Applications | Standards | Corrosion Resistance | Chemical Analysis
Mechanical Properties | Impact Resistance | Physical Properties
Creep and Stress Rupture Properties | Heat Treatment | Processing | Welding

Alloy 600 (UNS Designation N06600) is a nickel-chromium alloy designed for use from cryogenic to elevated temperatures in the range of 2000°F (1093°C). Alloy 600 is nonmagnetic and readily weldable.

The alloy is used in a variety of corrosion resisting applications. The high nickel content of Alloy 600 provides a level of resistance to reducing environments, while the chromium content of the material provides resistance to weaker oxidizing environments. The high nickel content of the material provides exceptional resistance to chloride stress corrosion cracking.

Applications

• Chemical and food processing equipment
• Paper mill and alkaline digesters
• Heat exchangers
• Heat treating mufflers and retorts

Corrosion Resistance
The high nickel content of Alloy 600 provides good resistance to moderate levels of reducing conditions. The nickel content of the alloy renders the alloy extremely resistant to chloride stress corrosion cracking. Alloy 600 is one alloy used in solutions of magnesium chloride. Similarly, the chromium content of Alloy 600 provides resistance to weak oxidizing environments. In this respect, Alloy 600 is an improvement over Alloy 200 (commercially pure nickel). In strong oxidizing solutions
like hot, concentrated nitric acid, Alloy 600 has poor resistance. Alloy 600 is relatively unattacked by the majority of neutral and alkaline salt solutions. It is used in some caustic environments. Alloy 600 resists steam and mixtures of steam, air and carbon dioxide. The alloy has excellent oxidation resistance to about 2100°F (1149°C). The nickel content of the alloy renders it subject to attack at elevated temperatures in sulfur containing atmospheres, however.

Mechanical Properties
Room temperature mechanical properties of Alloy 600 are shown below. The
material is in the annealed condition.

Short Time Elevated Temperature
Tensile Properties
The following table illustrates the short time tensile properties of Alloy 600 at
temperatures above room temperature. Low temperature properties are added
for comparison.

Impact Resistance
Alloy 600 shows excellent toughness even at subzero temperatures. The following are typical results for standard size Charpy V-Notch impact specimens machined from plate.

Physical Properties
Density :
8.42 g/cm³ (0.304 lbs/in³)

Specific Gravity :
8.42

Magnetic Permeability
I<1.02

Specific Heat :
32-212°F       0.11 Btu/lb-°F
(0-100°C)      460 Joules/kg-°K

Linear Coefficient of Thermal Expansion

Thermal Conductivity

Elastic Modulus, Modulus of Rigidity, and Poisson's Ratio

Creep and Stress Rupture Properties
Typical stress rupture properties of Alloy 600 are presented below in comparison to some other materials. The data indicate that Alloy 600 has modest load carrying ability in the temperature range in which creep and stress rupture are design criteria.

Heat Treatment
Alloy 600 is not hardenable by heat treatment. The alloy can only be strengthened by cold working. Annealing is conducted to soften the material after cold working operations. Softening begins at 1600°F (871°C) and can be conducted to about 2100°F (1149°C). At temperatures of 1800°F (982°C) or higher, grain growth will occur rapidly. However, very short time at 1900°F (1038°C) may be used to soften the material without producing undue grain growth. Slow cooling or quenching produces approximately the same hardness in Alloy 600.

Processing
Cold forming
Alloy 600 exhibits the excellent cold forming characteristics normally associated with chromium-nickel stainless steels. The high nickel content prevents the austenite to martensite transformation which can occur when Types 301 or 304 stainless steels are cold formed. The alloy has a lower work hardening rate than Types 301 or 304 and can be used in multiple draw forming operations where relatively large amounts of deformation occur between anneals. If a high temperature anneal is conducted on the Alloy 600 to produce a relatively large grain size for elevated temperature properties, extensive forming produces a visibly undulated surface called “orange peel.” This surface characteristic is produced by the large grain size and is usually considered detrimental to the properties of the material.

Welding
Alloy 600 can be joined by the standard resistance and fusion welding processes used for the stainless steels. A number of welding rods and wires are commercially available for joining Alloy 600 to itself and other materials. Since the alloy forms a tightly adhering oxide, which can be removed only by grinding, inert gas shielding is desirable.

NOTE
This technical data and information represents our best knowledge at the time of printing. However, it may be subject to some slight variations due to our ongoing research program on corrosion resistant grades. We, therefore, suggest that information be verified at time of inquiry or order. Furthermore, in service, real conditions are specific for each application. The data presented here is only for the purpose of description and may only be considered as guarantees when our Company has given written formal approval.