Inconel is typically used in applications where high temperatures are present due to a thick, stable passivating oxide layer which is formed when Inconel is heated. This layer protects the Inconel’s surface making it resistant to heat. (Altemp Alloys, 2017)
Alloy 718 is a nickel superalloy frequently used for cryogenic storage tanks, turbines, downhole shafting and wellhead parts. Its high tolerance to extremely low and high temperatures allow Inconel 718 to be welded and annealed into products that will withstand extreme conditions. (Altemp Alloys, 2017)
Inconel 718 features a melting point of ±2300°c and possesses an impressive tensile strength that lends itself well to the wide variety of industrial applications it is involved in. Such as fasteners, high-strength bolts, nuclear fuel element spacers eg. This is further aided by the alloy’s excellent performance in properties such as weldability, creep-rupture ( a time-dependent deformation of a material while under an applied load below its yield strength), good strength, toughness and corrosion resistance at the elevated temperatures. Around 55% of processed Inconel 718 is used for manufacturing of aircraft engines in their essential parts including sheets, blades, and discs. It is also widely used in rocket engines and cryogenic applications for providing good toughness at low temperatures. (Heanjia Super Metals Co. Ltd., 2017)
- Figure 5: Turbine blades made from Inconel 718 (Heanjia Super Metals Co. Ltd., 2017)
Inconel 