Metallurgy & High-Temperature Service Guide

Nickel Alloy Selection for Heat-Treatment Furnace Fixtures, Baskets & Trays

Heat-treatment fixtures are consumables, but the wrong alloy turns them into a recurring cost. This guide shows why nickel-chromium alloys (RA330, Alloy 600, 601, 602CA, 800H) and ACI cast grades (HK40, HP, HU) outlast stainless 309/310 in carburizing, nitriding and cyclic-heat service — and how to pick the right one for your furnace.

Heat-treatment furnace with nickel-chromium alloy baskets, trays and grids being loaded and unloaded - Hangbo Alloy
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Overview

Baskets, trays, grids, retorts, fans and radiant tubes are the consumable skeleton of every heat-treatment furnace. They are loaded, heated, quenched and reloaded thousands of times. They are made from stainless 309 or 310 when the duty is mild, but as soon as the duty turns hot, cyclic or carburizing, those grades crack, sag and embrittle in months. The fix is a nickel-chromium alloy whose austenite, oxide scale and creep strength are designed to survive that exact combination.

This guide gives heat-treat engineers, fixture designers and procurement teams a practical framework for specifying nickel alloys for heat-treatment furnace fixtures, baskets and trays. As a direct nickel alloy manufacturer and supplier, Hangbo Alloy Group produces and stocks RA330, Inconel 600, 601, 602CA, Incoloy 800H/800HT, 253 MA and the matching ACI cast grades, in bar, plate, sheet, wire, welded mesh and finished fabricated baskets, with mill test certificates and third-party inspection.

At a Glance

Heat-Treat Furnace Fixtures
Creep / Carburization / Thermal Fatigue
RA330 (N08330)
Alloy 601 (N06601)
Alloy 602CA (N06025)
HK40 / HP / HU
Inconel 600 (N06600)
310 / 309 Stainless

Why Heat-Treat Fixtures Need Nickel Alloys

Heat-treatment fixtures die in three distinct ways — creep, carburization and thermal fatigue — and each is decided by alloy chemistry. The four metals that dominate fixture service are stainless 309/310, RA330, Alloy 600/601/602CA and ACI cast HK40/HP/HU. Their behavior splits cleanly:

  • Stainless 309/310 (low Ni, no Al) are cheap, but their lower nickel content leaves them vulnerable to carburization, their lower creep strength lets heavy baskets sag in continuous furnaces, and their thermal expansion cracks them under repeated cycling. They are right for mild anneal/clean-air service; wrong for the hot, cyclic, carburizing duties that dominate modern heat treat.
  • RA330 (Alloy 330, 35% Ni + 19% Cr + 1.5% Si) is the workhorse fixture alloy. Its high nickel stabilizes the austenite, its chromium and silicon build a tight scale that blocks carbon and nitrogen, and its balanced chemistry resists sigma-phase embrittlement after long holds. Specified wherever carburizing, nitriding or reducing atmospheres are present up to ~1150°C.
  • Alloy 601 (61% Ni + 23% Cr + 1.4% Al) is the wrought premium for clean, cyclic oxidation up to ~1200°C. Its aluminum builds a dense alumina scale that spalls far less than a chromium-only scale — the right basket for high-temperature air furnaces, oxidizing anneal and most high-temperature alloy heat treatment.
  • Alloy 602CA (63% Ni + 25% Cr + 2% Al + Ti/Zr/Y) is the top-grade wrought fixture material for the hottest 1200°C+ cyclic service, with the best combination of creep strength, oxidation and carburization resistance. It is what you specify when both temperature ceiling and cycle count are pushed to the limit.
  • ACI cast HK40 / HP / HU are the heavy-load cast standards — for static retorts, reformer tubes, large trays and structural supports where creep rupture, not thermal cycling, sets life. Their coarse grain and carbide skeleton carry heavy load at temperature; they crack faster than wrought when cycled, so they belong in static service.

Golden rule: Pick a fixture alloy by the dominant failure mode (creep, carburization, thermal fatigue or sigma embrittlement) and the worst-case local metal temperature, not by alloy name alone. The four families above map cleanly onto those four failure modes.

Chemical Composition of Candidate Alloys

Fixture performance follows from chemistry. Higher nickel stabilizes the austenite against phase change; higher chromium builds the oxide scale; silicon and aluminum tighten it against carbon and oxygen; the cast grades add carbide formers (Nb, Ti) for creep strength.

Alloy (UNS)FamilyNi %Cr %Fe %Si %Al %Other
309 (S30900)Stainless12–1522–24bal.≤1.0
310 (S31008)Stainless19–2224–26bal.≤1.5
RA330 / Alloy 330 (N08330)Fe-Ni-Cr34–3718–20bal.1.0–1.5C 0.08
Inconel 600 (N06600)Ni-Cr-Fe≥7214–176–10≤0.5
Alloy 601 (N06601)Ni-Cr-Fe-Al58–6321–25bal.≤0.51.0–1.7
Alloy 602CA (N06025)Ni-Cr-Fe-Al-Ti59–6524–268–11≤0.51.8–2.4Ti 0.1–0.2, Zr 0.01–0.1, Y 0.05–0.12
Incoloy 800H (N08810)Fe-Ni-Cr30–3519–2339.5 min≤1.00.15–0.60Ti 0.15–0.60
253 MA (S30815)Stainless (Ce+N)10–1220–22bal.1.4–2.0Ce 0.03–0.08, N 0.14–0.20
ACI HK40 (J94204 cast)Cast Fe-Ni-Cr19–2223–27bal.≤1.75C 0.35–0.45
ACI HP (N08705 cast)Cast Ni-Fe-Cr-Nb33–3723–27bal.≤1.5Nb 1.2–1.8, C 0.35–0.45
ACI HU (N08005 cast)Cast Ni-Fe-Cr37–4117–21bal.≤2.5C 0.35–0.45

The contrast tells the story: as duty moves from clean anneal to hot cyclic oxidation to carburizing to creep-loaded static, the alloy climbs the nickel ladder (12% → 35% → 61% → 63%) and the silicon/aluminum content rises. The cast grades trade some ductility for a carbide skeleton that carries much heavier load at the same temperature.

Physical & Mechanical Properties

Typical room-temperature, annealed values for the wrought grades; the cast grades are reported in their as-cast condition. For creep data use the manufacturer's elevated-temperature stress-rupture curves.

AlloyDensity (g/cm³)Tensile (MPa)Yield 0.2% (MPa)Elongation %Approx. Max Service (°C)*
309 stainless7.9≥515≥205≥40~1000
310 stainless7.9≥515≥205≥40~1100
RA330 / Alloy 3308.0≥517≥207≥40~1150
Inconel 6008.47≥550≥240≥30~1150
Alloy 6018.11≥650≥300≥30~1200
Alloy 602CA7.9≥680≥320≥30~1250
Incoloy 800H8.0≥450≥180≥30~1100
253 MA7.8≥650≥310≥40~1100
ACI HK40 (cast)7.75≥485≥240≥10~1100
ACI HP (cast)7.85≥485≥260≥8~1150
ACI HU (cast)7.85≥485≥260≥8~1150

*“Max service” is the approximate continuous-service ceiling in air. It is set by atmosphere, load and cycle count — a lightly loaded grid will run for years at the top of its band, while a heavily loaded creep-stressed tray at the same temperature may fail in months. Always size to worst-case local temperature and confirm by stress-rupture data.

Atmosphere Resistance: Carburizing, Nitriding & Oxidation

The atmosphere is what decides between RA330, Alloy 600, 601 and 602CA. The summary below reflects well-established heat-treat and metallurgical data for steady-state service; always confirm against the actual recipe (gas composition, dew point, peak T, cycle count) and consider coupon testing for new duty.

Atmosphere / ServiceRecommended AlloyNotes
Clean anneal / oxidizing air, ≤~950°C, light duty309 / 310 stainlessCheapest; embrittles in carburizing
Carburizing (endothermic, RX, methanol)RA330 / Alloy 600 / HUHigh Ni + Si blocks carbon ingress
Nitriding (NH₃, ~500–600°C)RA330 / Inconel 600Resist nitride precipitation & embrittlement
Cyclic oxidation, 1000–1150°CAlloy 601 / RA330Alumina scale on 601, scale adhesion on 330
Top-temp 1200°C+ creep + oxidationAlloy 602CABest combination of creep + scale life
Reducing / H₂ / cracked NH₃Inconel 600 / Alloy 601Stable in low-oxygen atmospheres
Vacuum heat-treatAlloy 600 / 601 / RA330Low outgassing; clean, oxide-free surface
Salt bath (neutral / cyanide)Inconel 600 / RA330Resist salt corrosion & thermal shock
Heavy static load, reformer / retortACI HK40 / HP / HUCarbide-strengthened for creep
Metal-dusting-prone (450–850°C, low-O₂, carbonaceous)Alloy 602CA / 693 / RA330Tightest Cr/Al oxide scale available
Why stainless 309/310 lose in real service: their 12–22% nickel and lack of silicon/aluminum let carbon and nitrogen diffuse into the surface, where they form chromium carbides/nitrides that deplete the surrounding matrix of Cr. The protective scale collapses, the surface picks up carbon (visible as “green rot” or “metal dusting”), the basket embrittles, and welds start to crack. RA330, Alloy 600, 601 and 602CA all carry 35–76% Ni plus the silicon or aluminum needed to keep the scale intact and the carbon out.

Failure Modes & How to Choose by Dominant Mechanism

The most useful way to enter the selection is by the failure mode that dominates the service. This reframing inverts the naive “cheapest alloy that survives the temperature” decision:

  • Creep / sag under heavy load (large trays in continuous pusher / belt furnaces, long retorts): pick a high-creep wrought grade with section (RA330, 602CA) or an ACI cast HK40 / HP / HU with a coarse-grain skeleton (ASTM grain size ≥00 per Heat Treating Society guidance for >1800°F service). Castings carry far more load at the same temperature; wrought carries more cycles.
  • Carburization / nitriding (endothermic, RX, NH₃ atmospheres): the priority is a tight, self-healing Cr-oxide + Ni stabilization. RA330 (35% Ni + Si) and Alloy 600 (76% Ni) are the workhorses; HU cast and Alloy 602CA are the premium options for the harshest duty.
  • Cyclic oxidation / scale spalling (clean air, repeated heat/cool, 1000–1200°C): Alloy 601's aluminum content makes it the right choice — it builds a dense, slow-growing alumina scale that spalls far less than Cr-only scales. RA330 is the cost-effective alternative for sub-1100°C cyclic service.
  • Thermal fatigue / weld cracking (frequent cycling, batch furnaces with quick quench): wrought austenitic alloys with high ductility and moderate expansion survive the most cycles. RA330, 310 and Alloy 600 all do well; castings (HK40/HP/HU) belong in static service because their low ductility cracks first.
  • Sigma-phase embrittlement (long holds at 540–900°C, e.g. large fixtures in a slow anneal): specify a sigma-resistant grade (RA330, 321, 347) and review the dwell-time/temperature history with the alloy supplier.

Engineering practice: pick the worst-case local metal temperature, the dominant failure mode, and the cycle count — then map to the alloy family that is built for that combination. Do not pick a single alloy for the entire furnace if temperatures vary by zone.

Alloy-by-Alloy Guide

RA330 / Alloy 330 (UNS N08330, W.Nr 1.4886)

The workhorse fixture alloy. 35% Ni + 19% Cr + 1.5% Si gives it exceptional resistance to carburization and nitriding at temperatures that destroy 309/310, and its balanced composition avoids the sigma-phase embrittlement that hits high-chromium stainless after long holds. Used for carburizing baskets, nitriding fixtures, muffles, retorts, fan shafts and the broadest range of heat-treat service to ~1150°C. Repairable and re-straightenable in service.

Inconel 600 (UNS N06600, W.Nr 2.4816)

76% nickel + 16% chromium + 8% iron. The classic Ni-Cr-Fe alloy and the standard for nitriding, reducing atmospheres, vacuum heat-treat and dry halogen-bearing environments at moderate temperature. Excellent ductility and weldability. Good for fixtures that need to combine heat resistance with thermal-fatigue survival in the 600–1100°C band.

Alloy 601 (UNS N06601, W.Nr 2.4851)

61% Ni + 23% Cr + 1.4% Al. The premium wrought grade for clean-air cyclic oxidation. Its aluminum builds a tight, adherent alumina scale that survives repeated heat/cool cycles with minimal spalling, so it is the right basket material for high-temperature air furnaces, oxidizing anneal, and most alloy-steel heat treatment up to ~1200°C. Not the same as Inconel 600 for general corrosion resistance (e.g. wet H₂SO₄); specify for the cyclic-oxidation duty it was designed for.

Alloy 602CA (UNS N06025, W.Nr 2.4633)

63% Ni + 25% Cr + 2.1% Al, with deliberate Ti / Zr / Y additions. The top-grade wrought fixture material for the hottest 1200°C+ service, combining the best available creep strength (approaching cast HK40/HP in section), alumina-scale oxidation life, and carburization/metal-dusting resistance. Specified for radiant tubes, pusher-furnace fixtures, and the most demanding continuous-furnace service.

Incoloy 800H / 800HT (UNS N08810 / N08811)

Fe-Ni-Cr (33% Ni + 21% Cr) with controlled Ti/Al and a controlled coarse grain size (ASTM 5 or coarser) for high-temperature creep. The standard for petrochemical and ethylene-cracker furnace tubes, reformer outlet pigtails and high-temperature structural supports. Good ductility, weldable, well understood in the heat-treat and petrochemical industries.

253 MA (UNS S30815)

A nitrogen-strengthened 21Cr-11Ni stainless with cerium and silicon additions that build a highly protective oxide scale. A cost-effective alternative to Alloy 601 for clean-air cyclic duty up to ~1100°C; widely used in iron-powder annealing muffles and radiant tubes. Not for carburizing.

ACI cast HK40 / HP / HU

Sand- or investment-cast high-nickel iron-chromium alloys built for static, heavily loaded service. HK40 (25Cr/20Ni) is the workhorse; HP adds Nb for extra creep-rupture strength (reformer grade); HU (39Ni) is the high-nickel cast grade for severe carburizing + thermal cycling. Coarse grain (ASTM 00) and a carbide skeleton give them much higher load-bearing capacity at temperature than any wrought grade, but their low ductility makes them crack when cycled. Specified for retorts, heavy trays, muffles and structural supports in continuous furnaces.

How to Choose: Decision Matrix

Your Heat-Treat Service ConditionFirst ChoiceUpgrade When…
Clean anneal, ≤~950°C, light load, few cycles309 / 310 stainlessHotter / cyclic → RA330 / 601
Carburizing (RX, endothermic), ≤~1050°CRA330 (N08330)Hotter / heavier → HU cast / 602CA
Nitriding, 500–600°CInconel 600 / RA330Harsh atmosphere → 602CA
Cyclic oxidation, 1000–1150°CAlloy 601 (N06601)Top temp → 602CA
Top-temp 1200°C+ creep + oxidationAlloy 602CA (N06025)Heaviest load → HP / HU cast
Reducing / H₂ / cracked NH₃Inconel 600 (N06600)Hotter → 601 / 602CA
Vacuum heat-treatAlloy 600 / 601 / RA330Higher load → 602CA
Heavy static load, retort / reformerACI HK40 / HP / HU (cast)Cyclic → 602CA wrought
Metal-dusting-prone (450–850°C, low-O₂)Alloy 602CA / 693 / RA330Coupon test in actual atmosphere
Need chloride / wet corrosion resistance tooAlloy 625 / C-276Not the primary fixture role

High-Temperature, Creep & Sigma Considerations

Heat-treat fixtures are often the first place the limits of an alloy become obvious. Three high-temperature phenomena decide life:

  • Creep: ASTM E139 stress-rupture is the standard test; the “time to 1% strain” at the operating temperature is the design number. Published data shows 310 stainless reaches 1% creep strain in roughly 1,800 h at 1600°F (870°C) under 5 psi load, while a nickel-chromium alloy reaches the same strain in 6,000 h — a 3× life advantage that usually swamps the higher purchase price.
  • Sigma phase: precipitation of hard, brittle sigma in the 540–900°C range can leave a fixture that was ductile on day one brittle on day 365. The worst victims are high-chromium low-nickel stainless; the most resistant is RA330, specifically formulated to suppress sigma.
  • Carburization & metal dusting: in carbonaceous atmospheres, the failure mode is not creep but chemical — chromium depletion and surface disintegration. The fix is a tight Cr/Al-oxide scale and a high enough nickel to keep the matrix from dissolving the carbides that form. RA330, Alloy 600 and 602CA are the workhorses here.

Specifying practice: confirm the worst-case local metal temperature (not the nominal furnace setpoint — fixtures in radiant tubes or near heating elements run 100–200°C hotter), check the atmosphere, and review the load and cycle count. Then map to the alloy family that has been engineered for that combination.

Applications by Industry

  • Commercial Heat Treat (carburizing, nitriding, hardening): baskets, trays, grids, fans, muffles — RA330; radiant tubes, severe cyclic — Alloy 601; 1200°C creep-loaded trays — Alloy 602CA / HU cast.
  • Vacuum Heat Treat & Brazing: fixtures, grids, retorts — Alloy 600 / 601 / RA330 (low outgassing).
  • Iron Powder & Sintered Parts: strip and muffle furnaces, sintering boats — 253 MA, RA330, Alloy 601.
  • Aerospace & Tool Steel Heat Treat: high-alloy hardening, vacuum, neutral — Alloy 601, 602CA.
  • Wire & Strip Anneal: furnace rolls, radiant tubes, muffles — RA330, 253 MA, Alloy 601.
  • Continuous / Pusher Furnaces: heavy trays, belt, rolls — ACI HK40 / HP / HU cast for static, RA330 / 602CA for cycled.
  • Petrochemical & Reformer Furnaces: tubes, pigtails, supports — Incoloy 800H/800HT, HK40, HP.

Available Product Forms

Hangbo Alloy Group manufactures and supplies heat-treat fixture alloys in the full range of mill forms, with mill test certificates and third-party inspection (SGS, TÜV, BV) available:

  • Round Bars & Rods: hot-rolled, forged or cold-drawn; diameters 6–300 mm for basket frames, fixture bars and structural supports.
  • Plates & Sheets: thicknesses 0.5–50 mm for fabricated baskets, trays, retort shells and furnace shells.
  • Wire & Welded Mesh: 0.5–6 mm wire, plain or calendered, woven or welded mesh for wire-mesh baskets and conveyor belts.
  • Strips & Coils: precision strip for radiant-tube bellows and deep-drawn components.
  • Seamless & Welded Tubes: radiant tubes, muffles, retorts, fan shafts.
  • Castings (ACI): sand and investment cast HK40 / HP / HU retorts, heavy trays and structural supports.
  • Fabricated Fixtures: complete baskets, trays, grids, fans and radiant tubes to drawing, in RA330, 600, 601, 602CA or cast grades.
  • Welding Consumables: matching fillers (ERNiFeCr-1 / RA330-04, ERNiCr-3 / Inconel 82, ERNiCrFe-11, ENiCrFe-2) for in-house fixture repair.

Standards & Specifications

Alloy (UNS / W.Nr)Plate / SheetRod / BarTube / PipeForgings / Cast
RA330 / Alloy 330 (N08330 / 1.4886)ASTM B536ASTM B511 / B512ASTM B535 / B546ASTM B564
Inconel 600 (N06600 / 2.4816)ASTM B168ASTM B166ASTM B167 / B163ASTM B564
Alloy 601 (N06601 / 2.4851)ASTM B168ASTM B166ASTM B167ASTM B564
Alloy 602CA (N06025 / 2.4633)ASTM B168ASTM B166ASTM B167ASTM B564
Incoloy 800H (N08810 / 1.4958)ASTM B409ASTM B408ASTM B407ASTM B564
Incoloy 800HT (N08811 / 1.4959)ASTM B409ASTM B408ASTM B407ASTM B564
253 MA (S30815 / 1.4835)EN 10095EN 10095EN 10296
ACI HK40 (J94204 cast)ASTM A297ASTM A608ASTM A297 / A567
ACI HP (N08705 cast)ASTM A297ASTM A608ASTM A297
ACI HU (N08005 cast)ASTM A297ASTM A608ASTM A297

All wrought grades are also referenced by EN/DIN (W.Nr.), ISO, AMS and GB standards and are covered by ASME pressure-vessel and boiler codes where applicable. Cast grades are governed by ASTM A297 (general) and ASTM A608 (centrifugal cast tubes). For export projects always specify the UNS number plus the applicable ASTM/EN execution standard (e.g. ASTM B536 for RA330 plate, ASTM B168 for Alloy 601 plate). Welding of RA330 is qualified with ERNiFeCr-1 / RA330-04 filler per AWS A5.14 / A5.11; Alloy 600 with ERNiCr-3 (Inconel 82); Alloy 601 with ERNiCrFe-11; cast grades use high-nickel cast-welding consumables with strict preheat / interpass control.

Buy Heat-Treat Fixture Nickel Alloy from Hangbo Alloy

Not sure whether your heat-treat duty calls for RA330, Alloy 600, 601, 602CA, Incoloy 800H or a cast HK40 / HP / HU — or whether 309/310 stainless will survive? Send us your furnace type, peak operating temperature, atmosphere (air, endothermic, NH₃, vacuum), cycle count per shift, load per fixture, and any standards to be met, and our metallurgists will recommend the most cost-effective certified alloy. As a direct manufacturer and supplier, we offer competitive price quotes, full material certification and worldwide delivery of bar, plate, sheet, wire, mesh, tubes, castings and fabricated fixtures.

Email: [email protected]  |  Phone / WhatsApp: +86-136-1165-6360

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which nickel alloy is best for heat-treatment furnace fixtures, baskets and trays?

There is no single answer — fixture alloy choice is set by temperature, atmosphere, load and cycle count. As a practical default: RA330 (Alloy 330, UNS N08330) is the workhorse for carburizing/nitriding fixtures up to ~1150°C because its 35% Ni + 19% Cr + Si balance gives excellent resistance to carbon and nitrogen pickup. Alloy 601 (UNS N06601) is the preferred wrought grade for cyclic oxidation up to ~1200°C thanks to its aluminum + chromium alumina scale. Alloy 602CA (UNS N06025) is the strongest wrought grade for ~1200°C+ creep duty. For very heavy loaded cast trays, HK40 / HP / HU (ACI cast) are the standards. Inconel 600 and Alloy 800H serve intermediate temperature and reducing atmospheres.

2. Why are nickel alloys used for heat-treatment fixtures instead of stainless 309 or 310?

Stainless 309 and 310 (UNS S30900 / S31008) are low-cost, high-chromium austenitic grades that handle clean oxidizing atmospheres at moderate temperature. They fail earlier and more dramatically in real heat-treat service for three reasons: (1) lower nickel content makes them susceptible to carburization and nitriding pickup, which embrittles them; (2) they have lower creep strength, so heavy baskets sag and bottom out in continuous furnaces; (3) they are more prone to thermal-fatigue cracking under repeated heating/cooling cycles. RA330, Alloy 600, Alloy 601 and 602CA carry 35–76% nickel, which both stabilizes the austenite against phase transformation and gives them the ductility and oxidation scale that fixtures need to survive years of service.

3. What temperature can nickel-alloy furnace fixtures survive?

Approximate continuous-service ceilings for the common fixture alloys: 309 stainless ~1000°C; 310 stainless ~1100°C; Inconel 600 (N06600) ~1150°C; RA330 / Alloy 330 (N08330) ~1150°C; Incoloy 800H (N08810) ~1100°C; Alloy 601 (N06601) ~1200°C; Alloy 602CA (N06025) ~1250°C; ACI cast HK40 / HP / HU ~1100–1150°C. These are engineering guides, not absolute limits — actual ceiling depends on load (creep), atmosphere (carburizing vs clean air) and the number of thermal cycles the fixture must survive. A lightly loaded grid will run for years at the top of its band; a heavily loaded creep-stressed tray at the same temperature may fail in months.

4. What is the difference between wrought and cast fixture alloys?

Wrought alloys (RA330, Alloy 600/601, 602CA) are rolled bar, plate and wire product. They have finer grain, higher ductility and far better thermal-fatigue life, so they are the right choice for baskets, trays and grids that see many heating/cooling cycles. Cast alloys (ACI HH, HK40, HP, HU) are sand- or investment-cast into the rough shape of a heavy support, fixture base or retort. They have a coarser grain and a carbide skeleton that gives much higher creep-rupture strength at temperature, but they are more brittle and crack faster when cycled. The two families overlap in temperature ceiling but not in use: wrought for cycled fixtures, cast for static, heavily loaded structural supports.

5. What is carburization and which alloy resists it best?

Carburization is the diffusion of carbon into the alloy surface in a carbonaceous furnace atmosphere (endothermic gas, methane, propane, RX atmospheres). The dissolved carbon precipitates as chromium carbides at grain boundaries, embrittles the metal, and causes surface 'metal dusting' that can quickly destroy a fixture. The resistance order follows nickel and silicon: alloys with ≥30% Ni and ≥1.5% Si form a tight, self-healing Cr-oxide scale that blocks carbon ingress. RA330 (35% Ni + 1.5% Si), Alloy 600 (76% Ni) and ACI HU (39% Ni) are the benchmark carburization-resistant grades. Alloys with low nickel and no silicon — 309, 410, carbon steel — absorb carbon aggressively and embrittle in weeks in a carburizing furnace.

6. What is metal dusting and how do I prevent it on furnace fixtures?

Metal dusting is a catastrophic form of carburization that occurs at 450–850°C in strongly carbonaceous, low-oxygen atmospheres: the bulk metal decomposes into a powdery mix of metal, carbon and oxide. It can drill a hole through a fixture wall in weeks. Prevention requires an alloy that builds and holds a continuous, dense, self-healing Cr-oxide (or Al-oxide) scale. RA330, Alloy 600, Alloy 601, Alloy 602CA and Inconel 693 are all specifically designed to resist metal dusting; the better the scale, the longer the service life. Adding a small amount of sulfur (H2S, SO2) to the atmosphere, or operating slightly more oxidizing, can also suppress metal dusting when the alloy itself cannot be upgraded.

7. What is thermal fatigue and which fixture alloys survive best?

Thermal fatigue is the cracking that develops at welds, holes and stress concentrators when a fixture is heated and cooled repeatedly. The lower the alloy's coefficient of thermal expansion, the more uniform the strain, the more cycles it survives. Austenitic nickel-chromium alloys (RA330, 310, 600) have moderate expansion and high ductility, so they absorb the strain instead of cracking. Cast alloys (HK40, HP, HU) have lower ductility and crack faster when cycled — they belong in static service, not high-cycle service. The number of cycles to failure also depends on the maximum temperature swing, the joint design and weld quality; smooth, stress-relieved joints survive orders of magnitude more cycles than sharp notches.

8. RA330 vs Alloy 601 vs 602CA — how do I choose?

RA330 (Alloy 330, UNS N08330): 35% Ni + 19% Cr + 1.5% Si — the workhorse fixture alloy, best for carburizing/nitriding atmospheres up to ~1150°C, weldable and repairable, no sigma-phase embrittlement after long holds. Alloy 601 (UNS N06601): 61% Ni + 23% Cr + 1.4% Al — premium oxidation resistance in clean cyclic-heat service up to ~1200°C; the aluminum builds a tight alumina scale. Alloy 602CA (UNS N06025): 63% Ni + 25% Cr + 2% Al + Ti + Zr + Y — best combination of creep strength, oxidation resistance and carburization resistance; the top-grade wrought choice for the hottest 1200°C+ cycled fixtures. Choose RA330 for carburizing, 601 for clean-air cyclic oxidation, 602CA when both creep and oxidation must be maximised.

9. What is sigma phase and why does it matter for fixture alloys?

Sigma phase is a hard, brittle Fe-Cr (or Fe-Cr-Mo) intermetallic that precipitates when ferritic, austenitic and high-chromium alloys are held for long periods in the 540–900°C range. It dramatically reduces room-temperature ductility and impact toughness, so a fixture that has been in service for a year can crack during normal handling. RA330 was specifically developed to resist sigma-phase embrittlement, which is one reason it is the workhorse fixture alloy. Alloys with high molybdenum (e.g. 316 stainless) and high chromium without nickel stabilization are the most susceptible; 309 and 310 are moderately susceptible, and 304 is the worst. When in doubt about a long-life fixture, ask for a sigma-phase-resistant grade like RA330 or controlled-titanium 321/347.

10. What are the UNS / W.Nr numbers for common fixture alloys?

Wrought: Inconel 600 = UNS N06600 (W.Nr 2.4816); Alloy 601 = UNS N06601 (W.Nr 2.4851); Alloy 602CA = UNS N06025 (W.Nr 2.4633); RA330 / Alloy 330 = UNS N08330 (W.Nr 1.4886); Incoloy 800H = UNS N08810 (W.Nr 1.4958); Incoloy 800HT = UNS N08811 (W.Nr 1.4959); 253 MA = UNS S30815 (W.Nr 1.4835). Cast (ACI): HH = J93503; HK40 = J94204; HP = N08705; HU = N08005. Stainless comparators: 309 = S30900 (1.4828); 310 = S31008 (1.4845). For export projects, always specify the UNS number plus the applicable ASTM/EN execution standard (e.g. ASTM B536 for RA330 plate, ASTM B168 for Alloy 601 plate).

11. How are nickel fixture alloys welded and what filler metal is used?

The standard fillers match the parent: RA330 is welded with RA330-04 (ERNiFeCr-1) or RA330-70 covered electrode; Alloy 601 with ERNiCrFe-11 (Inconel 601) or matching covered; Alloy 600 with ERNiCr-3 (Inconel 82) or ENiCrFe-2 covered. Cast HK40 / HP / HU use matching high-nickel cast-welding consumables (e.g. 50Ni-50Cr type) and require strict preheat / interpass control because castings are sensitive to thermal shock. GTAW/TIG is preferred for thin mesh and sheet, GMAW/MIG and SMAW for heavier plate and field repairs. Always use stringer beads, low interpass temperature, and pure argon backing on root passes; pickling and passivation restore the Cr-oxide layer after welding.

12. What is the typical cost per cycle of a furnace fixture and how do I optimize it?

Because fixtures are consumables, the right metric is cost per cycle over the full life of the basket, not the purchase price. A cheap 309 tray may cost less upfront but embrittle and fail in months in carburizing service; an RA330 tray of the same size costs 3–5× more but survives years in the same duty, so its cost per cycle is far lower. For a 1600°F (870°C) continuous pusher furnace with 5 psi static stress, published creep data shows 310 stainless reaches 1% creep strain in roughly 1,800 h, while a nickel-chromium alloy reaches the same strain in 6,000 h — a 3× difference in fixture life. The optimization rule: match the alloy ceiling to the worst-case local temperature, and re-check the loading every time the heat-treat recipe changes.

13. How do I get a quote for heat-treatment furnace fixture nickel alloy from Hangbo Alloy?

Send your furnace type (batch, pusher, belt, rotary, vacuum), peak operating temperature, atmosphere (air, endothermic, nitrogen, vacuum), cycle count per shift, load (kg per fixture), fixture type (basket, tray, grid, retort, fan, radiant tube) and any standards to be met (ASTM, AMS, DIN) to Hangbo Alloy Group at [email protected] or call/WhatsApp +86-136-1165-6360. As a direct nickel alloy manufacturer and supplier we provide competitive price quotes, expert grade selection (RA330 vs 601 vs 602CA vs cast HK40/HP/HU), mill test certificates to ASTM B536/B168/B409, third-party inspection (SGS, TÜV) and worldwide delivery of bar, plate, sheet, wire, welded mesh and castings.

Contact Us for Material Selection Support

For help choosing between RA330, Alloy 600, 601, 602CA, 800H/800HT or cast HK40/HP/HU for your heat-treatment furnace fixtures — or for a quotation on bar, plate, sheet, wire, mesh, tubes, castings or fabricated baskets — contact Hangbo Alloy Group. We typically respond within 10 minutes and ship worldwide from our Shanghai facility.

Email: [email protected]
Phone: +86-136-1165-6360
WhatsApp: +86 13611656360

Need the Right Alloy for Your Heat-Treat Fixtures?

Send us your furnace type, peak temperature, atmosphere, cycle count and load — and we will recommend the most cost-effective certified nickel alloy (RA330, 600, 601, 602CA, 800H or cast HK40/HP/HU) with a competitive quote and full material certification.