Monel K500 Tube Sheet
Monel 400's chemistry with aluminum and titanium added for age-hardening — roughly three times the yield strength of standard 400, for services that need Monel's corrosion resistance and can't accept 400's relatively low strength.
Chemical Composition
| Element | Min % | Max % |
|---|---|---|
| Nickel (Ni) | 63.0 | 70.0 |
| Copper (Cu) | 27.0 | 33.0 |
| Aluminum (Al) | 2.30 | 3.15 |
| Titanium (Ti) | 0.35 | 0.85 |
Mechanical Properties (Age-Hardened)
| Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 1050 MPa (aged condition) |
| Yield Strength (0.2% offset) | 750 MPa (aged condition) |
| Elongation | 20% min |
| Max. Practical Service Temp. | ~425°C (strength-limited) |
Equivalent Grades
| Standard | Designation |
|---|---|
| ASTM / UNS | N05500 |
| EN / DIN | 2.4375 |
| Trade Name | Monel® K-500 (Special Metals) |
K500 vs. 400 — Which One
See the full Monel 400 datasheet for the standard annealed grade.
Purchasing Specifications by Form
For Monel K500 / UNS N05500, the verified product-form owner for bar, rod, wire, forgings and forging stock is ASTM B865. ASTM B564 is not claimed for N05500. A plate ASTM number is not asserted here — leave plate as purchaser-stated / UNVERIFIED rather than inventing a specification.
| Element | Reference |
|---|---|
| Common name | Monel K500 |
| UNS | N05500 |
| Bar / rod / wire / forgings / forging stock | ASTM B865 (SB-865 where applicable) |
| Plate / sheet / strip | Purchaser-stated / UNVERIFIED — not asserted here |
| ASTM B564 | Not claimed for N05500 |
Age-hardening / condition matters for machinability and strength. Capture annealed vs aged stock path on the RFQ. See also annealed counterpart Monel 400 purchasing specs (B127 / B564).
| Specification | Product form / role | How to read it for tube sheets |
|---|---|---|
| ASTM B865 / SB-865 | Bar, rod, wire, forgings and forging stock | Verified form owner for K500 — use this language for forging/bar paths |
| Plate ASTM | Not invented on this page | If plate is required, capture the purchaser-stated specification — do not assume a number from this site |
| ASTM B564 | Not asserted for N05500 | Do not associate B564 with Monel K500 / N05500 |
Useful information to include in an RFQ (not mandatory for every enquiry):
- Alloy / grade (Monel K500) and UNS (N05500)
- B865 product form; condition (aged vs annealed stock path)
- Do not assume a plate ASTM or B564
- Tube-sheet OD / dimensions / thickness (if applicable)
- Tube OD, pitch, hole diameter and pattern
- Drawing + revision, quantity, machining tolerance, inspection / testing
Continue from grade identity into product form and machining:
Applications
High-strength fasteners and components in the same seawater and sour-service environments as Monel 400, where the added strength allows thinner sections or higher mechanical loading — pump shafts and valve trim are more common than tube sheets, but the alloy is specified where both corrosion resistance and strength are required together.
Advantages & Limitations
Advantages
- ~3x the yield strength of standard Monel 400
- Retains Monel's corrosion resistance profile
- Good resistance to seawater and sour service
Limitations
- Requires precipitation-hardening heat treatment after machining
- Higher cost and longer lead time than Monel 400
- Lower practical temperature ceiling than the annealed grade
FAQ
Usually not — most tube sheet applications are governed by pressure/thickness calculations that standard Monel 400 satisfies without needing K500's extra strength. K500 is reserved for cases with a specific mechanical loading requirement beyond typical pressure-boundary duty.
The corrosion resistance mechanism is largely unaffected by the aging heat treatment, since it comes from the base nickel-copper chemistry rather than the aluminum/titanium precipitates that provide strength.
Yes, particularly in the aged condition — machining is typically done before aging where possible, since the material is softer and easier to work with before the strengthening heat treatment is applied.