Inconel 740H is an age-hardenable nickel-cobalt-chromium superalloy developed specifically for advanced ultra-supercritical (A-USC) coal-fired boilers. This datasheet presents the material within the American (ASTM / ASME / UNS) standard system.
A derivative of the aerospace alloy Nimonic 263 with a raised chromium content of about 24.5%, Inconel 740H combines excellent steam and coal-ash (fire-side) corrosion resistance with high creep strength, good microstructural stability and heavy-section weldability. It is age-hardened by precipitation of the gamma-prime (γ′, Ni₃(Al,Ti,Nb)) phase, with the niobium, aluminium and titanium balanced to give both thermal stability and high strength. It is the first — and to date the only — age-hardened nickel-base alloy approved by the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code for welded construction in the creep-limited temperature regime (Code Case 2702), with a maximum use temperature of 800 °C (1472 °F), and is designed for steam at about 760 °C. It is supplied in the solution-annealed and aged condition.
Typical applications include superheater and reheater tubing, headers and main steam piping for A-USC boilers, supercritical-CO₂ system components, and concentrated-solar-power receiver tubing.
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 8.05 | g/cm³ |
| Melting range | 1288–1362 | °C |
| Elastic modulus | 221 | GPa |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion (20–100 °C) | 12.6 | µm/m·°C |
| Thermal conductivity (20 °C) | 11.0 | W/m·K |
| Specific heat (20 °C) | 448 | J/kg·K |
| Structure | Austenitic (FCC) | — |
| Element | Symbol | Min % | Max % | Role in Alloy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickel | Ni | Balance | — | Base element; γ′ matrix |
| Chromium | Cr | 23.5 | 25.5 | Steam / coal-ash corrosion resistance |
| Cobalt | Co | 15.0 | 22.0 | Solid-solution / γ′ stability |
| Niobium | Nb | 0.50 | 2.50 | γ′ (Ni₃(Al,Ti,Nb)) strengthening |
| Titanium | Ti | 0.50 | 2.50 | γ′ strengthening |
| Aluminium | Al | 0.20 | 2.00 | γ′ strengthening |
| Molybdenum | Mo | 0.50 | 2.00 | Solid-solution strengthening |
| Iron | Fe | — | 3.00 | Residual |
| Manganese | Mn | — | 1.00 | Deoxidiser |
| Silicon | Si | — | 0.50 | Deoxidiser |
| Carbon | C | 0.005 | 0.08 | Carbide formation |
Solution-annealed and aged condition, typical room-temperature values for UNS N07740.
| Condition | Property | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Solution annealed & aged | Tensile strength (UTS) | ≥1000 MPa (145 ksi) |
| Solution annealed & aged | 0.2% yield strength | ≥620 MPa (90 ksi) |
| Solution annealed & aged | Elongation at break | ≥20 % |
| Solution annealed & aged | Reduction of area | ≥25 % |
| — | Elastic modulus | 221 GPa |
Confirm against the mill test report. The alloy's primary advantage is its high creep-rupture strength, which exceeds that of alloy 617 in the A-USC temperature range.
| Environment | Performance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Steam oxidation | Excellent | Designed for ~760 °C A-USC steam |
| Coal-ash / fire-side | Excellent | High Cr (24.5%) resists fuel-ash corrosion |
| High-temperature oxidation | Excellent | To about 800 °C use temperature |
| Supercritical CO₂ | Very Good | Under evaluation for sCO₂ systems |
| Creep / thermal stability | Excellent | Primary design advantage |
The high chromium content gives outstanding steam-oxidation and coal-ash corrosion resistance, while the γ′ precipitation provides the creep strength needed for advanced ultra-supercritical service.
A γ′ precipitation-hardenable superalloy; strengthened by solution annealing followed by ageing, per ASME Code Case 2702.
Solution Treatment Solution anneal at a minimum of 1100 °C (2010 °F), holding about 1 hour per 25.4 mm of thickness (minimum 30 minutes); the range may extend to about 1160 °C. Water quench after solution annealing.
Precipitation Hardening (Ageing) Age between 760 °C (1400 °F) and 815 °C (1500 °F) for a minimum of 4 hours, precipitating γ′ (Ni₃(Al,Ti,Nb)). The minimum ageing time is extended for sections above 50 mm.
Weldable in heavy sections — a key design feature — though, as with all high-nickel γ′ alloys, welding is demanding. For A-USC service the alloy is normally welded in the solution-annealed and aged condition followed by post-weld heat treatment, per Code Case 2702.
| Welding Process | Applicability | Filler / Consumable |
|---|---|---|
| GTAW / TIG | Good (skilled) | Matching alloy 740H filler |
| GMAW / MIG | Acceptable | Matching filler |
| SMAW / stick | Acceptable | Matching electrode |
Follow Code Case 2702 welding rules and weld strength reduction factors; apply post-weld heat treatment to restore properties.
Machining Guidelines
| Parameter | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Preferred condition | Solution-annealed for machining, then age |
| Machinability | Difficult; rigid setups, carbide tooling, slow speeds |
| Coolant | Ample coolant |
Forming Processes
| Process | Notes |
|---|---|
| Cold forming | In the annealed condition; work-hardens |
| Hot forming | Performed hot; solution and age afterward |
| Industry | Typical Components | Key Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| A-USC boilers | Superheater / reheater tubing, headers, steam piping | Creep strength + steam/coal-ash corrosion to ~760 °C |
| Power generation | High-temperature pressure parts | Creep strength + weldability |
| Supercritical CO₂ | sCO₂ system components | Oxidation + creep strength |
| Concentrated solar | Receiver tubing | High creep and fatigue strength |
| Product Form | Standard | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tube and pipe | ASME Code Case 2702 | UNS N07740 |
| Plate and sheet | ASME Code Case 2702 | — |
| Bar and forgings | ASME Code Case 2702 | — |
| Code construction | ASME B&PV Section I | To 800 °C max use temperature |
Nickel-cobalt-chromium γ′ precipitation-hardenable superalloy. UNS N07740.
| Alloy | Cr % | Co % | Strengthening | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inconel 740H | 23.5–25.5 | 15–22 | γ′ (Al, Ti, Nb) | A-USC boiler alloy; creep + steam/coal-ash corrosion to ~760 °C |
| Nimonic 263 | 19–21 | 19–21 | γ′ (Al, Ti) | Aerospace sheet; 740H parent alloy |
| Inconel 617 | 20–24 | 10–15 | Solid solution | High-temperature solid-solution alloy |
| Inconel 718 | 17–21 | ≤1 | γ′ + γ″ (Nb, Ti) | Most-used high-strength superalloy to ~700 °C |
| Inconel 625 | 20–23 | ≤1 | Solid solution | Corrosion + moderate high-temperature strength |




