Recyclable:
Inconel 625 and Inconel 718 are important recyclable materials for many high-end recycling companies like Greystone alloys. Companies purchase scrap to process and supply secondary processors, as well as mills with revert material.
Inconel scrap recycling is a primary purchased most forms such as:
- Turnings or Borings
- Grindings (wet or dry)
- Sawing waste
- Solids
Because Inconel is an important high temp material in the oil, gas, petrochemical and aerospace industries it is in high demand and the market for the material even in the recycled state is well funded. Because the material holds its composition well it is mostly ground down after being washed to a powder and then used for making small parts, threw shaping and then heating the powder till it becomes one solid because of particle diffusion (Powder Metallurgy). (Greystonealloys.com, 2017) Some scrap experts will also separate the alloying metals and sell the pure metals to different companies.
- Figure 5: Parts made from the recycled powder
Availability:
The Materials to produce this alloy is widely available, seeing that the base materials are nickel and chromium with large additions of Iron. These three elements are in high supply as well as the sub-elements needed to produce Inconel in all its forms and compositions.
Social:
The social impact this material has made has been quite large it has led to the enhancement of space travel through the breakthroughs in engine efficiency and capabilities, made possible through this material. It has also enhanced turbine blades and their efficiency as well as many other high-temperature systems. These enhancements open up new fields of study and also produce job opportunities. (Farinia.com, 2017)
Inconel 