Nickel and nickel alloys · Alloy K-500 / Monel K-500 / UNS N05500 / 2.4375
Monel K-500 (UNS N05500): Engineering Handbook for Age-Hardenable Nickel-Copper Alloy
Engineering Data Sheet for Monel K-500 (UNS N05500) Alloy
| Product Form | Alloy Name | Key Specifications | Equivalents | Equivalents | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tube, Sheet, Strip, Bar, Plate, Hexagon Bar, Wire, Forgings, Seamless and Welded Pipes, Fittings, Flanges, Plates | Alloy K500, Monel K500, Nicorros Al, VDM Alloy K-500, UNS N05500 | ASTM: B 865 | ASME: SB 865, BS 3072-3076 | W.Nr.: 2.4375, 2.4374 | DIN: NiCu30Al - 17743, 17752-17754 | BS: NA 18 - 3072, 3073, 3074, 3076 | ISO: 6208, 9723-9725 |
Monel K-500 (UNS N05500) is a nickel-copper alloy strengthened by dispersion hardening. Its unique properties are achieved by alloying the base Monel 400 matrix with aluminum and titanium. During heat treatment, these elements form submicroscopic intermetallic particles γ' (Ni3(Al, Ti)), which block the movement of dislocations in the crystal lattice. This leads to a significant increase in strength and hardness compared to Monel 400, while maintaining its exemplary corrosion resistance.
The combination of high mechanical strength with non-magnetism (down to cryogenic temperatures) makes EV Group China's K-500 alloy products indispensable for critical applications. These include shafts and impellers of centrifugal pumps, wellhead equipment components in the oil and gas industry, non-magnetic drill collars (NMDC), as well as highly loaded fasteners and springs operating in seawater and sour environments.
Chemical Composition Specification of Monel K-500, %
| Ni | >63.0 |
|---|---|
| Cu | 27.0-33.0 |
| Al | 2.35-3.15 |
| Ti | 0.35-0.85 |
| Fe | <2.0 |
| Mn | <1.50 |
| C | <0.25 |
| Si | <0.50 |
| S | <0.01 |
Mechanical Properties at Room Temperature (Aged Condition)
| Tensile Strength | Yield Strength (0.2%) | Elongation |
|---|---|---|
| 160 ksi / 1100 MPa | 115 ksi / 790 MPa | 20% |
Physical and Thermal Constants of K-500 Alloy
The material density is 8.44 g/cm³. A key feature is the retention of non-magnetic properties down to ultra-low temperatures. The Curie point for Monel K-500 is around -101 °C, which makes it ideal for cryogenic engineering and high-precision navigation instruments.
| Melting Range | Specific Heat | Modulus of Elasticity | Thermal Conductivity | Electrical Resistivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1315-1350 °C | 419 J/kg*°C | 179 kN/mm² | 17.5 W/m*°C | 0.615 µohm*m |
The material fully complies with the requirements of NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156-3 for operation in hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) containing environments. This confirms its resistance to sulfide stress cracking (SSC), which is a critical requirement for oil and gas equipment.
Corrosion Resistance and Weldability
Alloy W.Nr. 2.4375 (Nicorros Al) demonstrates exceptional passivity in a wide range of aggressive environments, including fast-flowing seawater, where it outperforms many stainless steels in resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion. It is inert to most organic acids, alkalis, and neutral salts. Welding is performed using GTAW (TIG) or GMAW (MIG) methods with Monel 60 filler material. It is important to note that subsequent heat treatment (aging) is necessary to restore the strength characteristics of the weld joint.
Key Advantages of Monel K-500 Alloy from EV Group China
- Increased strength and hardness by ~2-3 times compared to Monel 400 after aging.
- Retention of high mechanical characteristics up to temperatures of 650 °C, ensuring reliability in high-temperature assemblies.
- Practically complete non-magnetism (µ < 1.02), critically important for navigation and measuring equipment.
- High resistance to corrosion fatigue and cavitation erosion, especially in marine environments.
Industry Applications and Typical Components
- Marine engineering and shipbuilding: propeller and pump shafts, fasteners for offshore platforms, valves and pumps for systems operating with seawater.
- Oil and gas industry: non-magnetic drill collars (NMDC), logging tools, valves, stems, and wellhead equipment components for sour service wells.
- Aerospace industry: gyroscope components, sensors, fasteners for aviation structures.
- Chemical engineering: scrapers, agitator blades, springs and valves for handling hydrofluoric acid, concentrated alkalis, and non-oxidizing acids.