Why a Hastelloy Stencil Is Not Enough
Identifying Hastelloy scrap means proving which alloy — and whether the piece is solid — before the lot is offered. The trade name Hastelloy covers several unrelated chemistries. A faded stencil that only says Hastelloy does not tell a Mumbai buyer whether the drum holds C-276, C-22, B-2 or X.
Indian chemical plants, pharma projects and scrubber rebuilds release plate, pipe, fittings and turnings that look alike once paint and scale are present. Valve and furnace shops add sheet that may actually be Hastelloy X or even Haynes 230. The identification sequence below is written for that shop floor.
This article is the Hastelloy twin of how to identify Inconel scrap. For preparation and offer wording after the grade is known, continue with selling Hastelloy scrap and Hastelloy scrap grades and uses.
Mipra Steel is a scrap processor, trader, importer and exporter of nickel and cobalt alloy scrap, headquartered in Mumbai with offices in Dubai and Korea. Processing covers sorting, segregation and preparation of lots for sellers and melt shops. For chemical analysis, Mipra reviews test evidence and, where a lot needs it, arranges independent testing. You can offer a lot with markings and photographs alone; readings simply make the first review faster.
The Four Grades Indian Lots Usually Contain
Most Indian lots that reach a specialist desk are one of four grades: Hastelloy B-2 (UNS N10665), Hastelloy C-276 (UNS N10276), Hastelloy C-22 (UNS N06022) and Hastelloy X (UNS N06002).
B-2 is a nickel-molybdenum alloy for reducing acids. C-276 and C-22 are nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloys with tungsten for wet corrosion service. Hastelloy X is a heat-resisting alloy with much more iron; it shares the trade name but not the same duty as the C grades.
Other C-family names such as C-4 or C-2000 appear less often. If a stencil shows those designations, keep the material apart and send a photograph rather than dropping it into a C-276 drum.
Element Checks That Separate B, C and X
Nominal values from the grade pages on this site; specification limits vary by product form.
| Mo (approx) | Cr (approx) | Fe (approx) | W / Nb check | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B-2 | ~28% | ~1% or less | low | W not the story |
| C-276 | ~16% | ~15.5% | ~5.5% | W present; Nb absent |
| C-22 | ~13% | ~22% | ~3% | W present; Nb absent |
| X | ~9% | ~22% | ~18.5% | low W |
| Inconel 625 | ~9% | ~21.5% | ~4% | Nb present; W absent |
Nominal values from grade pages on this site; always read the full report.
Read the report as a set, not as a single grade guess from an instrument. Molybdenum above the mid-twenties with chromium near zero points to B-2. Chromium and molybdenum both near the mid-teens with tungsten present points to C-276. Chromium near 22% with molybdenum near 13% points to C-22. Iron near the high teens with about 22% chromium points to Hastelloy X.
Nominal values used on this site place B-2 near 28% molybdenum; C-276 near 16% molybdenum, 15.5% chromium and 3.75% tungsten; C-22 near 13% molybdenum, 22% chromium and 3% tungsten; and X near 18.5% iron, 22% chromium and 9% molybdenum. Specification limits vary by product form; the chart is a reading aid.
Hastelloy versus Inconel 625 on the Same Stillage
Inconel 625 is the nickel alloy most often mixed with C-276 in Indian yards because both appear as corrosion-resistant plate and pipe. The separator is niobium versus tungsten. Inconel 625 carries about 3.6% niobium on the nominal values used here and essentially no tungsten. C-276 carries tungsten and no niobium.
See also Inconel 625 versus Hastelloy C-276. If a stillage holds both, bag them separately before you enquire. A mixed corrosion plate lot is harder to review than two smaller, named lots.
Clad, Lined and Weld-Overlaid Pieces
Scrubber and vessel clear-outs in India frequently include wallpaper lining: a thin Hastelloy sheet welded to a carbon-steel shell. From the process face the plate can look like solid C-276. The cut edge tells the truth — a bright or dark alloy layer on a thicker steel backing.
Declare clad and lined material as its own lot. Photograph both faces and the cut edge. Do not describe lined plate as solid alloy by weight; the steel backing is not Hastelloy scrap.
Weld overlay on carbon steel or stainless follows the same rule. State that the alloy is a layer, not a solid section.
- Can you see two metals on a cut edge?YesTreat as clad/lined — separate lot with edge photos
- Is there a carbon-steel nozzle or support still attached?YesCut off or declare the attachment
- Is only the process face marked Hastelloy?YesAssume lining until the edge proves otherwise
- Solid alloy with a clear UNS stencil can proceed to grade separation using Mo/Cr/Fe/W
Markings, UNS Numbers and Certificates
Useful stencils show a product specification, a UNS number such as N10276, and a heat number. Plate and sheet for C-276 commonly reference ASTM B575; pipe and tube references include B622 and related product specs. Match the heat number to any mill certificate you still hold.
Painted equipment numbers from a plant tag help the seller track the asset but do not replace a UNS mark. When only an asset tag remains, say so and rely on readings plus photographs.
For a field checklist approach to positive material identification, see the PMI inspection checklist.
What Photos and Readings to Attach to an Enquiry
- Does a magnet grip firmly on a cut edge?YesLikely steel-backed clad or another magnetic alloy — declare cladding
- Is molybdenum above about 25% with chromium near zero?YesPoints to a B-family grade such as B-2
- Is iron around 18% with about 22% chromium?YesPoints toward Hastelloy X
- Is niobium present and tungsten absent?YesLikely Inconel 625, not Hastelloy — keep apart
- Otherwise compare Mo/Cr/W to separate C-276 from C-22, then confirm with markings
Send grade (or best guess), form, approximate weight, location in India, overall lot photos, close-ups of markings, and any independent readings listing molybdenum, chromium, iron, tungsten and niobium. For clad suspects, include the cut-edge photo.
We review incoming enquiries and respond with relevant next steps. Clear identification up front keeps the conversation on logistics and documents rather than on re-sorting a mixed plant clear-out.
Once grades are identified, Mipra can process (sort, segregate and prepare) and trade the lots from Mumbai, with Dubai and Korea offices on the same company. Hub page: Hastelloy scrap.
Selling from a plant shutdown? See plant shutdown scrap in India for sorting reactors, exchangers and piping by grade.
Painted scrubber modules from Indian fertiliser and refinery sites often hide stamps under epoxy. Plan a small grind window on each module type rather than assuming every panel in the structure is the same grade.
Turnings from a C-276 machining job must never join B-2 chips even if both drums say Hastelloy. Molybdenum levels differ enough that melt shops treat them as different charge materials.
When a fabricator returns unused C-22 offcuts years later without certificates, treat them as unidentified until readings and photos are gathered. Age of the offcuts does not prove the grade.
Pipe spools with welded fittings need a reading on the run and on the fitting; shops sometimes weld C-276 runs with matching consumables but attach a different flange alloy. Photograph both and declare any mismatch.
For plant engineers clearing a shutdown, a simple bag-and-tag kit (marker, tags, zip bags for sample coupons, camera phone) prevents most identification failures before scrap leaves the battery limits.
Keep a small coupon library at the store: known C-276, C-22 and X offcuts with certificates. New operators can compare colour and stamp style, then still confirm with a reading before releasing a sales lot.
Railway and port logistics do not change identification rules. Whether the lot sits in Bhiwandi, Taloja or a Gujarat GIDC shed, the same Mo/Cr/Fe/W logic applies before the truck is booked toward Mumbai.
FAQ
How do you identify Hastelloy scrap?
Start with markings and UNS numbers, then read molybdenum, chromium, iron and tungsten together. B-2 is very high molybdenum with almost no chromium; C-276 and C-22 differ mainly in chromium versus molybdenum balance; X shows high iron.
What is the difference between Hastelloy C-276 and C-22 scrap?
Both are nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloys with tungsten. C-276 sits near 16% molybdenum and 15.5% chromium; C-22 sits near 13% molybdenum and 22% chromium on the nominal values used on this site. Keep them in separate lots.
How can I tell Hastelloy from Inconel 625?
Inconel 625 carries niobium and essentially no tungsten. Hastelloy C-276 carries tungsten and no niobium. A multi-element reading that lists Nb and W side by side separates them.
Does a magnet prove Hastelloy?
No. Solid Hastelloy grades are not strongly magnetic. A firm magnet grip usually means carbon steel, a steel backing behind cladding, or another magnetic alloy.
What is clad or lined Hastelloy scrap?
Clad or lined material has a Hastelloy face on a carbon-steel or other backing. Cut edges show the layers. Declare it separately from solid alloy plate.
Which Hastelloy grades do Indian chemical plants usually scrap?
C-276 and C-22 dominate scrubber and process equipment clear-outs. B-2 appears from reducing-acid service. Hastelloy X more often comes from furnace and turbine sheet work.
What photos should I send with a Hastelloy enquiry?
Photograph the whole lot, any stencils or stamps, and both faces plus the cut edge of any suspected clad plate. Attach independent readings that list Mo, Cr, Fe and W.
Where can I read more about selling Hastelloy scrap?
See the selling guide for Hastelloy scrap and the grades-and-uses article, which cover preparation and applications once the grade is known.
Sources and Review
Figures are quoted as published in these sources; any value we could not confirm has been left out.
- Rolled Alloys Alloy C-276 data sheet and Haynes International HASTELLOY C-276 data, as cited on the C-276 grade page on this site.
- Grade pages on this site for Hastelloy B-2, C-22, X and Inconel 625: nominal element values used in the fingerprint chart.
- ASTM product specifications referenced on those grade pages (including B575 for C-276 plate/sheet contexts).
- Shop-floor identification steps describe general practice in India and are not a laboratory procedure.
Published by Mipra Steel, Khetwadi, Mumbai · Last updated
Plant stores in Gujarat and Maharashtra often hold leftover plate from a previous shutdown beside new offcuts from a fabricator. Treat every stillage as unidentified until markings or readings say otherwise, even when the storekeeper remembers the project as Hastelloy.
When turnings are part of the clear-out, keep them in closed bins by grade. Oil-wet mixed turnings cannot be sorted by eye the way plate can.