Hastelloy vs Inconel – What’s the Differences?

In the industrial field, Hastelloy and Inconel have attracted much attention due to their unique properties and wide range of applications. Although these two alloys are both metallic materials, they have significant differences. So, Hastelloy vs Inconel – What’s the difference? In this article, we’ll dive into the differences between Hastelloy and Inconel to help readers better understand and differentiate between these two high-performance alloys.

Hastelloy vs Inconel – What’s the Differences?

Hastelloy vs Inconel – 1. Differences in Composition：

Upon initial inspection, it is evident that there are significant disparities in the composition of Hastelloy and Inconel alloys. Hastelloy is a nickel-based corrosion-resistant alloy. Nickel dominates its composition, constituting over 50% of its weight, with the addition of molybdenum, chromium, iron, tungsten, and cobalt among other elements. These additions not only bolster the alloy’s corrosion resistance but also enhance its mechanical properties. Specifically, the inclusion of molybdenum and chromium endows Hastelloy with exceptional corrosion resistance in reducing media, while tungsten and cobalt strengthen its stability in high-temperature and oxidizing environments.

In contrast, Inconel is a nickel-chromium-iron-based high-temperature alloy. Nickel, chromium, and iron are its primary components, with the proportion of nickel typically around 50%. The specific percentages of chromium and iron vary depending on the grade. Furthermore, Inconel alloys incorporate aluminum and titanium to form stable intermetallic compounds, thereby enhancing their high-temperature strength and oxidation resistance. This combination of elements confers upon Inconel alloys their remarkable stability and mechanical performance in elevated temperatures.

Hastelloy vs Inconel – 2. Differences in Properties：

1. Corrosion Resistance: Hastelloy is world-renowned for its excellent corrosion resistance. In harsh environments such as strong acid and strong alkali, Hastelloy can maintain stable chemical properties and is not prone to corrosion. Especially when dealing with highly corrosive media containing chloride ions, sulfuric acid, and other media, Hastelloy performs well. This makes Hastelloy widely used in chemical industry, petroleum, pharmaceutical, environmental protection, and other fields. In contrast, although Inconel’s corrosion resistance is also strong, its main advantage lies in high-temperature performance, so it may not be as good as Hastelloy in some specific environments.
2. High-temperature performance: As a high-temperature alloy, Inconel has excellent high-temperature strength and stability. In high-temperature environments, Inconel alloys can maintain high hardness and toughness and are not prone to creep and oxidation. This makes Inconel alloys widely used in aerospace, petrochemical, nuclear energy, and other fields. The performance of Hastelloy in high-temperature environments is relatively weak and is generally not suitable for high-temperature applications.
3. Mechanical properties: Hastelloy has good ductility and toughness and can maintain stable performance under complex working conditions. In addition, Hastelloy also has a low thermal expansion coefficient and good fatigue resistance, which makes it perform well in some situations that need to withstand alternating stress. Inconel alloy has its main characteristics of high strength and good creep resistance, and is suitable for applications that need to withstand high temperatures and long-term stress.

Hastelloy vs Inconel – 3. Differences in Application Fields：

1. Hastelloy: Due to its remarkable corrosion resistance, Hastelloy finds extensive applications in industries like chemicals, petroleum, pharmaceuticals, and environmental protection. Its performance is particularly impressive when dealing with corrosive media such as strong acids and alkalis. Additionally, Hastelloy is widely used in marine engineering, flue gas desulfurization, nuclear waste treatment, and other fields to meet the demands of harsh environments.
2. Inconel: With its excellent high-temperature and mechanical properties, Inconel has widespread applications in aerospace, petrochemicals, and nuclear energy. For instance, in aerospace engines, Inconel is utilized in the manufacturing of key components like turbine blades and combustion chambers. In the petrochemical sector, it’s used to fabricate high-temperature reactors and piping. Furthermore, Inconel is also employed in the production of high-temperature fasteners, springs, and other mechanical components, catering to the needs of applications under high temperatures and sustained stress.

Why Choose Huaxiao Alloy?

To sum up, there are significant differences between Hastelloy vs Inconel in terms of composition, properties, and application fields. Hastelloy occupies an important position in the chemical, petroleum, pharmaceutical, and other fields due to its excellent corrosion resistance, while Inconel plays an important role in aerospace, petrochemical, and other fields due to its high-temperature performance and mechanical properties. In practical applications, appropriate alloy materials need to be selected according to specific working environments and requirements.

Thank you for reading our article and we hope you’ve enjoyed it. If you are looking for Hastelloy Alloy and Inconel Alloy suppliers online now, please don’t hesitate to contact Huaxiao Alloy.

As a leading supplier of Hastelloy Alloy and Inconel Alloy products across the world, Huaxiao Alloy provides customers with high-quality Hastelloy B-2 Alloy, Hastelloy S Alloy, Inconel Alloy 600, Inconel Alloy 601, Inconel 625 UNS N06625,  Monel K500 and Monel 400, Hastelloy B3 (UNS N10675), Hastelloy D205, Hastelloy G30 (UNS N06030), Hastelloy C-2000, Hastelloy B2, Hastelloy X alloy, Hastelloy C4, Hastelloy C-276, and Hastelloy C22.