AISI 304N Stainless Steel vs Nickel 600
AISI 304N Stainless Steel vs Nickel 600
AISI 304N is a type of stainless steel, while Nickel 600 (also known as Inconel 600) is a nickel alloy. The main difference is that Nickel 600 has significantly higher strength, higher temperature resistance, and corrosion resistance than 304N stainless steel, making it more suitable for extreme environments, but it is also more expensive and more difficult to process. 304N, on the other hand, is more economical, easier to process, and has good corrosion resistance, making it more suitable for various everyday applications.
What is Inconel 600 made of?
Inconel 600 is primarily composed of at least 72% nickel, 14-17% chromium, and 6-10% iron, with other elements such as manganese, copper, and silicon comprising less than 1%. It also contains up to 0.15% carbon and 0.015% sulfur.
AISI 304N stainless steel is a nitrogen-containing austenitic stainless steel with high strength and corrosion resistance. AISI 304N stainless steel has a tensile strength ≥550MPa and an elongation ≥35%. It is widely used in various industrial fields such as automotive manufacturing, solar energy equipment, and home appliances. Due to its excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance, it is particularly suitable for use under harsh conditions.
Nickel 600 (Inconel 600) is a nickel-chromium-iron-based solid solution strengthened alloy. Its main components include nickel (≥72%), chromium (14-17%), and iron (6-10%). This alloy has excellent resistance to high-temperature oxidation and corrosion, and can form a dense oxide film in environments up to 1200℃, resisting corrosion from chloride ions, nitric acid, and alkaline solutions. Nickel 600 is widely used in high-temperature corrosion environments such as nuclear reactors, aerospace engine components, petrochemical equipment, and heat treatment furnaces. Its physical properties include a density of 8.43 g/cm³, a melting point of 1370-1430℃, a yield strength of 240 MPa, and a tensile strength of 550 MPa, making it suitable for manufacturing oxidation-resistant parts that withstand low loads below 1100℃.
Chemical Composition Comparison: AISI 304N Stainless Steel vs Nickel 600
| Element | AISI 304N (UNS S30451) Stainless Steel | Nickel 600 (UNS N06600) |
|---|---|---|
| Nickel (Ni) | 8.0 – 10.5 % | ≥ 72.0 % |
| Chromium (Cr) | 18.0 – 20.0 % | 14.0 – 17.0 % |
| Iron (Fe) | Balance (≈ 68 – 72 %) | 6.0 – 10.0 % |
| Manganese (Mn) | ≤ 2.0 % | ≤ 1.0 % |
| Silicon (Si) | ≤ 0.75 % | ≤ 0.50 % |
| Carbon (C) | ≤ 0.08 % | ≤ 0.15 % |
| Nitrogen (N) | 0.10 – 0.16 % | – |
| Phosphorus (P) | ≤ 0.045 % | – |
| Sulfur (S) | ≤ 0.030 % | ≤ 0.015 % |
| Copper (Cu) | – | ≤ 0.50 % |
| Aluminum (Al) | – | ≤ 0.30 % |
| Titanium (Ti) | – | ≤ 0.30 % |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | – | – |
| Cobalt (Co) | – | – |
| Other Elements | – | ≤ 0.30 % |
Physical Properties Comparison: AISI 304N Stainless Steel vs Nickel 600
| Property | AISI 304N (UNS S30451) Stainless Steel | Nickel 600 (UNS N06600) |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 7.93 g/cm³ | 8.47 g/cm³ |
| Melting Range | 1400–1450 °C | 1354–1413 °C |
| Thermal Conductivity (20°C) | 16.3 W/m·K | 14.8 W/m·K |
| Specific Heat Capacity (20°C) | 500 J/kg·K | 460 J/kg·K |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (20–100°C) | 16.0 μm/m·°C | 13.3 μm/m·°C |
| Modulus of Elasticity | 193 GPa | 207 GPa |
| Electrical Resistivity (20°C) | 0.72 μΩ·m | 1.03 μΩ·m |
| Magnetic Permeability (Annealed) | Non-magnetic (Austenitic) | Slightly magnetic (1.01–1.10 μ) |
| Poisson's Ratio | 0.29 | 0.29 |
| Hardness (Annealed) | 150–200 HB | 65–90 HRB |
| Maximum Service Temperature (Continuous) | ≈ 870 °C | ≈ 1095 °C |
| Thermal Diffusivity (20°C) | 4.1 mm²/s | 3.8 mm²/s |
| Thermal Expansion (20–400°C) | 17.5 μm/m·°C | 14.5 μm/m·°C |
| Specific Gravity | 7.93 | 8.47 |
| Thermal Conductivity (500°C) | 21.5 W/m·K | 26.8 W/m·K |
| Specific Heat (100°C) | 530 J/kg·K | 480 J/kg·K |
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.
