How to Choose Between Inconel 600 and Incoloy 800 for Your Budget

2026-05-21

When selecting high-performance alloys for extreme environments—such as nuclear reactors, chemical processing plants, or heat treatment furnaces—engineers and procurement specialists frequently compare Inconel Alloy 600 and Incoloy Alloy 800. Despite their similar appearances and overlapping applications, these two materials possess distinct chemical compositions, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance profiles. Choosing the wrong alloy can lead to premature failure, unexpected downtime, and significant financial losses.

This article provides a technical, side-by-side comparison of Inconel 600 and Incoloy 800. Furthermore, we will highlight how ZYTC Alloy Supplier can assist global buyers in sourcing the correct grade with full traceability and competitive lead times.

1. Key Difference: Chemical Composition

Alloy	Nickel	Chromium	Iron	Base Element
Inconel 600	72–77%	14–17%	6–10%	Nickel
Incoloy 800	30–35%	19–23%	39–50%	Iron

Implication: Higher nickel = better resistance to caustic and chloride stress corrosion. Higher iron = lower cost.

2. Mechanical Properties & Temperature Limits

Both alloys maintain strength at elevated temperatures, but with important distinctions:

Property (Annealed Condition)	Inconel 600	Incoloy 800
Tensile Strength (ksi)	80–100	75–95
Yield Strength (0.2% offset, ksi)	25–50	30–45
Elongation (%)	45–55	40–50
Max Continuous Service Temp (°F / °C)	2,000°F (1,093°C)	1,800°F (982°C)
Creep Resistance	Superior above 1,500°F	Moderate; better with 800H variant

Note on Variants: Incoloy 800H (UNS N08810) and 800HT (N08811) are modified versions with controlled carbon and aluminum/titanium additions. These variants offer improved creep rupture strength, making them competitive with Inconel 600 in furnace applications.

3. Corrosion Resistance – Quick Summary

Environment	Better Choice
High-concentration caustic (NaOH)	Inconel 600
Nitric or oxidizing acids	Incoloy 800
Chloride stress corrosion cracking	Both good (Inconel 600 proven longer)
Sulfidation (sulfur gases)	Incoloy 800
Carburization (carbon-rich furnace)	Inconel 600

4. Fabrication & Weldability

Both alloys are readily weldable using standard techniques, but there are practical differences:

Inconel 600: Requires low heat input to prevent grain coarsening. Use filler metal ENiCr-3 (AWS A5.14) or matching 600. Post-weld heat treatment is rarely needed unless the component will be exposed to high-temperature carburization.
Incoloy 800: More forgiving during welding because iron-rich matrix reduces hot cracking tendency. Use ERNiCr-3 or ERNiFeCr-1 filler. For 800H/800HT, solution annealing at 2,100–2,200°F is recommended after heavy welding.

Procurement Tip from ZYTC Alloy Supplier:
*“When ordering either alloy, always request the heat treatment certificate. Many failures occur because buyers assume ‘solution annealed’ is the default condition—but for Incoloy 800, hot-rolled and annealed are not identical. At ZYTC Alloy Supplier, we provide full mill test reports (MTC 3.1) indicating grain size and hardness, eliminating this confusion.”*

5. Cost & Availability

Factor	Inconel 600	Incoloy 800
Relative cost	~1.6x	1.0x (baseline)
Typical lead time	8–12 weeks	4–6 weeks

Incoloy 800 is typically 30–40% cheaper due to lower nickel content.

6. Why Source Through ZYTC Alloy Supplier?

ZYTC Alloy Supplier simplifies the selection and procurement process:

PMI testing before shipment to verify nickel content.
Dual-certified stock of Inconel 600 (ASTM B166) and Incoloy 800 (ASTM B408).
Short lead times (2 weeks for standard sizes).
Technical support for alloy substitution analysis.

With global warehouses, ZYTC Alloy Supplier delivers both quality and clarity.

Contact Us

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