Nickel 400

Nickel 400

Nickel 400 is a single-phase, solid-solution, nickel-copper alloy with excellent corrosion resistance to a wide range of media. Its unique composition blends the noble metal properties of copper with the passivating property of nickel.”

You can use Alloy 400 in many fields, especially marine and chemical processing. Typical applications are valves and pumps; pump and propeller shafts; marine fixtures and fasteners; electrical and electronic components; springs; chemical processing equipment; gasoline and fresh water tanks, and much more.

Features

Chemical Composition – The chemical composition is mainly nickel, as would be expected. With a range of 63-70% nickel, it possesses high strength and corrosion resistance. The other major element is copper, which helps with heat dispersal as well as strength. This has a percentage ranging between 28 and 34%.

Corrosion Resistance – Nickel 400 is virtually immune to chloride ion stress corrosion cracking in typical environments. Its corrosion resistance is very good in reducing environments, but poor in oxidizing conditions. It is not useful if you want to oxidise acids, such as nitric acid and nitrous acid. Nevertheless, it withstands most alkalis, salts, waters, food products, organic substances, and atmospheric conditions at normal and elevated temperatures.

NItronic 40Machinability – Nickel 400 showcases superb weldability and frequently appears in marine applications such as seawater valves and pump shafts. Chemical plant equipment, boiler feeders, and heat exchangers also utilize these tubes. Its high melting point and toughness under harsh conditions make it ideal for applications requiring high-tolerance tubing.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Nickel 400 (UNS N04400) is the same alloy as Monel 400. Monel is the trademark of Special Metals Corporation; Nickel 400 or Alloy 400 is the generic designation for the same UNS N04400 nickel-copper alloy containing 63-70% nickel and 28-34% copper with small amounts of iron and manganese.

A magnet will show slight to moderate attraction to Monel 400. Pure nickel is ferromagnetic, and Monel's high nickel content (63-70%) retains some ferromagnetism. However, the degree of attraction is less than carbon steel and varies with temper and cold-work history.

Monel 400 is significantly more expensive than stainless steel -- typically 4-6x the cost of 316 stainless on a per-pound basis, due to its high nickel content (~67% Ni). Pricing fluctuates with LME nickel prices. Contact Stainless Shapes for current Monel 400 pricing.

Monel 400s disadvantages include high cost, susceptibility to attack by nitric acid and strongly oxidizing acids, susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking in hydrofluoric acid under tensile stress, and lower strength than age-hardenable Monel K-500.

Monel is expensive because it is primarily nickel (63-70%) -- one of the most expensive common engineering metals. Copper (the other main constituent) also costs more per pound than iron, the base of stainless steel.

Inconel grades are generally more expensive than Monel 400 because Inconel alloys add high-cost elements like molybdenum, niobium, and cobalt to an already high-nickel base. However, Monel K-500 (age-hardened) commands a premium over basic Monel 400 that can approach Inconel pricing.

Inconels disadvantages include very high cost, extreme machining difficulty, challenging weldability in precipitation-hardening grades, and long lead times for non-standard dimensions. These are accepted trade-offs for its unique high-temperature and corrosion performance.

No, Monel 400 does not rust in the conventional sense. Its high nickel and copper content make it highly resistant to corrosion in seawater, dilute acids, and most atmospheric conditions. However, it can develop surface discoloration in some environments and is not completely immune to attack by strongly oxidizing media.

Monel 400 scrap has significant market value due to its high nickel content. Typical scrap values range from $3-8/lb for clean solid scrap and $2-5/lb for turnings, depending on nickel market prices.

Monel 400 is also known as Alloy 400, Nickel 400, UNS N04400, EN 2.4360, and by proprietary names from different manufacturers. All refer to the same basic nickel-copper alloy composition.

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