What does Monel mean?

The term Monel refers to a group of metal alloys registered under a single trademark. The trademark was originally developed by engineers at International Nickel Corporation and is now owned by Specialty Metals Corporation. Monel is also used to describe all similar alloys, even those made by other companies.

The most widely used Monel metals are Alloy 400 (Monel 400, UNS N04400, 2.4360) and Alloy K500 (Monel 500, UNS N05500, 2.4375), which is a stronger alloy. Both alloys are widely used in the marine and chemical processing industries due to their excellent corrosion resistance in selected media. Monel is a solid solution binary alloy in which nickel and copper dissolve in various proportions, making it a single-phase alloy.

When was the first Monel alloy created?
Monel was created in 1901 by Robert Crooks Stanley, an employee of the International Nickel Company (INCO). Recognizing the significance of this discovery, Stanley named his new creation after INCO President Ambrose Monell, albeit removing an L, as surnames were not allowed as trademarks at the time.

In 1906, Stanley obtained a patent for Monel alloy.

How is Monel alloy made?
This group of nickel alloys consists primarily of nickel (usually 52-67%) and copper, with smaller amounts of silicon, carbon, manganese, and iron. Monel alloy is made by hot and cold working, machining and welding. It can resist corrosion from many media, including fast-moving seawater. In addition, it is acid-resistant and can withstand flames in pure oxygen.

What is Monel alloy used for?

Monel alloy is mainly used in marine applications. For example, Monel is used in pumps, shafts, fasteners, heat exchangers and fittings. However, Monel is not only used in subsea and marine applications. It is also used as part of the manufacturing of metal instruments and eyeglass frames.