Inconel 625
Inconel 625 is a nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy with outstanding resistance to corrosion, pitting and high temperature, used where stainless steel is not enough.
- Family /
- Nickel Alloys
- Machinability /
- ~18%
- Condition /
- Annealed
- Also called /
- inconel six twenty five
Inconel 625 is a nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy with outstanding resistance to corrosion, pitting and high temperature, used where stainless steel is not enough.
Machinability is approximate and rated against free-machining 1212 steel at 100%. Higher is easier to cut.
What it is
It holds its strength at temperatures that would soften steel and resists seawater, sour service and a wide range of chemicals. That performance is why it appears in subsea, downhole and chemical process equipment despite the cost.
How it cuts
Genuinely difficult. It work-hardens severely, holds its strength at the temperature of the cut, and is abrasive on tooling. It requires rigid setups, sharp carbide, slow surface speeds with heavy feed, and abundant coolant.
What catches people out
Never let the tool dwell or rub. Any pause work-hardens the surface immediately and the next pass has to cut through hardened material — which is how a single moment of hesitation destroys a tool and a part. Cycle times and tooling costs are several times those for stainless, and quotes should reflect that.
Inconel 625 — Common Questions
Why is machining Inconel so expensive?
- It cuts at a fraction of the rate of steel, work-hardens if the tool hesitates, and wears tooling fast because it keeps its strength at cutting temperature. The material is costly, but the machining time and tooling usually account for more of the price than the bar does.
Other nickel alloys
Got a part for Inconel 625?
Send the drawing or the sample. We will tell you straight what it will take to make.