Comparison of Nickel 600 and EN 1.4501 Stainless Steel

Comparison of Nickel 600 and EN 1.4501 Stainless Steel
Nickel 600 is a nickel-chromium-iron alloy, while EN 1.4501 is a super duplex stainless steel. The main difference lies in the base metal and alloying elements, resulting in drastically different properties: Nickel 600 performs well in high-temperature applications and has good resistance to certain chemicals, such as dry chlorine. In contrast, EN 1.4501 is a high-strength steel with excellent resistance to chloride corrosion, such as pitting and stress corrosion cracking.
Is Inconel 600 better than SS 304?
Stainless steel 304 is a versatile and cost-effective general-purpose material, while Inconel 600 performs exceptionally well under extreme conditions. Understanding the properties and applications of these materials will help you choose the right alloy for your needs.

Nickel 600 (Alloy 600)
Composition: Nickel-chromium-iron alloy, containing approximately 72% nickel, 14-17% chromium, and 6-10% iron.
Key Advantages:
High Temperature Resistance: Usable from low temperatures up to 2000°F (1093°C).
Corrosion Resistance: Resistant to a wide range of corrosive chemicals, especially alkaline solutions, and exhibits excellent resistance to dry chlorine and hydrogen chloride gases at temperatures up to 650°C.
Mechanical Properties: Good machinability, weldability, and high strength, but strength decreases significantly at high temperatures.
EN 1.4501 Stainless Steel
Composition: A super duplex stainless steel with iron as the balancing element. Key alloying elements include high chromium (24-26%), significant amounts of molybdenum (3-4%) and nickel (6-8%), as well as copper and tungsten.
Key Advantages:
Corrosion Resistance: Excellent resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride-containing environments (such as seawater).
Mechanical strength: High strength, exceeding that of many austenitic and duplex stainless steels.
Other properties: Excellent ductility and impact strength at both room temperature and sub-zero temperatures, as well as high wear resistance and erosion resistance.
High pitting corrosion equivalent value (PREN): >40, indicating its superior resistance to pitting corrosion.
Chemical Composition Comparison: Nickel 600 vs EN 1.4501 Stainless Steel
| Element | Nickel 600 (UNS N06600) | EN 1.4501 (X6CrNiMoTi17-12-2) |
|---|---|---|
| Nickel (Ni) | ≥ 72.0 % | 11.00 – 13.00 % |
| Chromium (Cr) | 14.00 – 17.00 % | 16.50 – 18.50 % |
| Iron (Fe) | 6.00 – 10.00 % | Balance |
| Manganese (Mn) | ≤ 1.00 % | ≤ 1.50 % |
| Silicon (Si) | ≤ 0.50 % | ≤ 0.70 % |
| Carbon (C) | ≤ 0.15 % | ≤ 0.04 % |
| Sulfur (S) | ≤ 0.015 % | ≤ 0.015 % |
| Copper (Cu) | ≤ 0.50 % | – |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | – | 1.50 – 2.00 % |
| Titanium (Ti) | – | ≥ 0.30 % (C × 7 min.) |
| Nitrogen (N) | – | ≤ 0.03 % |
| Aluminum (Al) | ≤ 0.30 % | – |
| Phosphorus (P) | – | ≤ 0.040 % |
| Cobalt (Co) | – | – |
| Other | – | – |
Mechanical Properties Comparison: Nickel 600 vs EN 1.4501 Stainless Steel
| Property | Nickel 600 (UNS N06600) | EN 1.4501 (X6CrNiMoTi17-12-2) |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 550 – 690 MPa | 520 – 720 MPa |
| Yield Strength (0.2% Offset) | 240 – 350 MPa | 230 – 350 MPa |
| Elongation | ≥ 30 % | ≥ 40 % |
| Hardness (Annealed) | 65 – 90 HRB | 70 – 95 HRB |
| Modulus of Elasticity | 207 GPa | 200 GPa |
| Fatigue Strength (Rotating Beam) | 270 – 310 MPa | 240 – 280 MPa |
| Impact Toughness (Charpy V-Notch) | > 100 J (at 20°C) | > 100 J (at 20°C) |
| High-Temperature Tensile Strength (at 600°C) | ≈ 350 MPa | ≈ 200 MPa |
| High-Temperature Yield Strength (at 600°C) | ≈ 180 MPa | ≈ 130 MPa |
| Creep Rupture Strength (700°C, 1000h) | ≈ 60 MPa | ≈ 30 MPa |
| Thermal Expansion Coefficient (20–100°C) | 13.3 μm/m·°C | 16.0 μm/m·°C |
| Thermal Conductivity (100°C) | 14.8 W/m·K | 15.0 W/m·K |
| Maximum Recommended Service Temperature (Continuous) | ≈ 1095°C | ≈ 400°C |
| Density | 8.47 g/cm³ | 7.98 g/cm³ |
Differences between Nickel 600 and EN 1.4501 stainless steel
| Feature | Nickel 600 | EN 1.4501 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Base Metal | Nickel | Iron (as a steel) |
| Main Alloying Elements | Nickel, Chromium, Iron | Iron, Chromium, Nickel, Molybdenum, Copper, Tungsten |
| Primary Application Focus | High-temperature service, alkaline solutions, dry chlorine | High-strength, chloride-heavy environments |
| Corrosion Resistance | Good against many chemicals; excellent against dry chlorine | Outstanding against pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride environments |
| High-Temperature Performance | Excellent, up to 1093°C | Not specified for this use, as its strengths are in corrosion resistance |
| Strength | Good at room temperature; strength decreases at high temps | High strength, particularly at ambient and sub-zero temps |
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 also supplies custom Inconel 600 products in various sizes and specifications. Please send us your drawings for a quote!
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.






