MONEL® ALLOY 400

UNS N04400

Other common names: Alloy 400

Monel 400 is a nickel-copper alloy (about 67% Ni – 23% Cu) that is resistant to sea water and
steam at high temperatures as well as to salt and caustic solutions. Alloy 400 is a solid solution
alloy that can only be hardened by cold working. This nickel alloy exhibits characteristics like
good corrosion resistance, good weldability and high strength. A low corrosion rate in rapidly
flowing brackish or seawater combined with excellent resistance to stress-corrosion cracking in
most freshwaters, and its resistance to a variety of corrosive conditions led to its wide use in
marine applications and other non-oxidizing chloride solutions. This nickel alloy is particularly
resistant to hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids when they are de-aerated. As would be expected
from its high copper content, alloy 400 is rapidly attacked by nitric acid and ammonia systems.

Monel 400 has great mechanical properties at subzero temperatures, can be used in
temperatures up to 1000° F, and its melting point is 2370-2460° F. However, alloy 400 is low in
strength in the annealed condition so, a variety of tempers may be used to increase the strength.
In what forms is Monel 400 Available at Mega Mex?
 Sheet
 Plate
 Bar
 Pipe & Tube (welded & seamless)
 Fittings (i.e. flanges, slip-ons, blinds, weld-necks, lapjoints, long welding necks, socket welds, elbows, tees, stub-
ends, returns, caps, crosses, reducers, and pipe nipples)
 Wire
What are the characteristics of Monel 400?
 Resistant to seawater and steam at high temperatures
 Excellent resistance to rapidly flowing brackish water or seawater
 Excellent resistance to stress corrosion cracking in most freshwaters
 Particularly resistant to hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids when they are de-aerated
 Offers some resistance to hydrochloric and sulfuric acids at modest temperatures and concentrations, but is seldom
the material of choice for these acids
 Excellent resistance to neutral and alkaline salt
 Resistance to chloride induced stress corrosion cracking
 Good mechanical properties from sub-zero temperatures up to 1020° F
 High resistance to alkalis
Chemical Composition, %
C Mn S Si Ni Cu Fe
.30 max 2.00 max .024 max .50 max 63.0 min 28.0-34.0 2.50 max
Corrosion Resistant Monel 400

Alloy 400 is virtually immune to chloride ion stress corrosion cracking in typical environments. Generally, its corrosion resistance is very good in
reducing environments, but poor in oxidizing conditions. It is not useful in oxidizing acids, such as nitric acid and nitrous. Nevertheless, it is
resistant to most alkalis, salts, waters, food products, organic substances and atmospheric conditions at normal and elevated temperatures.

This nickel alloy is attacked in sulfur-bearing gases above approximately 700° F and molten sulfur attacks the alloy at temperatures over
approximately 500° F.

Monel 400 offers about the same corrosion resistance as nickel but with higher maximum working pressures and temperatures and at a lower
cost due to its superior ability to be machined.
In what applications is Monel 400 used?
 Marine engineering
 Chemical and hydrocarbon processing equipment
 Gasoline and freshwater tanks
 Crude petroleum stills
 De-aerating heaters
 Boiler feed water heaters and other heat exchangers
 Valves, pumps, shafts, fittings, and fasteners
 Industrial heat exchangers
 Chlorinated solvents
 Crude oil distillation towers
Fabrication with Monel 400
Alloy 400 can easily be welded by gas-tungsten arc, gas metal arc or shielded metal arc processes using appropriate filler metals. There is no
need for post weld heat treatment, however, thorough cleaning after welding is critical for optimum corrosion resistance, otherwise there is the risk
of contamination and embrittlement.

Finished fabrications can be produced to a wide range of mechanical properties when proper control of the amount of hot or cold working and the
selection of appropriate thermal treatments is done.

Like most other nickel alloys, Monel 400 is typically tough to machine and will work harden. However, excellent results can e obtained if you make
the correct choices for tooling and machining.

Click here for more information on fabrication and machining nickel alloys.
ASTM Specifications
Pipe Pipe Tube Tube Sheet/Pl Fittin
Smls Welded Smls Welded ate Bar Forging g Wire
B165 B725 B163 B127 B164 B564 B366
Mechanical Properties
Typical room temperature Tensile Properties of Annealed Material
.2% Yield Elongation Hardness
Product Form
Condition Tensile (ksi) (ksi) (%) (HRB)
Rod & Bar Annealed 75-90 25-50 60-35 60-80
Cold-Drawn
Stress
Rod & Bar Relieved 84-120 55-100 40-22 85-20 HRC
Plate Annealed 70-85 28-50 50-35 60-76
Sheet Annealed 70-85 30-45 45-35 65-80
Tube & Pipe
Seamless Annealed 70-85 25-45 50-35 75 max *
*The ranges shown are composites for various product sizes and therefore are not suitable for specification purposes. Hardness values are
suitable for specification purposes provided tensile properties are not also specified..
Alloy 400 Trivia

*Alloy 400 is slightly magnetic at room temperature.

*This alloy has a long history of use as a corrosion resistant material, dating back to the early 20th century when it was developed as an attempt
to use a high copper content nickel ore. The nickel and copper contents of the ore were in the approximate ratio which is now formally specified
for the alloy.