Inconel 718 retains high strength even at elevated temperatures and work-hardens aggressively during cutting. This means the material becomes harder with each pass if not machined correctly. It also has poor thermal conductivity, causing heat to stay at the tool–workpiece interface, which increases tool wear.  

Yes. Inconel 718 offers outstanding resistance to corrosion, oxidation, and chemical attack in extreme environments such as high-pressure steam, seawater, acids, and combustion gases. Its chromium–nickel matrix forms a stable oxide layer that protects the alloy under high temperatures and corrosive media.  

Absolutely. Inconel 718 is a precipitation-hardened superalloy that significantly increases in strength after a combination of solution annealing and aging cycles. Heat treatment can raise hardness to around 40–47 HRC and improve fatigue resistance, creep strength, and overall durability. 

Unlike many high-nickel superalloys, Inconel 718 is highly weldable and does not suffer from severe micro-cracking issues. This is due to its balanced niobium content, which controls the formation of harmful delta phases during welding. It can be welded using TIG, MIG, or laser welding without losing mechanical performance. XC Machining can provide welded assemblies or post-weld machining as required. 

Inconel 718 is essential in industries that demand extreme heat, load, and corrosion resistance. These include aerospace (turbine blades, combustor hardware, rocket engines), oil & gas (valves, downhole tools), automotive motorsports (high-temp exhaust and turbo parts), nuclear energy systems, and high-pressure chemical processing.