Difference between Inconel and Titanium

What is Inconel

Inconel is a brand of superalloy, a type of high-performance steel that is made with a combination of nickel and chromium. It is known for its excellent corrosion resistance, particularly at high temperatures, and is often used in industries such as aerospace, chemical processing, and power generation. Inconel is also resistant to a variety of corrosive chemicals and has a high melting point, making it useful in high-temperature environments. Some common applications for Inconel include heat exchangers, pressure vessels, and gas turbine engines.

What is Titanium

Titanium is a metallic element that is known for its strength, low weight, and corrosion resistance. It is found in a number of alloys, and is used in a wide range of applications including aerospace, military, and medical devices. Titanium has a number of characteristics that make it attractive for use in various industries. It is strong and lightweight, making it useful in the aerospace industry, where weight is a major concern. It is also corrosion resistant, which makes it useful in marine and chemical processing applications. In addition, titanium has a high melting point and is resistant to wear, making it useful in high-temperature and high-stress environments. Some common applications for titanium include aircraft parts, golf clubs, and surgical implants.

Inconel vs Titanium

Inconel and titanium are both highly corrosion-resistant and strong metals that have a wide range of applications. However, there are some key differences between the two materials:

Composition: Inconel is a nickel-chromium-based superalloy, while titanium is a metal element that is found in a number of alloys.

Strength: Both Inconel and titanium are very strong, but titanium is generally considered to be stronger, particularly at high temperatures.

Weight: Titanium is much lighter than Inconel, making it a good choice for applications where weight is a concern, such as in the aerospace industry.

Corrosion resistance: Both Inconel and titanium are highly resistant to corrosion, but Inconel is particularly resistant to corrosion caused by high temperatures and corrosive chemicals.

Cost: Inconel is generally more expensive than titanium.

In general, Inconel is used in high-temperature and corrosion-resistant applications, while titanium is used in applications where strength and low weight are important.

Property	Inconel	Titanium
Composition	Nickel-chromium-based	Metallic element
Strength	High	High, particularly at high temperatures
Weight	Heavy	Light
Corrosion resistance	Excellent, particularly at high temperatures and with corrosive chemicals	Excellent
Cost	More expensive	Less expensive
Common applications	Aerospace, chemical processing, power generation, marine, medical, oil and gas	Aerospace, military, medical devices, sports equipment, chemical processing, oil and gas

Difference in Chemical composition

Inconel-Chemical composition

Inconel	Ni	Cr	Fe	Mo	Nb	Co	Mn	Cu	Al	Ti	Si	C	S	P	B
600	72	14.0-17.0	6.0-10.0				1	0.5			0.5	0.15	0.015
617	44.2-56.0	20.0-24.0	3	8.0-10.0		10.0-15.0	0.5	0.5	0.8-1.5	0.6	0.5	0.15	0.015	0.015	0.006
625	58	20.0-23.0	5	8.0-10.0	3.15-4.15	1	0.5		0.4	0.4	0.5	0.1	0.015	0.015
690	59.5	30	9.2				0.35	0.01	0.02		0.35	0.019	0.003
718	50.0-55.0	17.0-21.0	balance	2.8-3.3	4.75-5.5	1	0.35	0.2-0.8	0.65-1.15	0.3	0.35	0.08	0.015	0.015	0.006
X-750	70	14.0-17.0	5.0-9.0		0.7-1.2	1	1	0.5	0.4-1.0	2.25-2.75	0.5	0.08	0.01

Titanium-Chemical Composition

Grade	C	O	N	Ti	H	Fe	V	Al
Titanium Gr 2	0.10 max	0.25 max	0.03 max	bal	0.015 max	0.30 max
Titanium Gr 5	0.10 max	0.20 max	0.05 max	bal	0.015 max	0.30 max	3.5-4.5	5.5-6.75 max

Difference in Equivalent

Inconel Equivalent

STANDARD	WERKSTOFF NR.	UNS
Inconel 600	2.4816	N06600
Inconel 601	2.4851	N06601
Inconel 617	2.4663	N06617
Inconel 625	2.4856	N06625
Inconel 690	2.4642	N06690
Inconel 718	2.4668	N07718
Inconel 725	–	N07725
Inconel X-750	2.4669	N07750

Titanium Equivalent

STANDARD	WERKSTOFF NR.	UNS
Titanium Gr 1	3.7025	R50250
Titanium Gr 2	3.7035	R50400
Titanium Gr 5	3.7165	R56400
Titanium Gr 7	3.7235	R52400
Titanium Gr 9	3.7195	R56320
Titanium Gr 12	3.7105	R53400

Difference in Welding

Welding Titanium

Welding titanium can be a challenging process due to its high reactivity and sensitivity to heat. The following are some tips for welding titanium:

Use a clean, contaminant-free environment: Titanium is highly reactive and can easily pick up contaminants from the surrounding environment, which can affect the quality of the weld. It is important to use a clean, contaminant-free environment when welding titanium.

Use a shielding gas: Titanium is highly reactive to oxygen and nitrogen, so it is important to use a shielding gas when welding to protect the weld from these elements. Argon is commonly used as a shielding gas when welding titanium.

Use a low welding heat: It is important to use a low welding heat when welding titanium to avoid overheating the metal, which can cause it to become brittle.

Use a smaller weld pool: Titanium has a low thermal conductivity, so it is important to use a smaller weld pool to help control the heat of the weld.

Use a smaller electrode: Using a smaller electrode can help to reduce the amount of heat that is generated during the welding process.

Use a lower current: Using a lower current can help to reduce the amount of heat that is generated during the welding process.

It is important to follow these tips to ensure the best possible results when welding titanium.

Welding Inconel

Welding Inconel can be a challenging process due to its high strength and corrosion resistance. The following are some tips for welding Inconel:

Use clean, contaminant-free equipment: Inconel is highly resistant to corrosion, so it is important to use clean, contaminant-free equipment when welding to avoid contamination of the weld.

Use a shielding gas: Inconel is highly reactive to oxygen and nitrogen, so it is important to use a shielding gas when welding to protect the weld from these elements. Argon is commonly used as a shielding gas when welding Inconel.

Preheat the metal: Preheating the metal can help to reduce the risk of cracking and improve the overall quality of the weld.

Use a low welding heat: It is important to use a low welding heat when welding Inconel to avoid overheating the metal, which can cause it to become brittle.

Use a smaller weld pool: Inconel has a low thermal conductivity, so it is important to use a smaller weld pool to help control the heat of the weld.

Use a smaller electrode: Using a smaller electrode can help to reduce the amount of heat that is generated during the welding process.

Use a lower current: Using a lower current can help to reduce the amount of heat that is generated during the welding process.

It is important to follow these tips to ensure the best possible results when welding Inconel.

Difference in Melting Point, Density and Tensile Strength

Inconel

Inconel	Melting Point	Density	Tensile Strength	Elongation	Yield Strength (0.2%Offset)
600	1413 °C (2580 °F)	8.47 g/cm3	Psi – 95,000 , MPa – 655	40 %	Psi – 45,000 , MPa – 310
601	1411 °C (2571 °F)	8.1 g/cm3	Psi – 80,000 , MPa – 550	30 %	Psi – 30,000 , MPa – 205
617	1363°C	8.3g/cm³	≥ 485 MPa	25 %	≥ 275 MPa
625	1350 °C (2460 °F)	8.4 g/cm3	Psi – 135,000 , MPa – 930	42.5 %	Psi – 75,000 , MPa – 517
690	1363°C	8.3g/cm³	≥ 485 MPa	25 %	≥ 275 MPa
718	1350 °C (2460 °F)	8.2 g/cm3	Psi – 135,000 , MPa – 930	45 %	Psi – 70,000 , MPa – 482
725	1271°C-1343 °C	8.31 g/cm3	1137 MPa	20 %	827 MPa
X-750	1430°C	8.28 g/cm3	1267 MPa	25 %	868 MPa

 Titanium

Grade	Min.Tensile(KSI)	Min.Yield(KSI)	Hardness	Tensile Modulus	Poisson’s Ratio
Titanium Gr 2	50	40	14.9	103 GPa	0.34-0.10
Titanium Gr 5	130	120	16.4	114 GPa	0.30-0.33

Application Difference:

Application of Inconel

Inconel is a highly corrosion-resistant and strong metal that has a wide range of applications. Some common applications for Inconel include:

Aerospace: Inconel is often used in the aerospace industry for its high strength and corrosion resistance. It is used in the construction of aircraft parts such as engine components, exhaust systems, and structural components.

Chemical processing: Inconel is resistant to a variety of corrosive chemicals, making it useful in the chemical processing industry for the construction of tanks, pipes, and other equipment.

Power generation: Inconel is resistant to high temperatures and is often used in power plants for the construction of heat exchangers, steam generators, and other equipment.

Marine: Inconel’s corrosion resistance makes it useful in marine applications such as the construction of propellers and other underwater components.

Medical: Inconel is often used in the medical industry for the construction of implants and other devices that require strength and corrosion resistance.

Oil and gas: Inconel is resistant to corrosion caused by high temperatures and corrosive chemicals, making it useful in the oil and gas industry for the construction of pipes and other equipment.

Application of Titanium

Titanium is a strong, lightweight, and corrosion-resistant metal that has a wide range of applications. Some common applications for titanium include:

Aerospace: Titanium is used in the aerospace industry for the construction of aircraft parts such as engines, airframes, and landing gear. Its low weight and high strength make it an ideal choice for use in the aerospace industry.

Military: Titanium is used in the military for the construction of tanks, armor, and other military equipment. Its corrosion resistance and strength make it ideal for use in demanding environments.

Medical: Titanium is used in the medical industry for the construction of implants such as artificial joints, screws, and plates. Its corrosion resistance and biocompatibility make it an ideal choice for use in the body.

Sports equipment: Titanium is used in the construction of sports equipment such as golf clubs, tennis rackets, and bicycle frames. Its strength and low weight make it an ideal choice for use in sports equipment.

Chemical processing: Titanium is resistant to a variety of corrosive chemicals, making it useful in the chemical processing industry for the construction of tanks, pipes, and other equipment.

Oil and gas: Titanium is resistant to corrosion caused by high temperatures and corrosive chemicals, making it useful in the oil and gas industry for the construction of pipes and other equipment.