Why Alloy 625 is beneficial to use as buttering material

Alloy 625 is a Nickel-Chromium alloy used for its high strength, excellent fabricability and outstanding
corrosion resistance. Service temperatures range from cryogenic to 1800 deg.F. Alloy 625 strength is
derived from the stiffening effect of molybdenium and columbium on its Nickel-Chromium matrix; thus
precipitation-hardening treatments are not required. This combination of elements also is responsible for
superior resistance to a wide range of corrosive environments of unusual severity as well as to hightemperature effects such as oxidation and carburization.
Chemical Composition %
Ni
58 min

Cr
20.0-

Co + TA
3.15-

23.0

4.15

Nb

Fe

Si

Al

Ti

3.6

5.0 max

0.10

0.20

0.40 max

0.40 max

Elements on Strength
The effect of nickel on the 1200F stress-rupture strength of annealed 625, at peak around 57%.

Strength of alloy 625 is derived from the stiffening effect of molybdenum and niobium on its nickelchromium matrix; thus precipitation-hardening treatments are not required. This combination of elements

also is responsible for superior resistance to a wide range of corrosive environments of unusual severity
as well as to high-temperature effects such as oxidation and carburization.
Corrosion Consideration
The properties of alloy 625 that make it an excellent choice for sea-water applications are freedom from
local attack (pitting and crevice corrosion), high corrosion-fatigue strength, high tensile strength, and
resistance to chloride-ion stress-corrosion cracking. It is used as wire rope for mooring cables, propeller
blades for motor patrol gunboats, submarine auxiliary propulsion motors, submarine quick-disconnect
fittings, exhaust ducts for Navy utility boats, sheathing for undersea communication cables, submarine
transducer controls, and steam-line bellows. Potential applications are springs, seals, bellows for
submerged controls, electrical cable connectors, fasteners, flexure devices, and oceanographic instrument
components.
Effect of Nickel Content on Corrosion Rate

As an alloying element, nickel contributes resistance to many corrosive media, particularly to reducing
environments, neutral salt solutions and alkalies and is particularly helpful in preventing stress-corrosion

cracking. Chromium, on the other hand, offers little resistance to non-oxidizing media such as
hydrochloric acid but has excellent resistance to oxidizing solutions such as nitric acid. Molybdenum, in
addition to contributing to mechanical strength as a matrix stiffener, contributes greatly to corrosion
resistance in reducing media and in providing pitting resistance.

Weldability
Excellent weldability was one of the prime goals in the alloy development program. While the
composition produced a matrix that was essentially a solid-solution type, the presence of a relatively high
level of niobium and its participation in a long-time aging-type reaction created concern regarding
resistance to strain-induced cracking during post-weld exposure to intermediate temperatures.
Additionally, its ability to tolerate dilution by numerous elements has established it as a premier
dissimilar-welding material. For many years, alloy 625 welding products have been used to weld 9%
nickel steel structures that are used in cryogenic applications because of the high strength, ductility and
impact strength of the austenitic-type welds and the toleration of dilution from the 9% nickel steel.