Uses of Inconel 718
- Gas turbine engines have three main components. The first is a compressor that condenses incoming air, producing high pressure. The second is a combustion chamber where fuel, such as jet fuel, kerosene, natural gas or propane, is ignited, forming a highly pressurized gas moving at high speed. The extremely high amount of pressure emanating from the reactions is extracted and converted into usable energy by the turbine, the third component.
This environment of high velocity and extreme temperatures at which turbine blades operate can pose a real engineering problem. Inconel 718, because of its excellent resistance to high pressure and temperatures, makes it suitable for helicopters and other aircraft, trains, tanks and ships, submarines, naval aircraft and power plants, which all operate on gas turbines. - Nuclear reactions are governed by either fission or fusion principles. Nuclear fission occurs when an atomic nucleus splits after colliding with another nucleus or subatomic particle (plutonium or uranium isotopes). Nuclear fusion happens when two or more light atoms fuse into a larger one (hydrogen isotopes).
The tremendous amount of electromagnetic radiation and kinetic energy produced in such reactions is highly dense and extremely hot. Inconel 718, characterized by superior fatigue strength, high melting point and high impermeability to radiation, is used in reactor core fuel rods and pumps. - Rocket engines in spacecraft and rocket motors are liquid propelled. Reactions within such environments produce heat of high intensity and precipitation. Inconel 718 is precipitation hardened, is resistant to heat and corrosion elements, and maintains its integrity in aqueous environments. Other related applications include space shuttle orbiters and landing gears.
- High-end industrial applications use fasteners made of Inconel 718 because of its high density, tensile strength, resilience at high temperatures and pressures, and creep-rupture strength. Many studs, bolts and other fasteners for chemical processing, petrochemical, automotive, imaging and cryogenic equipment are also made of Inconel 718.