Monel is a nickel copper alloy where the Inconel is a nickel chromium alloy. These materials have high corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance and are used in severe conditions. The different grades of monel and Inconel come with added elements such as aluminum which improve certain mechanical qualities to make them useful in unique applications.
The nickel chromium composition is generally expensive than the nickel copper combination. However, depending on the amounts of nickel, chromium and copper in each different grade of the alloys, the prices can vary. In general, Inconel is more expensive than monel due to the high nickel chromium content.
Monel grades have up to 66% nickel and 31.5% copper in the composition. Inconel has 50% to 55% nickel in the composition. However, there are carbon, manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, molybdenum, columbium, titanium, aluminum, cobalt, boron, copper, tantalum, iron and 17-21% chromium additions to Inconel. Monel also has iron, manganese, carbon and silicon added to the composition.
Inconel has higher oxidation resistance than monel where the Monel grades have resistance against sea water and reducing media such as hydrofluoric acid, sulfuric acid and alkalis. The corrosion resistance of Inconel under high temperatures makes it possible to be used in elevated temperature applications with the possibility of oxidation. The monel on the other hand can be used in sea water, marine, chemical and acid producing industries.
Both materials have similar melting points. The Inconel melting point ranes from 1290 degrees Celsius to 1350 degrees Celsius. Monel grades have melting points ranging from 1300 degrees Celsius to 1350 degrees Celsius. Although the melting points are similar the Monel alloys have higher toughness which make them useful for wear and tear resistant applications.
Monel has higher densities than the Inconel due to the high nickel copper composition. Inconel has nickel but the chromium combination reduces the density a little bit lower than that of Monel. The monel grades have densities up to 8.8 grams per centimeter cube where the Inconel alloys have up to 8.2 grams per cubic centimeter. This makes the monel alloys a bit heavier than the Inconel variations.
The heat treatment of Inconel can be in the form of solution annealing which is to increase the temperature to higher levels and the allowing for rapid cooling. The cooling usually takes place underwater. Monel is heat treated by age hardening phase followed by a solution annealing similar to Inconel.
Inconel is harder than monel. The copper content in the monel material provides better ductility to the material. The Inconel is harder to machine, cutting and forming operations compared to the monel grades. The material composition of each specific grade can change the hardness of the material.
Monel grades can perform from subzero temperatures to high temperatures as high as 480 degrees Celsius. The Inconel materials can perform from cryogenic temperatures all the way up to 982 degrees Celsius. The Inconel is more temperature resistant than monel.
The Inconel materials have yield strengths ranging up to 460MPa and the tensile strengths ranging up to 760MPa. The monel grades have yield strengths up to 345MPa and tensile strengths up to 620MPa. The Inconel material is harder and stronger for making high strength accessories for high strength applications.
Grade | UNS No | Old British | Euronorm | GOST | Japanese JIS | ||
BS | En | No | AFNOR | ||||
Inconel 600 Pipe | N06600 | NA 13 | NiCr15Fe | 2.4816 | NC15FE11M | МНЖМц 28-2,5-1,5 | NCF 600 |
Inconel 625 | N06625 | NA 21 | NiCr22Mo9Nb | 2.4856 | NC22DNB4M | ХН75МБТЮ | NCF 625 |
Inconel 601 | N06601 | NA 49 | NiCr23Fe | 2.4851 | NC23FeA | XH60BT | NCF 601 |
Incoloy 825 | N08825 | NA 16 | NiCr21Mo | 2.4858 | NFE30C20DUM | ЭП703 | NCF 825 |
Tensile Strength (MPa) min | Yield Strength 0.2% Proof (MPa) min | Elongation (% in 50mm) min | Hardness | |
Rockwell B (HR B) max | Brinell (HB) max | |||
Psi – 1,35,000 , MPa -930 | Psi – 75,000 , MPa – 517 | 42.5 | – | – |
Inconel | Element (% By Mass) | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ni | Cr | Fe | Mo | Nb | Co | Mn | Cu | Al | Ti | Si | C | S | P | B | |
600 | 72.0 | 14.0–17.0 | 6.0–10.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.15 | 0.015 | |||||||
617 | 44.2–56.0 | 20.0–24.0 | 3.0 | 8.0–10.0 | 10.0–15.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.8–1.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.15 | 0.015 | 0.015 | 0.006 | |
625 | 58.0 | 20.0–23.0 | 5.0 | 8.0–10.0 | 3.15–4.15 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.015 | 0.015 | ||
690 | 59.5 | 30 | 9.2 | 0.35 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.35 | 0.019 | 0.003 | ||||||
718 | 50.0–55.0 | 17.0–21.0 | Balance | 2.8–3.3 | 4.75–5.5 | 1.0 | 0.35 | 0.2–0.8 | 0.65–1.15 | 0.3 | 0.35 | 0.08 | 0.015 | 0.015 | 0.006 |
X-750 | 70.0 | 14.0–17.0 | 5.0–9.0 | 0.7–1.2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.4–1.0 | 2.25–2.75 | 0.5 | 0.08 | 0.01 |
STANDARD |
WERKSTOFF NR. |
UNS |
JIS |
BS |
GOST |
AFNOR |
EN |
Monel 400 |
2.4360 |
N04400 |
NW 4400 |
NA 13 |
МНЖМц 28-2,5-1,5 |
NU-30M |
NiCu30Fe |
Monel K500 |
2.4375 |
N05500 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
Designation | C% | Co% | Cr% | Mo% | Ni% | V% | W% | Ai% | Cu% | Nb/Cb Ta% | Ti% | Fe% | Sonstige Autres-Other % |
Monel 400 | 0.12 | - | - | - | 65.0 | - | - | - | 32.0 | - | - | 1.5 | Mn 1.0 |
Monel 401 | 0.10 | - | - | - | 43.0 | - | - | - | 53.0 | - | - | 0.75 | Si 0.25; Mn 2.25 |
Monel 404 | 0.15 | - | 52.0-57.0 | - | - | 0.05 | rest/bal | - | - | 0.50 | Mn 0.10; Si 0.10;S o.024 | ||
Monel 502 | 0.10 | - | - | - | 63.0-17.0 | - | - | 2.5-3.5 | rest/bal | - | 0.50 | 2.0 | Mn 1.5;Si 0.5; S 0.010 |
Monel K 500 | 0.13 | - | - | - | 64.0 | - | - | 2.8 | 30.0 | - | 0.6 | 1.0 | Mn 0.8 |
Monel R 405 | 0.15 | - | - | - | 66.0 | - | - | - | 31.0 | - | - | 1.2 | Mn 1.0; S 0.04 |
Tensile strength, Ultimate | 550 Mpa |
Tensile strength, Yield | 240 Mpa |
Elongation at Break | 48% |