Inconel 600 metal stampings provide an exceptional balance of high-temperature strength, resistance to oxidation and many corrosive media, and cold-working formability — making them a preferred choice for stamped parts in furnaces, chemical processing, electrical heaters, and select aerospace components. For projects requiring stock availability, tight tolerances and factory pricing, MWAlloys supplies Inconel 600 stampings from China with factory direct pricing and rapid stock dispatch.

What is Inconel 600?

Inconel 600 (UNS N06600) is a solid-solution strengthened nickel-chromium-iron alloy with a nominal minimum nickel content around 72% and chromium in the range of roughly 14–17%. Carbon, manganese, silicon and small residuals are controlled to provide stable austenitic structure and controlled workability. The alloy’s chemistry and microstructure deliver resistance to oxidation and many corrosive environments across a wide temperature window, and it retains ductility after cold working — which is why stampings and formed components are common forms.

Key metallurgy notes:

• Solid solution strengthening rather than precipitation hardening — the alloy is strengthened mostly by its matrix chemistry and cold work.

• Non-magnetic in annealed condition; maintains ductility even after moderate cold work.

• Stable austenitic matrix that resists thermal embrittlement across typical service ranges for furnace parts and chemical hardware.

Key mechanical & physical properties

Below are typical values used for design and stamping feasibility checks. Always request mill certificates for project work and verify values against your chosen specification (e.g., ASTM B168, AMS 5540).

Sources: industry datasheets and supplier tech notes.

Why Inconel 600 for stampings: strengths & limitations

Strengths for stamped parts

• High temperature stability — useful for heater elements, furnace fixtures, thermal shields.

• Corrosion resistance to many oxidizing environments and moderate reducing conditions — often outperforms stainless steels in specific chemistries.

• Cold formability — the alloy can be drawn, bent and formed using conventional stamping presses in annealed or partially hardened tempers (strip or sheet stock). This makes it practical for high-volume, thin-wall components.

• Stability after forming — it does not age or suffer significant loss of ductility if properly handled.

Limitations to plan for

• Work hardening — heavy cold deformation increases strength but reduces ductility; intermediate anneals may be required for complex deep draws.

• Tool wear — nickel alloys are tougher on tooling than most stainless steels; hardened dies and coatings will extend tool life.

• Cost — nickel-based alloys are higher cost per kg than common stainless steels; however, when lifetime and performance are accounted, Inconel 600 can be more economical for demanding environments.

• Some environments problematic — certain highly reducing acids or halide-laden environments can attack all nickel alloys; specification and testing are essential.

Forming, stamping & tooling best practices

Designing for successful Inconel 600 stampings relies on process control and appropriate tooling choices.

Practical process checklist:

• Use annealed sheet/strip for deep draws; for shallow parts, half-hard tempers may be acceptable.

• Progressive die stamping is efficient for high runs; ensure sequential operations are arranged to minimize springback accumulation.

• Lubrication: high-performance lubricants for nickel alloys reduce galling and tool wear.

• Tool steels: use P20 for moderate runs; for high production choose high-hardness tool steels with coatings (TiN, DLC) or nitrided surfaces to resist sticking and abrasion.

• Blank holding: tighter blank holder control reduces wrinkling in thin sections but watch for tearing at edges.

• Drawing ratio: conservative draw depth/diameter ratios are recommended; where deep draws are required, plan for intermediate anneals.

• Edge quality: slitting and shearing must be performed with sharp tooling and precise clearance to prevent edge cracking during drawing.

Forming parameters table (typical guidance — validate with trials):

Surface finishing, heat treatment & post-processing

Annealing: For maximum ductility after heavy forming, full anneal at recommended temperatures per spec, followed by controlled cooling. Inconel 600 does not require solution annealing like precipitation-hardening alloys, but controlled annealing restores formability.

Pickling & passivation: Depending on application and contamination, chemical cleaning or pickling may be used. Note: Inconel tends not to form the same passive chromium oxide film behaviour as stainless steels; cleaning procedures should be tailored to the alloy and service.

Plating and coatings: For electrical contacts or cosmetic needs, plating (silver, nickel plate) is possible but requires appropriate pre-treatment. High temperature applications frequently use bare alloy or oxidation-resistant surface finishes.

Welding & joining: Inconel 600 is weldable with appropriate nickel-based filler wires; welding can alter local mechanical properties and should be specified in drawing notes when required.

Typical industries and stamped part examples

Inconel 600 stampings are used where heat and corrosion combine with the need for thin, formed components.

Representative applications:

• Furnace and heat-treat fixtures: trays, retort components, radiant shields.

• Electrical heating elements and supports: stamped support brackets, terminals, electrode supports.

• Chemical processing: small formed washers, gaskets backing plates (where compatibility is required).

• Aerospace & gas turbine (limited): small covers, shrouds, or brackets that require oxidation resistance and retention of strength at elevated temperature.

• Nuclear & specialty power equipment: parts where nickel alloy performance is needed and thin sections are sufficient.

Case note: manufacturers producing Inconel strip and foil supply material to stamping houses; high volume parts are commonly produced from coil feed progressive dies. For thin foils used in heaters, vendors stock annealed foil in narrow gauges — facilitating automated stamping.

Design recommendations (tolerances, geometry, L/D ratios)

Design for manufacturability (DFM) reduces cost and increases yield.

Key rules of thumb:

• Minimum bend radius: 0.5 x material thickness for gentle bends; increase radius for higher draws.

• Hole-to-edge distance: at least 1.5–2 x thickness for reliable punching without distortion.

• Corner relief: add generous radii in drawn cups to avoid localized thinning.

• Tolerances: provide practical tolerances — ±0.1 mm may be achievable for thin flat stampings; critical dimensions with flatness or coining should be specified with functional tolerances, not machine capability ones.

• Springback allowance: account for springback in design; Inconel springback is higher than mild steel but manageable with die compensation.

• Thickness selection: choose the minimum thickness that meets structural and fatigue life requirements — saving weight reduces material cost (nickel alloys are relatively costly).

Quality control, inspection & certification

For industrial and regulated applications, quality controls are often required:

• Material certificates (MTC): request full chemical and mechanical mill certificates (EN 10204/3.1 or equivalent).

• Dimensional inspection: CMMs for complex stampings, optical comparators for flat parts.

• Surface inspection: visual, dye penetrant for cracks on critical parts.

• Non-destructive testing (NDT): where required, specify ultrasonic or eddy current for discontinuities.

• Heat treatment records: when anneals or stress relief are applied post-forming.

• Traceability: batch traceability is essential for nuclear, aerospace, and critical chemical applications.

Sourcing & procurement: MWAlloys, Chinese suppliers, lead times

MWAlloys supplies Inconel 600 metal stampings with a Chinese manufacturing base that offers competitive factory direct pricing and fast stock delivery for many standard sizes and tempers.

What MWAlloys offers:

• 100% factory prices — direct factory quoting without middlemen, which reduces landed cost for buyers.

• Stock availability — common sheet, strip and foil thicknesses kept in inventory for rapid fulfillment. Suppliers in China often maintain coil and sheet stock for strip production.

• Custom stamping capability — progressive die and transfer press capacities for runs from prototypes to mass production.

• Documentation — MTCs, QC reports, and packing lists provided with shipments.

Buyer tips when working with MWAlloys or other Chinese suppliers:

• Request sample parts or small pilot runs before committing a full production order.

• Specify inspection and test points on drawings (e.g., hardness, dimensional sampling percent).

• Agree on INCOTERMS, shipping lead times and customs documentation up front.

• For long-term programs, consider safety stock or consignment inventory to mitigate lead-time variability.

Cost drivers & procurement strategy

Major factors affecting stamping cost:

• Material thickness and grade — Inconel 600 costs more than common steels; thin gauge use reduces material cost but may increase forming challenge.

• Complexity of dies — progressive dies and tight tolerances increase tooling amortization costs.

• Run quantity — higher volumes reduce per-part tooling cost.

• Surface finish and post-processing — coatings, plating or annealing add cost.

• Testing and certification — specific NDT or traceability requirements add to unit cost.

Procurement strategy:

• Optimize geometry to use coil feed and progressive dies for high volumes.

• Where possible, standardize thicknesses across multiple parts to leverage stock and reduce waste.

• Negotiate longer contracts for significant volume programs to lock in pricing.

Material alternatives & when to choose them

When evaluating alternatives, compare technical needs and life-cycle cost.

Short comparison:

• Inconel 600 vs 625: 625 has higher strength and superior corrosion resistance in some reducing/halide conditions (but is more costly); choose 625 for more aggressive chemistries and higher strength demands.

• Inconel 600 vs 304/316 stainless: stainless steels are cheaper and easier to tool; choose Inconel 600 where high temperature oxidation or specific chemical resistance is necessary.

• Inconel 600 vs Titanium: titanium offers excellent strength-to-weight and corrosion resistance in many environments, but titanium is more difficult to stamp and costs can be higher for thin, high-precision stampings; choose titanium where weight is critical and forming challenges are acceptable.

Decision checklist:

1. Maximum service temperature?

2. Corrosive species present (halides, fluorides, chlorides)?

3. Required formability and thickness?

4. Run quantity and total cost of ownership?
   If answers point to high temperature and oxidation resistance with reasonable forming needs, Inconel 600 is a strong candidate.

Availability table (typical stock forms & tempers)

Vendors keep foil and strip for heater and electrical markets; sheet and plate for brackets and larger stampings. Stock availability from Chinese manufacturers supports rapid coil-to-die production for stampers.

FAQs

1. Is Inconel 600 suitable for deep drawing?
   Yes, in annealed temper Inconel 600 can be deep drawn. For multiple draw operations, plan for intermediate annealing and control lubrication and die radii to avoid tearing.

2. What thickness range is commonly stamped from Inconel 600?
   Typical stamping thicknesses range from very thin foil (0.002″) up to a few millimetres for heavier parts; coil feed progressive dies commonly use 0.02–3 mm range.

3. How does Inconel 600 resist corrosion at high temperatures?
   The nickel and chromium content form oxidation-resistant surfaces and the alloy maintains strength at elevated temperatures, giving good oxidation and carburization resistance to ~1095 °C in many services.

4. Can Inconel 600 be electroplated or painted?
   Yes, after appropriate surface preparation; plating can address electrical contact or wear needs, while painting is typically for non-high-temp service. Pre-treatment is critical for adhesion.

5. What are typical tooling considerations?
   Use hardened dies, optimized clearances, good lubricants and consider nitride/coated surfaces to reduce galling and extend tool life.

6. Is Inconel 600 magnetic after stamping?
   No, Inconel 600 is essentially non-magnetic in the annealed condition; heavy cold work can induce slight magnetic response in some cases, but generally it remains non-magnetic.

7. How to request a sample from MWAlloys?
   Provide a part print and desired quantity; MWAlloys can supply prototype stampings or sample blanks from stock to validate fit and finish before production.

8. What certifications does MWAlloys provide?
   Typical documentation includes MTC (chemical/mechanical), inspection reports, and traceability paperwork; specify any additional certification (e.g., AMS, NACE) in the RFQ.

9. Will Inconel 600 gall during stamping?
   It can tend to gall; robust lubricants and tool coatings plus correct die clearance are the primary mitigation measures.

10. How to choose between Inconel 600 and 625 for a stamped part?
    Select 625 when higher strength and improved resistance to reducing or chloride environments is needed; choose 600 when formability and oxidation resistance at high temperature are the main drivers and cost needs to be controlled.

Comparison table

How MWAlloys supports your stamping program

MWAlloys combines material sourcing and metalworking capabilities to simplify program execution:

• Material supply: annealed/skin-hard coil and sheet from trusted mills. Inconel 600 Metal Stampings

• Tooling & prototyping: in-house die design support and pilot runs.

• Fast fulfillment: factory stock for many standard sizes reduces lead time; export packing and consolidated shipments available.

• Competitive pricing: factory direct models reduce intermediary margins to deliver better landed costs for buyers worldwide.