What is b407 incoloy 800 tube and what are its primary applications?

ASTM B407 is the standard specification for seamless nickel-iron-chromium alloy pipe and tube, and the material it covers is commonly known as Incoloy 800 (UNS N08800), together with its high-carbon variants Incoloy 800H (UNS N08810) and Incoloy 800HT (UNS N08811). A B407 Incoloy 800 tube is therefore a seamless tube produced from this nickel-iron-chromium alloy to the dimensional, mechanical, and testing requirements of ASTM B407.

The alloy sits between austenitic stainless steel and the more expensive nickel superalloys. It combines the strength and fabricability of stainless steel with the high-temperature stability and corrosion resistance demanded by process service, which is why it has become a workhorse material across the petrochemical, power, and heat-transfer industries.

Chemical Composition and Grades

Incoloy 800 contains roughly 30–35% nickel, 19–23% chromium, and 0.15–0.60% each of aluminum and titanium, with the balance made up of iron and carbon controlled to 0.10% or less. The high nickel content gives the alloy its resistance to chloride stress-corrosion cracking, while the chromium forms a protective oxide scale that resists oxidation and carburization at elevated temperature.

Three grades are available within the family:

Incoloy 800 (UNS N08800): the standard grade, solution annealed, with a fine grain structure.
Incoloy 800H (UNS N08810): a controlled carbon content and a coarse grain size that improve creep strength at elevated temperatures.
Incoloy 800HT (UNS N08811): the highest creep-rupture strength of the three, used where long-term high-temperature strength is critical.

For most heat-exchanger and furnace-tube applications, the H and HT grades are preferred because their creep resistance extends service life under sustained high temperature and pressure.

Key Properties

High-temperature strength. Incoloy 800 maintains useful strength well beyond the limit of conventional stainless steels, with oxidation resistance up to roughly 800°C and structural stability up to about 1100°C. This makes it suitable for components exposed to long-term high temperature and pressure, such as furnace tubes and superheater piping.

Corrosion resistance. The alloy resists nitric acid and other oxidizing media, and its high nickel content provides excellent resistance to chloride-ion stress-corrosion cracking. In moderately concentrated nitric acid at low temperature, corrosion rates remain extremely low.

Mechanical properties. In the solution-annealed condition, B407 Incoloy 800 tube typically offers a tensile strength of at least 520 MPa, a yield strength of at least 205 MPa, and elongation above 30%, with good toughness maintained at elevated temperature.

Weldability and fabricability. The tube can be welded using TIG and plasma arc methods, commonly with ERNiCr-3 filler, and is supplied in a solution-annealed condition to ensure a uniform microstructure.

Primary Applications

Petrochemical and chemical processing. B407 Incoloy 800 tube is widely used for furnace tubes in steam methane reforming and ethylene cracking units, transfer-line exchangers, nitric acid coolers, and process piping where high temperature and corrosive media meet. The material’s resistance to oxidation, carburization, and sulfidation keeps reformers and crackers running reliably.

Heat exchangers and condensers. Because the alloy holds up in high-temperature, high-pressure service, it is a common choice for heat exchanger tube and condenser tube applications in refineries, chemical plants, and waste-heat recovery systems.

Power generation. Superheater and reheater tubes, header piping, and steam-generator tubing in both thermal and nuclear power plants rely on Incoloy 800 for its resistance to stress-corrosion cracking in high-temperature, high-pressure water and its long-term creep resistance.

Aerospace and high-temperature components. The alloy’s combination of strength, heat resistance, and corrosion resistance makes it suitable for engine and combustion components, turbine hardware, and other parts that operate in high-temperature environments, a category covered in the company’s power plants & aerospace product range.

Marine and desalination. In seawater desalination plants, flue-gas desulfurization systems, and wastewater treatment, the alloy’s chloride resistance protects against the aggressive corrosion of seawater and sulfides.

Manufacturing and Quality Assurance

A reliable B407 Incoloy 800 tube should be produced from hot-rolled, cold-drawn, or cold-rolled seamless stock, then solution annealed and pickled or electropolished to restore corrosion resistance. Buyers should look for suppliers that provide full mill test certificates, positive material identification, hydrostatic and ultrasonic testing, and traceability back to the heat.

As a manufacturer and integrated supplier of industrial metal piping systems since 1994, EZ Steel Industrial Co., Ltd. supplies B407 Incoloy 800 tube and related nickel alloy products with certified quality control, including ISO 9001 management, API 5L and API 5CT product certification, and PED compliance. With more than 500 employees, an annual production capacity of 480,000+ tons, and a three-location manufacturing network covering alloy steel, stainless steel, and copper-nickel materials, the company supports both standard and custom requirements for project and industrial applications.

Conclusion

ASTM B407 Incoloy 800 tube is a high-performance nickel-iron-chromium alloy tube built for high-temperature and corrosive service. From petrochemical furnace tubes and heat exchangers to power-plant superheaters and aerospace components, its combination of strength, oxidation resistance, and corrosion resistance makes it one of the most versatile materials in industrial piping. When selecting a supplier, prioritize certified quality, full traceability, and the manufacturing capability to deliver consistent, code-compliant product.