even under severe thermal cycling conditions. Due to the alloys high nickel content, it is extremely resistant to chloride-ion stress-corrosion in some of the most tough environments.

Processing of Inconel 601 material

Heat Treatment: Inconel 601 can be treated by a variety of heat treatment methods, including annealing, solution treatment and aging treatment. The annealing temperature is generally 1000-1200°C, the solution treatment temperature is generally 1150-1200°C, and the aging treatment temperature is generally 870-925°C.

Cold working: Inconel 601 can be processed by conventional cold working methods, including cold rolling and cold drawing.

Corrosion Resistance: Inconel 601 has excellent corrosion resistance, especially at high temperatures, in strong acids and bases, and in oxide-containing environments. It is resistant to corrosive media such as chlorides, sulphates, fluorides, nitric acid and phosphoric acid.

Mechanical Properties: The mechanical properties of Inconel 601 depend on the treatment and temperature. At high temperatures, Inconel 601 has good high temperature strength and creep resistance. Its typical mechanical properties are as follows:

Applications of Inconel 601

INCONEL nickel-chromium-iron alloy 601 (UNS N06601/W.Nr. 2.4851) is a general-purpose engineering material for applications that require resistance to heat and corrosion. An outstanding characteristic of INCONEL alloy 601 is its resistance to hightemperature oxidation. The alloy also has good resistance to aqueous corrosion, has high mechanical strength, and is readily formed, machined and welded. The limiting chemical composition of INCONEL alloy 601 is listed. The composition is a facecentered-cubic solid solution with a high degree of metallurgical stability. The alloy’s nickel base, in conjunction with substantial chromium content, provides resistance to many corrosive media and hightemperature environments. Oxidation resistance is further enhanced by the aluminum content.

The properties of INCONEL alloy 601 make it a material of broad utility in such fields as thermal processing, chemical processing, pollution control, aerospace, and power generation. Alloy 601 is a standard material of construction for various types of thermal-processing equipment. Industrial-heating applications include baskets, trays, and fixtures for annealing, carburizing, carbonitriding, nitriding and other heat-treating operations. In industrial furnaces, the alloy is used for radiant tubes, muffles, retorts, flame shields, strand-annealing tubes, woven-wire conveyor belts, chain curtains, burner nozzles, and electrical resistance heating elements. Other thermal-processing applications are thermocouple protection tubes, furnace-atmosphere generators, and infrared radiant screens.

Chemical-processing applications for alloy 601 include process heaters, condenser tubes in sour-water strippers, and insulating cans in ammonia reformers. The alloy is also used for combustor components and catalyst grid supports in equipment for nitric acid production. In petrochemical processing, the alloy is used for catalyst regenerators and air preheaters in the manufacture of high-density polyethylene. In pollution-control applications, INCONEL 601 is used for thermal reactors in exhaust systems of gasoline engines and for combustion chambers in solidwaste incinerators. In the power-generation field, alloy 601 is used for superheater tube supports, grid barriers, and ashhandling systems. The alloy is also used for jet-engine igniters and for combustion-can liners, diffuser assembles, and containment rings in gas turbines for aircraft, industrial, and vehicular applications.