What's the difference between Inconel 600 and stainless steel 316?
What's the difference between Inconel 600 and stainless steel 316?
Inconel 600 is a nickel-based alloy with excellent high-temperature strength and corrosion resistance, making it ideal for extreme environments such as chemical plants and aerospace. In contrast, 316 stainless steel is an affordable iron-based alloy that is easier to machine and suitable for general-purpose, food processing, and marine applications. The main difference lies in their composition; Inconel 600 performs better in high-temperature and corrosive environments, while 316 stainless steel is more cost-effective and easier to machine at lower temperatures.
Can Inconel 600 alloy be welded?
Welding Processes
Inconel 600 alloy can be welded using various methods, such as tungsten inert gas welding (GTAW) or argon arc welding (TIG). Other methods include gas metal arc welding (GMAW), gas metal arc welding (MIG), and plasma arc welding (PAW).
Difference Between Inconel 600 and SS 316
What is Inconel 600?
Inconel 600 is a unique nickel-chromium-iron alloy renowned for its exceptional oxidation resistance at high temperatures and its superior strength and corrosion resistance in both acidic and alkaline environments. It can withstand temperatures up to 2000°F (1093°C), making it an ideal material for applications such as furnaces, exhaust systems, and turbines.
Inconel 600 Composition
| Inconel | Element (% by mass) | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ni | Cr | Fe | Mo | Nb | Co | Mn | Cu | Al | Ti | Si | C | S | P | B | |
| 600 | 72.0 | 14.0–17.0 | 6.0–10.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.15 | 0.015 | |||||||
Inconel Alloy 600 Equivalent Grades
| STANDARD | WERKSTOFF NR. | UNS | GOST | AFNOR | JIS | BS | EN | OR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alloy 600 | 2.4816 | N06600 | МНЖМц 28-2,5-1,5 | NC15FE11M | NCF 600 | NA 13 | NiCr15Fe | ЭИ868 |
Inconel 600 Melting Point, Density and Tensile Strength
| Density | Melting Point | Tensile Strength | Yield Strength (0.2%Offset) | Elongation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600 | 8.47 g/cm3 | 1413 °C (2580 °F) | Psi – 95,000 , MPa – 655 | Psi – 45,000 , MPa – 310 | 40 % |
316 Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel 316 is also known as AISI 316. Stainless Steel 316 has slightly better corrosion resistance than 302 and 304. It also has better non-magnetic properties.
SS 316 Equivalent Grades
| STANDARD | WERKSTOFF NR. | UNS | JIS | BS | GOST | AFNOR | EN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SS 316 | 1.4401 / 1.4436 | S31600 | SUS 316 | 316S31 / 316S33 | - | Z7CND17‐11‐02 | X5CrNiMo17-12-2 / X3CrNiMo17-13-3 |
SS 316 Composition
| Grade | C | Mn | Si | P | S | Cr | Mo | Ni | N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SS 316 | 0.08 max | 2 max | 0.75 max | 0.045 max | 0.030 max | 16 - 18 | 2 - 3 | 10 - 14 | 0.1 max |
SS 316 Melting Point, Density and Tensile Strength
| Grade | Density | Melting Point | Tensile Strength | Yield Strength (0.2%Offset) | Elongation |
| SS 316 | 8.0 g/cm3 | 1454 °C (2650 °F) | Psi – 75000 , MPa – 515 | Psi – 30000 , MPa – 205 | 35 % |
| Feature | Inconel 600 | 316 Stainless Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Use | High-temperature applications (e.g., chemical plants, aerospace) | General-purpose applications (e.g., food processing, marine hardware, biomedical) |
| Composition | Nickel-based alloy (primarily nickel, chromium, and iron) | Iron-based alloy (primarily iron, chromium, and nickel) |
| High-Temperature Strength | Superior, maintains strength at high temperatures | Significantly decreases at high temperatures |
| Corrosion Resistance | Excellent in high-temperature, oxidizing, and chloride-rich environments | Good, especially in basic or alkaline environments, but less so in high-temperature chlorides compared to Inconel 600 |
| Machinability | More challenging to machine, requires specialized tools | Easier to machine |
| Cost | Higher upfront cost | Lower cost |
| Other Applications | Used in offshore oil rigs and other high-stress environments | Suitable for sterile manufacturing and some medical applications |
Why Choose Gnee as Your Nickel-Based Alloy Supplier
✅ Over 18 years of export experience, products sold to more than 80 countries
✅ Certified by ISO, SGS, and BV
✅ Global inventory of Inconel, Hastelloy, Incoloy, and Monel alloy tubing, plates, and bars
✅ Custom processing services available – including cutting, polishing, CNC machining, and packaging
✅ Fast delivery within 7-15 days, supported by global logistics partners
📦 Packaging and Shipping
All stainless steel products are packaged using the following methods:
Wooden pallets or crates
Moisture-proof packaging
Labels with furnace number, standard, and size labels
Shipped worldwide by sea, air, or express
Gnee Steel is a supplier of Inconel 600 alloy, offering a wide range of products including: seamless pipe (sizes: 4-219 mm; thickness: 0.5-20 mm); welded pipe (sizes: 5.0-1219.2 mm; thickness: 0.5-20 mm); plates (thickness: 0.1 to 100 mm; width: 10-2500 mm); strips; alloy round bars (diameter: 3-800 mm); flat bars (thickness: 2-100 mm; width: 10-500 mm); hexagonal bars (size: 2-100 mm); wire rods; and extruded profiles. We collaborate with steel mills to provide our customers with Inconel 600 alloy products that meet or exceed numerous leading industry standards, including ASTM, ASME, SAE, AMS, ISO, DIN, EN, and BS standards.
Gnee Steel stocks and sells Inconel 600, pipes, plates, strips, round bars, flat bars, forged billets, hexagonal steel, wire rods, and extruded profiles. Please feel free to contact us at ss@gneesteel.com for a quote.
