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（Learn the maximum continuous working temperature and actual service life of Inconel 602CA in different harsh environments. Practical reference for high-temperature material design and procurement.）
Inconel 602CA (UNS N06025 / W.Nr. 2.4633) is a nickel-chromium-iron superalloy specifically engineered for extreme thermal environments where standard nickel alloys or stainless steels fail due to rapid oxidation or carburization. Its unique chemistry—featuring 24-26% Chromium, 1.8-2.4% Aluminum, and micro-additions of Yttrium (0.05-0.12%) and higher Carbon (0.15-0.25%)—enables sustained structural integrity and scale adhesion at temperatures exceeding 1100°C. Shanghai COCESS Special Alloys Co., Ltd supplies this high-performance alloy, ensuring your projects benefit from its maximum thermal service life.
Operational Temperature Limits
The defining characteristic of Inconel 602CA is its ability to maintain a stable, protective oxide layer at temperatures where most metals begin to degrade rapidly.
Continuous Service Temperature: The alloy is rated for long-term continuous operation up to 1150°C (2102°F). Under static air conditions, it demonstrates exceptional stability, often pushing reliable service limits beyond typical industry standards for nickel-chromium alloys.
Short-Term / Peak Temperature: It can withstand intermittent exposure or peak operating temperatures up to 1200°C - 1250°C (2192°F - 2282°F). While mechanical strength diminishes at these extremes, the alloy's oxidation resistance remains superior, preventing catastrophic scaling or flaking that could contaminate the process environment.
Lower Limit: Retaining good toughness, it is usable down to cryogenic temperatures, though its primary design focus is high-heat application (typically ASME certified for pressure vessels up to 982°C / 1800°F).
Oxidation Resistance & Scale Adhesion Data
Service life at high temperatures is usually dictated by how well the material resists "metal wastage" via oxidation. Inconel 602CA forms a tenacious, dual-layer Cr₂O₃/Al₂O₃ scale reinforced by Yttrium, which drastically reduces spalling during thermal cycling.
Oxidation Rate: At 1100°C, the oxidation rate is typically < 0.1 g/(m²·h) (over 1000h testing), significantly lower than Inconel 601 or 310S Stainless Steel.
High-Temp Exposure (1200°C): In cyclic oxidation tests (e.g., 72-hour cycles), the mass gain (oxidation) at 1200°C is reported as low as ~0.2 mg/cm², whereas comparative alloys like 310SS can exceed 5.0 mg/cm². This low rate translates directly to longer component wall thickness retention.
Carburization Resistance: In severe carburizing atmospheres (e.g., ethylene cracking, 1100°C), the carburization depth is restricted to approximately 0.1 mm / 1000h, compared to 0.5 mm for Alloy 601 and 2.0 mm for 310SS, preserving ductility and preventing premature brittle fracture.
High-Temperature Strength & Service Life (Creep/Rupture)
Beyond just resisting corrosion, 602CA offers substantial load-bearing capacity at heat, contributing to a longer mechanical service life before creep rupture.
Creep Rupture Strength (10,000 hours):
At 1400°F (760°C): ~11.3 ksi (~78 MPa)
At 1600°F (871°C): ~3.2 ksi (~22 MPa)
At 1800°F (982°C): ~1.5 ksi (~10.3 MPa)
At 1100°C (2012°F): Approx. ~1.0 - 1.5 ksi (~7-10 MPa) depending on specific grain size and processing.
Minimum Creep Rate (0.0001%/h Stress):
At 1400°F (760°C): 9.4 ksi (~65 MPa)
At 1800°F (982°C): 0.96 ksi (~6.6 MPa)
Tensile Retention: The alloy retains a tensile strength of approximately ~600-640 MPa (87-93 ksi) even at 1000°C, ensuring that fixtures like furnace rollers or muffles do not sag or deform under their own weight during prolonged high-heat cycles.
Application Impact & Supplier Reliability
The combination of 1150°C+ continuous tolerance and low creep rates means components like heat treatment muffles, radiant tubes, petrochemical pyrolysis furnace hangers, and sintering trays made from Inconel 602CA last significantly longer (often 150% the service life of Alloy 601) before requiring replacement.
Shanghai COCESS Special Alloys Co., Ltd provides Inconel 602CA in plates, bars, tubes, and forged forms, all supplied in the optimal solution-annealed condition (approx. 1150-1220°C) to ensure these published temperature and life-cycle data are realized in your final fabricated parts. Contact our technical team today to discuss how 602CA can extend the maintenance intervals for your high-temperature operations.
Website: https://en.cocessalloys.com
Email: sales@cocessalloys.com
