What does Inconel® mean?

Inconel is a trademark belonging to Special Metal Inc. This trademark has been applied to a family of austenitic nickel-chromium-based superalloys. Such is the recognition of the trademark that it is generically used to describe similar alloys, even if those alloys have been manufactured by another company.

The most widely recognised Inconel alloys are Alloy 718 (Inconel 718, UNS N07718, 2.4688), Alloy 625 (Inconel 625, UNS N06625, 2.4856) and its higher-strength version Alloy 725 (Inconel 725, UNS N07725).

Composition

As a range of alloys and not a single material, the composition of Inconel varies wildly from alloy to alloy. In general, however, each Inconel alloy shares the following materials: Nickel, Silicon, Carbon, Sulphur, Chromium, Iron and Manganese. Other elements found in various Inconel alloys include Molybdenum, Niobium, Tantalum, Cobalt, Copper, Aluminium, Titanium, Phosphorous, and Boron.

Use of Inconel

Inconel Alloys have a wide variety of uses. The anti-oxidising nature of Inconel makes it the ideal material for use in extreme environments. For example, grades of Inconel are often found in gas turbine blades, as well as turbocharger rotors and seals, electric submarine engines, firearm sound suppressor blast baffles, and motor racing exhaust systems. Inconel has even gone into space. 

Indeed, Inconel was at the forefront of space exploration as North American Aviation used an undisclosed Inconel alloy for the skin of the X-15 rocket-powered aircraft. Following the Apollo missions, the United States space shuttle used Inconel studs as part of its launch systems. Today, Inconel still has a place in space, as SpaceX uses Inconel 718 as part of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle’s engine.

Inconel Alloys From Langley Alloys

For over 80 years, Langley Alloys have been providing our customers with unique metals for demanding situations. Today we carry a variety of Inconel alloys, suitable for a wide variety of materials.

For more information on the specific application of our products, get in touch with Langley Alloys. Our staff will be happy to help you with any and all enquiries.