Aerospace Nickel Alloy and Superalloy Scrap
Source industry
Aerospace generates some of the highest-value nickel alloy scrap: Inconel 718 turnings from disc and shaft machining, superalloy revert from turbine blades and vanes, and Hastelloy X and Haynes sheet from combustors. Much of it is traceable, but coatings and mixed turnings need careful sorting.
Background
Why Aerospace Uses Nickel Alloys
Jet engines run their hottest sections close to the melting point of any metal. Nickel superalloys keep their strength there, and titanium gives the best strength for its weight in cooler sections and airframes.
Scrap is released continuously from machining (turnings and forging offcuts), and in batches from engine overhauls, when parts reach their life limits.
The chain
From Component to Scrap
Where the alloy served, which grades are used there, and the scrap that comes back.
Inconel 718, Haynes 282
Machining turnings, forging offcuts, retired parts
René 80, René N5, MAR-M 247, Inconel 713C
Service revert and foundry revert
Hastelloy X, Haynes 230, Nimonic C-263, Inconel 625
Sheet trim and retired parts
Inconel 718, Nimonic 80A, Monel K-500
Bar ends and rejected parts
Titanium Grade 5
Turnings and solids
Grades
Grades from This Industry
Open a grade for its composition, identification and standards.
| Grade | Typical use in this industry |
|---|---|
| Inconel 718 | Jet engine discs, shafts, casings and rings |
| René 80 | Turbine blades (buckets) and vanes |
| René N5 | High-pressure turbine blades and vanes in aero engines |
| MAR-M 247 | Directionally solidified turbine blades and vanes |
| Hastelloy X | Gas turbine combustors and transition ducts |
| Haynes 282 | Aero and land gas turbine combustors, casings and rings |
| Nimonic C-263 | Combustion chambers and transition liners |
| Titanium Grade 5 | Aircraft structures and engine fan and compressor parts |
Standards
Standards Behind This Scrap
Aerospace material is bought to SAE AMS specifications and engine-maker documents, so the paperwork on aerospace scrap usually quotes an AMS number: AMS 5662 or 5663 for 718 bar and forgings, AMS 5599 for 625 sheet and plate, AMS 4911 and 4928 for Ti-6Al-4V. Cast superalloy parts are bought to OEM specifications that are not published.
| Grade | Main product standards |
|---|---|
| Inconel 718 | ASTM B637, ASTM B670, AMS 5596, AMS 5662 |
| René 80 | OEM specifications |
| René N5 | OEM specifications |
| MAR-M 247 | OEM specifications |
| Hastelloy X | ASTM B435, ASTM B572, ASTM B622, ASTM B619 |
| Haynes 282 | ASTM B637, AMS 5951, AMS 5915 |
| Nimonic C-263 | AMS 5872, AMS 5886, BS HR 10, BS HR 206 |
| Titanium Grade 5 | ASTM B265, ASTM B348, ASTM B381, ASTM B861 |
Before you sell
Things to Know
Engine-part scrap from overhaul shops is usually mutilated (deliberately damaged) before release, to prevent it re-entering service. Buyers expect that.
Questions
FAQ
Why are aerospace turnings valuable?
A single forged Inconel 718 disc can lose much of its weight to machining, so aerospace machining produces large volumes of single-grade turnings. When they are kept clean and separate they are a reliable source of 718.
Can aerospace scrap be traced back to its specification?
Often, yes. Machined aerospace material usually comes from certified bar and forgings, and machine shops can often tie turnings and offcuts back to the original certificates.
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