Category: Uncategorized

What’s Your Inconel Scrap Worth? Current Prices & Recycling Tips

Post author By Virginia Buechel
Post date April 2, 2025

If your business works with high-performance alloys like Inconel, you already know how valuable these materials are—both in use and at the end of their life cycle. Inconel scrap is in high demand, and with constantly shifting market conditions, it pays—literally—to stay informed about current Inconel scrap prices.

At RRCarbide, we specialize in buying and processing Inconel scrap and other high-temperature alloys, offering competitive pricing and streamlined services to machine shops, aerospace suppliers, and industrial facilities nationwide. Let’s go over:

Table of Contents

What Is Inconel?
Where Inconel Scrap Comes From
Inconel Scrap Prices: What Affects the Value
Where to Check Inconel Prices
How RRCarbide Makes Inconel Recycling Easy for Businesses

What Is Inconel?

Inconel is a trademarked family of nickel-based superalloys known for their exceptional resistance to corrosion, oxidation, and extreme temperatures. Common Inconel grades include:

Inconel 600 – General-purpose high-temp alloy
Inconel 625 – Known for corrosion and fatigue resistance
Inconel 718 – Used widely in aerospace due to its strength

Where Inconel Scrap Comes From

Inconel scrap comes in many forms and from a variety of industries:

Aerospace: Retired jet engine parts, turbine blades, aircraft tooling
Manufacturing/Machining: Solids, offcuts, end mills, and Inconel turnings
Oil & Gas: Downhole tubing, heat exchangers, valves
Medical: Surgical devices and specialized tools (limited but valuable)
Fabricators: Leftover pipes, bar stock, and sheets from custom work

Inconel Scrap Prices: What Affects the Value

Like all specialty alloys, Inconel scrap prices vary based on several key factors:

Grade Matters
- Higher nickel content = higher base value
- Inconel 718 and 625 tend to command premium rates
Form of Scrap
- Solids typically bring a higher price than turnings
- Turnings are lighter and often mixed with oils or contaminants
Cleanliness
- Sorted and separate materials earn more
- Scrap mixed with steel or oil reduces the pricing
Market Trends
- Supply chain disruptions, EV battery demand, and geopolitical factors can all influence prices.

Where to Check Inconel Prices

Because Inconel is tied to the volatile nickel commodities market, pricing can fluctuate weekly or even daily. That’s why it’s important to check prices with a trusted and transparent buyer.

See Inconel prices

We update our Inconel pricing in real time to reflect current market conditions and help sellers make informed decisions. Bookmark our pricing page and revisit often, especially before scheduling a pickup or shipping materials.

How RRCarbide Makes Inconel Recycling Easy for Businesses

At RRCarbide, we make it easy for businesses across the U.S. to recycle Inconel and get paid fast.

Here’s what sets us apart:

Custom Recycling Programs – Tailored to aerospace, machining, oil & gas, and manufacturing needs
Nationwide Pickup & Logistics – We handle all the heavy lifting
Fair & Transparent Pricing – Accurate grading and competitive rates
Expertise in Rare Earth Alloys – From Inconel to Hastelloy, Cobalt, and more

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Get the Most for Your Inconel Scrap

Looking for the best Inconel scrap prices in today’s market? Visit our Pricing Page to see market trends.

RRCarbide is here to help you maximize value, reduce waste, and simplify your scrap process—one alloy at a time.

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Uncategorized

The Difference Between Tungsten Carbide vs. High-Speed Steel

Post author By steve
Post date November 28, 2024

When it comes to metals like Tungsten Carbide and High-Speed Steel (HSS), knowing their differences and identifying them can be crucial for scrap metal recyclers and businesses that use these materials. Whether you’re a machine shop generating metal shavings from cutting operations or a scrapper handling various industrial materials from clean-up jobs, having an in-depth understanding of these materials can help you maximize the value of what you sell and recycle.

What Is Tungsten Carbide?

Tungsten Carbide is a dense and highly durable metal known for its extreme hardness and resistance to wear and tear. These properties make it ideal for cutting tools, mining equipment, and industrial machinery applications. Tungsten Carbide is often found in inserts, drill bits, and wear parts with a lot of friction and stress.

What Is High-Speed Steel (HSS)?

High-Speed Steel, commonly referred to as HSS, is a type of tool steel known for its high resistance to heat and wear. While it may not be as hard as Tungsten Carbide, HSS is known for its toughness, edge retention, and cost-effectiveness. HSS is commonly used in drill bits, saw blades, and other cutting tools where both durability and flexibility are required.

Key Differences Between Tungsten Carbide and High-Speed Steel

Magnetic Properties: Tungsten Carbide has a slight magnetic pull but is easily separated from a magnet. Smaller carbide pieces tend to stick more to the magnet, but even these can be pulled off with minimal effort. In contrast, High-Speed Steel has a much stronger magnetic attraction and holds firmly to a magnet, making it easier to identify in a mixed load.

Identification Through XRF Analysis: You can contact your local yard and ask them to analyze your material using a spectrometer, such as an XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analyzer, which is the most accurate way to determine the composition of these metals. XRF analysis provides an almost exact material breakdown by percentage, helping to avoid any misidentification that might occur through visual inspection alone. Before using an XRF, it’s crucial to prepare the material’s surface by grinding off any coatings or rust, as these can interfere with the readings.

Visual Identification: High-Speed Steel is often more susceptible to rust and corrosion than Tungsten Carbide. While carbide can also show some signs of corrosion, it does not rust like iron-based HSS. This difference can serve as a visual cue when inspecting large quantities of scrap metal.

Scrap Price Trends for Tungsten Carbide and High-Speed Steel

Tungsten Carbide and High-Speed Steel prices can vary significantly based on market conditions, industry demand, and the overall economy. Tungsten Carbide typically has a higher price due to its desirable properties and applications, but fluctuations in demand can lead to price swings. High-Speed Steel, while less valuable, remains a staple in the scrap industry and is often traded in bulk.

At RRCarbide, we regularly update our pricing based on the latest industry trends and offer competitive rates for Tungsten Carbide and High-Speed Steel. If you’re looking to sell these materials, it’s always a good idea to get a quote to ensure you’re getting the best deal.

Why Choose RRCarbide?

RRCarbide is dedicated to providing our clients with accurate material testing, competitive pricing, and reliable service. Our team understands the complexities of dealing with high-value metals like Tungsten Carbide and High-Speed Steel and is committed to helping you get the most out of your scrap. We also buy many other rare earth metals, including cobalt, Hastelloy, Elkonite, Mallory-based metals, Monel, nickel, and sludge from production processes.

If you have Tungsten Carbide, High-Speed Steel, or other rare earth metals to sell, contact RRCarbide today for a quote or consultation. We look forward to helping you get the most value from your scrap metals and building a long-lasting partnership.

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Monel Uncategorized

Types of Monel & Its Scrap Value

Post author By steve
Post date November 1, 2024

Monel can be a top choice for high-performance metals in challenging environments. This nickel-based alloy is known for its exceptional resistance to corrosion, heat, and mechanical stress, making it ideal for use in industries that demand durability and longevity. But what are Monel’s various grades, typical uses, and the economic benefits of recycling Monel scrap?

What is Monel?

Monel is a nickel-based alloy primarily composed of two-thirds nickel and one-third copper, with small amounts of other elements like iron and manganese. Developed in the early 20th century, Monel’s popularity has grown steadily across various industries, from marine engineering to aerospace and chemical processing. Its resistance to high temperatures, corrosion, and harsh environments sets it apart from other materials like stainless steel.

Types of Monel and Their Characteristics

Monel comes in several grades, each tailored to specific applications and environments. Below are the most common types of Monel and their defining characteristics:

Monel 400: This is one of the most widely used Monel alloys. It is highly resistant to hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids, making it a popular choice in chemical, oil, and marine industries.
Monel 401: This grade is typically used in electrical and electronic applications due to its low electrical resistivity under corrosive conditions. Its ability to maintain its structure over a wide range of temperatures makes it well-suited to electronic components.
Monel 404: This is known for its excellent strength retention across various temperature ranges, making it an ideal candidate for harsh environments. It also displays low permeability, which is crucial for electronics that require reliable strength and stability.
Monel K 500: This grade combines the excellent corrosion resistance of Monel 400 with enhanced strength and hardness. It is often used in extreme marine and chemical environments where durability and resistance to stress corrosion are critical.
Monel R 405: This variety is optimized for heavy machinery due to its added sulfur content. It is a popular choice for automatic screw machines as well.

The High Cost of Mining Monel

Monel is an expensive metal alloy, costing six to eight times more than 304 stainless steel. The high price is primarily due to the difficulty of mining and refining nickel. For many small machine shops and fabricators, sourcing Monel in small quantities can be a challenge.

However, one effective way to balance out the cost of purchasing these materials is to recycle any scrap Monel your industry creates as a byproduct of its work.

How Much Is Scrap Monel Worth?

In many cases, Monel can be two to three times more expensive than typical stainless steel grades like 304 or 316. Still, exact pricing differences can fluctuate depending on market conditions and demand for specialty metals.

See Prices

Monel Scrap Metal: Recycling and Economic Benefits

Recycling monel is economically and environmentally beneficial. Monel scrap has a significant value because of its high nickel and copper content. Industries that require monel components, such as chemical processing and marine engineering, often purchase recycled monel to cut costs while still receiving high-quality material.

How RRCarbide Can Help with Monel Recycling

This is where RRCarbide can enter and help you make those material and monetary gains. We specialize in purchasing and recycling Monel scrap and other specialty alloys like tungsten, cobalt, and Hastelloy. Our team understands the complexities of handling and processing high-value metals like Monel, which is why we offer customized solutions to machine shops, manufacturers, and industrial clients across the country. Whether you have leftover Monel remnants, off-cuts, or decommissioned components, we provide competitive pricing and efficient service to help you turn your scrap into revenue.

Contact RRCarbide today to learn how we can help you maximize the value of your Monel scrap metal and support sustainable recycling practices in your business.

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