Inconel Alloy 625: The Super Alloy

Seldom does an alloy become a standard material of construction in a wide variety of industrial applications. Inconel Alloy 625 is, however, such an alloy. Jan Ward, CEO of Hampshire-based nickel alloy specialist, Corrotherm, explains its form and uses.

Ever since its introduction to the market in the early 1960s, Inconel Alloy 625 has proven to be a valuable and versatile material that is able to solve a wide variety of design and application problems.

The alloy has the ability to resist low temperature aggressive corrosion environments, as well as hostile high temperature environments, and performs with a high level of strength that has enabled it to be specified frequently in a cross section of industries.

The original goal for the application of Inconel Alloy 625 was for main steam-line piping. Since then, it has been used extensively in a variety of industries including, aerospace, chemical processing, marine and pulp & paper.
As an indication of its versatility, slight modifications in composition and mill practice have dramatically increased the fatigue life of thin sheet, thereby increasing the design capabilities in critical turbine components.

The excellent weldability of the alloy, and its ability to be joined very successfully to other alloys with different compositions, has also led to the use of Inconel Alloy 625 filler metals for welding dissimilar materials.

The latest developments have led to Inconel Alloy 625 being used as weld overlaid or co-extruded product for superheater tubing and is playing a major role in the worldwide growth of Municipal Waste To Energy and bio fuel production.

To find out more about Inconel Alloy 615, or about Corrotherm, visit www.corrotherm.co.uk or call the Southampton-based head office on 02380 748 100.