Historical Price Comparison (2020–2024)

Unit: USD per kg (approximate averages)

Notes:

• 2024 Inconel 601 price in USA is quoted as $40.30/kg.

• European Inconel 601 average price is €35.36/kg, about $39.00/kg using current exchange rate.

• Asia‑Pacific (proxied by India/Japan) generally aligns close to the Chinese supply chain, around $40/kg too in 2024.

Regional Price Comparison in 2025 (Q1)

Unit: USD per kg (converted from USD/MT)

Notes:

• These figures refer primarily to Alloy 600 or 625 pricing, but they are widely used interchangeably as market analogues for Inconel 601 cost structure.

• North American price (~$57.41/kg) is highest, reflecting Q4‑2024 Alloy 625 prices (likely similar in early 2025).

• Asia‑Pacific region shows intermediate pricing (~$54.72/kg), based on Osaka ex‑works pricing for Sheet alloys in Q1‑2025.

• Europe remains lowest (~$47.23/kg), per Q4‑2024 Germany-based Alloy prices.

High‑Temperature Performance

Short‐term tensile strength remains above 450 MPa (65 ksi) at 800 °C, and the alloy resists creep rupture far longer than 304 or 316 stainless steels. Moreover, continuous use at 1,050 °C is feasible when rapid oxidation kinetics must be tamed.

Oxidation and Corrosion Resistance

Why choose Alloy 601 over other superalloys? Because it handles both dry and wet oxidizing environments. When exposed to cyclic conditions—heat‐up, cool‐down—its alumina scale stays adherent. In service gases containing sulfur, even H₂S, the alloy forms mixed oxides plus chromium sulfides, protecting the base metal.

Industry idiom: It stands up to the “harshest furnace cycles” without flaking.

Fabrication and Welding

We supply solution‐annealed plate that you can form using standard techniques. For welding, our recommended filler is ERNiCr‑3 or ERNiCrMo‑3 to match chemistry. Preheat is generally unnecessary, but post‐weld heat‐treatment (1,020 °C for 1 hour followed by air‐cool) restores homogeneity and ductility.

Heat Treatment and Processing

• Solution Anneal: 1,020–1,080 °C, water quench.

• Precipitation Hardening: Not commonly used—solid‐solution gives optimum creep; however, ageing at 700–750 °C for 16–24 h can raise hardness to HRC 40.

FAQs

1. What is Inconel 601 and why is it used in demanding environments?

Inconel 601 (UNS N06601) is a high‑temperature nickel‑chromium‑iron superalloy enriched with aluminium. It’s selected for use in extreme settings because it forms a tightly adherent aluminium‑rich oxide at up to ~1200 °C, granting outstanding oxidation resistance and retention of strength under thermal cycling.

2. What is the chemical composition of Inconel 601?

Typical composition includes ~58–63% Ni, 21–25% Cr, 1.0–1.7% Al, and Fe balance; with trace C (≤0.10%), Mn, Si, S limits. The Al addition compared to Alloy 600 enhances its oxidation resistance significantly.

3. What are the main mechanical properties of Inconel 601 at room temperature?

Annealed Inconel 601 typically shows tensile strength ≥ 650 MPa (94 ksi), yield strength ≥ 300 MPa (43 ksi), and ≥ 30% elongation in 50mm gauge length.

4. Up to what temperature can Inconel 601 maintain its performance?

It maintains mechanical strength and oxidation stability up to ~1200 °C (2200 °F), even in cyclic heating and cooling environments, outperforming Alloy 600 and Alloy 800 in these regimes.

5. How does Inconel 601 resist carburization and sulfidation?

Its high Cr and Al content form a protective oxide scale that resists carbon ingress and hydrogen sulfide attack, making it suitable for carburizing and sulfur‑bearing atmospheres up to ~870 °C.

6. What are typical industrial applications of Inconel 601?

Common uses include radiant tubes and baskets in thermal‑processing furnaces, gas turbine liners, combustion chamber parts, pollution control devices, catalytic reformer reactors, furnace fixtures, and heat‑treating equipment.

7. Is Inconel 601 readily weldable and machinable?

Yes. It can be welded using ERNiCr‑3 or similar filler metals with TIG/MIG or SMAW processes, and can be machined in solution‑annealed condition to minimize work‑hardening effects.

8. What heat treatment process is used for Inconel 601?

Typical solution annealing is conducted between ~982–1204 °C (~1800‑2100 °F) followed by rapid cooling. No age‑hardening is used; solid‑solution state retains optimal creep resistance.

9. How does Inconel 601 compare to Alloy 600 and Alloy 800?

Compared to Alloy 600, Inconel 601 boasts better high‑temperature oxidation resistance due to added aluminium. It provides superior creep rupture strength under severe cyclic service, and resists oxidation beyond the capability of Alloy 800 in many industrial settings.

10. What standards and UNS numbers apply to Inconel 601?

Inconel 601 is designated UNS N06601 (Alloy 601, EN 2.4851, JIS NCF 601, GB GH3608). Common specifications include ASTM B167/B168/B166/B751, ASME SB‑167/SB‑168 and relevant AMS standards, ensuring consistency in form, mechanical, and chemistry requirements.

Official References

• Inconel® 600 – Wikipedia
• ASTM B167 Standard Specification for Nickel and Nickel‑Iron Alloy Bars and Shapes
• High-Temperature Applications of Inconel 601 – ASM International