Metal · Material guide
Custom Inconel parts from independent machine shops
Inconel is a family of nickel-chromium superalloys that keep their strength and resist oxidation where steel and titanium give up: hot exhaust, turbines, and sour, corrosive service. Upload a drawing and hear back from shops set up for hard-to-machine superalloys.
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Grades
Inconel grades shops run most
The grade sets whether the alloy is prized for corrosion resistance or for high-temperature strength. These are the two you will see quoted most.
Inconel 625
Outstanding corrosion resistance and good strength up to high temperature, used as-welded without heat treatment. The choice for chemical, marine, and sour-service hardware.
Best for Sour service, chemical, marine, exhaust
Inconel 718
A precipitation-hardening superalloy with very high strength that holds up to about 700 C. The workhorse for turbine and rocket hardware. Age-hardened after machining.
Best for Turbine, aerospace, and rocket structure
Inconel 600 / 601
Nickel-chromium alloys for high-temperature oxidation resistance in furnaces and heat-treat fixtures, where scaling resistance matters more than strength.
Best for Furnace parts, heat-treat fixtures, thermal
Hastelloy (related)
A related family of nickel-molybdenum superalloys for the most aggressive chemical environments. Shops that run Inconel often run Hastelloy too.
Best for Severe chemical and acid service
Specs
Material properties
Representative values for Inconel 718 in the aged condition. Exact numbers vary by grade and heat treatment.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Density | 8.19 g/cm³ (0.296 lb/in³) |
| Tensile strength (718 aged) | ~205 ksi (1410 MPa) |
| Yield strength (718 aged) | ~170 ksi (1170 MPa) |
| Max service temp (718) | ~700 °C (1300 °F) with strength retained |
| Max service temp (625, oxidation) | ~980 °C (1800 °F) |
| Machinability | Difficult; work-hardens fast, needs rigid setups and low speeds |
| Corrosion resistance | Excellent, including chloride and sour (H2S) service |
| Weldability | Good, especially 625; 718 welded then aged |
Inconel work-hardens as it is cut, so machining is slow and tooling-intensive. That, plus the raw stock cost, is why Inconel parts carry a premium.
Stock
Forms we machine it from
Round bar
Turned fittings, shafts, and valve parts.
Sheet & plate
Cut and formed panels, flanges, and brackets.
Tube & pipe
Seamless tube for exhaust, heat exchangers, and lines.
Processes
Manufacturing methods for inconel
The right process depends on part geometry, tolerances, and production volume.
Finishing
Finishes for inconel
Inconel resists corrosion on its own, so finishing is usually about cleanliness and surface condition rather than protection.
As-machined
Bare superalloy needs no coating for corrosion resistance and ships as-machined for most parts.
Passivation
A cleaning treatment that removes free iron and restores the passive oxide layer for chemical and medical service.
Bead blast
A uniform matte texture that removes tool marks; common before inspection or assembly.
Electropolish
A smooth, ultra-clean surface for chemical, semiconductor, and sanitary applications.
Call out any surface finish (Ra), passivation, or cleanliness requirement, since these drive cost on superalloy parts.
Applications
Where inconel parts are used
Inconel earns its premium where heat and corrosion rule out cheaper metals.
Compare
Inconel vs other materials
How Inconel compares to the other high-performance metals shops quote.
Inconel vs Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel →- Inconel keeps strength and resists oxidation at temperatures where stainless softens and scales
- Stainless is far cheaper and much easier to machine, and covers most corrosion needs
- Inconel resists chloride and sour (H2S) cracking that attacks standard stainless
Choose Inconel for high heat and the most corrosive or sour service. Choose stainless for general corrosion resistance at a fraction of the cost.
Inconel vs Titanium
Titanium →- Titanium is far lighter with excellent corrosion resistance at moderate temperature
- Inconel holds strength at much higher temperatures where titanium weakens
- Both are expensive and slow to machine; the choice is heat vs weight
Choose Inconel for high-temperature strength. Choose titanium when light weight and moderate-temperature corrosion resistance matter more.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
625 is prized for corrosion resistance and is used as-welded without heat treatment, making it the choice for chemical, marine, and sour-service hardware. 718 is a precipitation-hardening alloy with very high strength that holds up to about 700 C, used for turbine and rocket parts and age-hardened after machining. Pick 625 for corrosion, 718 for high-temperature strength.
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Get Inconel part quotes
Upload a drawing once and compare quotes from independent shops set up to machine Inconel 625 and 718.
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