What is Hastelloy?

Hastelloy is a term used to describe nickel metal that has been alloyed to increase corrosion resistance. This is mainly achieved by adding molybdenum and chromium. Hastelloy is available in a variety of grades, each with a different chemical composition that is optimized for specific properties.

Because Hastelloy typically contains high amounts of molybdenum and chromium, it performs better in severely corrosive environments than other specialty metal products such as Incoloy. The addition of molybdenum also improves overall processability. Hastelloy is also ductile and easy to manufacture and shape.

Hastelloy grades generally have the following characteristics:

Excellent corrosion resistance
good weldability
Resistant to oxidants and acids
How is Hastelloy made?
Since Hastelloy is a metal alloy, it is made by combining original elements together in a hot liquid state. There are a variety of grades, each containing a specific chemical composition. The mixture may contain 1% to 25% chromium, 5% to 30% molybdenum, and 0% to 30% iron, with the balance consisting of nickel. Additional additives can include carbon, tungsten, vanadium and titanium, depending on the grade.

Once the metals are combined, smelted and mixed together, they can be cast accordingly for further manufacturing.

What is Hastelloy used for?
Since Hastelloy is designed to provide excellent corrosion resistance, it is an excellent choice for any moderately to severely corrosive environment where product longevity is critical. It is commonly used in pipes and valves in the chemical and petrochemical industries. It is also used in reactor vessels in the chemical and nuclear industries.

There are several grades of Hastelloy, but C276 is one of the most popular. This grade is typically used in the harsh environments mentioned above as well as in paper and pulp production and waste disposal.