ASME SB163 Alloy 201 / UNS N02201 Nickel Alloy Seamless Tube Heat Exchanger Tube
ASTM B163 / ASME SB163 UNS N02201 / Nickel Alloy 201 Seamless Heat Exchanger Tube
ASTM B163 Nickel 201 is the high-reliability, low-carbon workhorse for seamless tubing in corrosive and high-temperature heat exchange. Nickel 201 (UNS N02201). This is the low-carbon (<0.02% C) version of commercially pure nickel (Nickel 200/UNS N02200. Its successful application hinges as much on understanding its subtle metallurgical requirements and fabrication vulnerabilities as on its well-documented corrosion resistance.
Equivalent Grade of Nickel 201 / UNS N02201 Nickel Alloy
| ASTM/ASME | Werkstoff Nr. | DIN | BS | JIS |
| UNS N02201 | 2.4068 | 2.4061 | NA12 | NW 2201 |
Chemical Coposition % of ASTM B163 UNS N02201 Nickel Alloy Heat Exchanger Tube
| NI | FE | C | MN | SI | CU | MG | TI | S |
| 99.0 min | 0.4 max | 0.02 max | 0.35 max | 0.2 max | 0.25 max | 0.15 max | 0.1 max | 0.01 max |
| Density | Melting Point | Tensile Strength | Yield Strength (0.2%Offset) | Elongation |
| 8.9 g/cm3 | 1446 °C (2635 °F) | Psi – 67000 , MPa – 462 | Psi – 21500 , MPa – 148 | 45 % |
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Excellent Corrosion Resistance: Resists corrosion by neutral/alkaline salts, caustic alkalis, dry halogen gases (especially fluorine & hydrogen fluoride), and food processing environments.
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High Thermal Conductivity: Good for heat transfer, but its real value is maintaining this conductivity in corrosive environments where copper or steel would fail.
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Ductility & Formability: Very ductile and malleable in the annealed condition, allowing for tube expansion, bending, and forming.
Comparison & Selection Rationale vs. Common Alternatives
| Material | Key Advantage vs. Nickel 201 | Key Disadvantage vs. Nickel 201 |
|---|---|---|
| Stainless Steel 316L | Higher strength, lower cost. | Prone to chloride stress corrosion cracking (SCC). Contaminates ultra-pure processes. |
| Alloy 400 (Monel) | Much higher strength, excellent in seawater/HF acid. | Higher cost, can suffer graphitization in high-temp service (though less prone than Ni 200). |
| Alloy 600/600H | Superior oxidation resistance, high strength, resistant to chloride SCC. | Higher cost, not as resistant to caustic cracking as low-carbon Ni 201. |
| Titanium Gr 2 | Excellent in chlorides, very strong, lightweight. | Catastrophically fails in dry fluorine, poor in reducing acids, high cost. |
Selection Driver: Choose Nickel 201 seamless tube when the primary needs are:
1) Metallurgical stability above 315°C,
2) Resistance to caustic or fluorine environments, and
3) Ultra-high product purity. It is a material chosen not for its strength, but for its predictable, durable inertness under specific, demanding conditions.
Application
Heat exchanger, condenser, and evaporator tubes in:
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Caustic (NaOH/KOH) production and handling.
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Synthetic fiber production (maintaining product purity).
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Nuclear fuel processing (UF₆ handling).
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Fluorochemical plants.
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High-purity hydrogen or organic chemical processes.
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