Inconel 718 is a high-performance nickel-chromium-based superalloy widely used in demanding industries like aerospace, energy, and marine. Its forged rod form possesses exceptional mechanical properties, making it suitable for extreme environments. Below, we discuss its key properties under various subheadings.
High Strength and Toughness
Inconel 718 forged rod exhibits remarkable strength due to their precipitation-hardening characteristics. The alloy combines niobium and molybdenum to enhance tensile strength and hardness. The rods can endure heavy loads without deformation with a yield strength exceeding 1035 MPa (150 ksi) and tensile strength around 1241 MPa (180 ksi).
The alloy also shows excellent toughness, even at cryogenic temperatures. This toughness makes it ideal for high-impact resistance applications, such as jet engine components, gas turbines, and offshore equipment.
Outstanding Corrosion Resistance
The nickel-chromium base provides Inconel 718 rods with superior resistance to oxidation and corrosion in a variety of environments, including acidic, marine, and high-temperature oxidizing conditions. Adding molybdenum further enhances its resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride-rich environments.
Industries working in harsh chemical processing, such as desalination plants and power stations, benefit from this property. The rods perform exceptionally well in seawater and acidic gases, maintaining structural integrity for extended periods.
Excellent High-Temperature Performance
Inconel 718 rods maintain their mechanical properties at elevated temperatures, making them suitable for applications up to 700°C (1292°F). The alloy’s stability comes from its gamma double-prime (Ni3Nb) precipitation phase, which strengthens the material at high temperatures.
This temperature resistance allows these forged rods to serve in high-pressure environments, such as jet engines, nuclear reactors, and furnace components. The alloy resists scaling and thermal degradation, extending its service life in extreme conditions.
Superior Fatigue Resistance
Inconel 718 forged rods resist fatigue under cyclic loading conditions. Their ability to endure repeated stress cycles without cracking or fracturing ensures reliability in critical applications, such as rotating parts in turbines or pump shafts in the oil and gas industry.
This resistance stems from the alloy’s microstructure, which prevents crack propagation. Consequently, it performs well under mechanical and thermal fatigue conditions, ensuring safety in high-performance systems.
Weldability and Formability
Unlike many other superalloys, Inconel 718 rods exhibit excellent weldability, especially in their annealed condition. Thanks to its slow precipitation-hardening mechanism, the material avoids cracking during welding. This property makes it easier to fabricate complex components while maintaining the alloy’s strength and corrosion resistance.
The rods also offer good formability, allowing them to be shaped into intricate designs during the forging process. Manufacturers can use hot or cold working techniques to achieve desired specifications without compromising the alloy’s integrity.
Resistance to Creep and Stress Rupture
Inconel 718 resists creep deformation under high-temperature and high-stress conditions. The alloy’s microstructure minimizes grain boundary sliding, ensuring stability during prolonged exposure to heat and pressure.
Stress rupture resistance further adds to its durability, making it ideal for components in gas turbines, rocket engines, and chemical reactors. These properties provide consistent performance, even when the material is subjected to extreme forces over long periods.
Non-Magnetic Nature
Another advantage of Inconel 718 forged rods is their non-magnetic nature. This property makes them suitable for applications in sensitive electronic equipment and magnetic resonance environments. Their non-magnetic behaviour ensures minimal interference with electromagnetic fields, preserving the functionality of precision instruments.
Dimensional Stability
Inconel 718 forged rods exhibit excellent dimensional stability, even under fluctuating thermal or mechanical loads. This stability ensures consistent performance and tight tolerances in applications requiring precision, such as aerospace fasteners and medical implants.
