Materials / Compare
Nickel Inconel 718 vs. Steel A992
Compare Nickel Inconel 718 vs. Steel A992 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 1,207MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. hot-rolled bar, 0.2% offset | 385MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey), as reported by AISC |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 1,389MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar | 505MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey) |
| Elongation at break | 20%sourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 200GPasourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged | 200GPasourcedesign value (AISC 360-16) |
| Density | 8,221kg/m³sourcenominal, annealed and aged | 7,850kg/m³sourcenominal (constructional data) |
| Strength to weight | 147kN·m/kg2.99x higher | 49kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 24.3MN·m/kg | 25.5MN·m/kg5% higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.294sourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged | 0.3sourcedesign value (AISC 360-16 Commentary) |
| Shear modulus | 77.3GPa | 76.9GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 162GPa | 167GPa |
| Speed of sound | 4,932m/s | 5,048m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 11.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged (calculated from resistivity per footnote a) | 48W/m·Ksourcenominal at 20 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 13.2µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 21-93 °C, annealed + aged | 12µm/m·Ksourcenominal (constructional data, no temperature range stated) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 66µm growth | 60µm growth10% less |
| Specific heat | 435J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C | 460–480J/kg·Ksourcebase material: EN S275JR unalloyed structural steel (the EN counterpart of A36), typical, 50/100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 3.19mm²/s | 13mm²/s4.08x faster |
| Thermal shock resistance | 3,680W/m | 5,390W/m46% more resistant |
| Melting point | 1,260–1,336°Csourcemelting range | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 704°Csourceupper use temperature stated by producer | not sourced |
| Values for | INCONEL alloy 718, standard grade, 1750 °F/1 hr anneal + 1325 °F/8 hr F.C. to 1150 °F aged; Special Metals bulletin SMC-045 typical values | ASTM A992 W-shapes; Fy/Fu specified minimums from AISC publications (AISC 360-16 Commentary; Modern Steel Construction); elastic constants AISC 360; physical constants from the bauforumstahl structural-steel EPD, which names A992 among covered product standards. |
Every value links to the document that states it. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
Questions
Is Nickel Inconel 718 stronger than Steel A992?
Nickel Inconel 718 is stronger: its yield strength is 1,207 MPa against 385 MPa for Steel A992 (3.14x).
Which is lighter, Nickel Inconel 718 or Steel A992?
Steel A992 is lighter: 7,850 kg/m³ against 8,221 kg/m³ for Nickel Inconel 718.
Which is stiffer, Nickel Inconel 718 or Steel A992?
Nickel Inconel 718 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 200 GPa for Steel A992, so the same part in Nickel Inconel 718 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Nickel Inconel 718 or Steel A992?
For the same stiffness or strength: Nickel Inconel 718 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Steel A992 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Nickel Inconel 718 | Steel A992 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 5% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 5% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 5% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 2.99x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 2.05x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 1.69x heavier |
For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).
Which conducts heat better, Nickel Inconel 718 or Steel A992?
Steel A992 conducts heat better: 48 W/m·K against 11.4 W/m·K for Nickel Inconel 718.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel A992 expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 13.2 µm/m·K for Nickel Inconel 718.