Published by Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. Last reviewed 18 August 2026.
§01What Incoloy Alloy 903 is
Incoloy Alloy 903 was developed for turbine and rocket hardware that has to hold close running clearances through large temperature swings. Most superalloys expand too much for that duty. Alloy 903 expands at about 7.2 µm/m/°C from room temperature to 425 °C, against about 18 µm/m/°C for 304 stainless steel over the same range, and its modulus of elasticity stays within a few percent of 150 GPa from −196 °C to 500 °C.
The low expansion comes from the chemistry. Chromium raises thermal expansion, so it is left out. Nickel, cobalt and iron are balanced near the Invar composition, which suppresses expansion below the Curie temperature. Strength is then developed by precipitation hardening with niobium, titanium and aluminium, the same mechanism used in Inconel 718.
Design limitation. Because Alloy 903 contains no chromium, it does not form a protective chromia scale. It is specified for dimensional stability, not for corrosion resistance. An aluminide or overlay coating is normally applied for sustained service above 540 °C in oxidising atmospheres. Oxidation data is given in section 7.
Position among the low-expansion grades
Alloy 903 is the first of the Incoloy 900-series low-expansion alloys, followed by Alloy 907 and Alloy 909. All three use the same nickel-iron-cobalt base. Alloys 907 and 909 contain silicon additions that improve notch stress-rupture behaviour. Alloy 903 has the highest room-temperature strength of the three. A grade comparison is given in section 12.
§02Thermal expansion behaviour
The chart below plots the mean coefficient of thermal expansion measured from room temperature up to each indicated temperature. Alloy 903 is shown against two alloys often considered for the same components.
| Temperature | Incoloy Alloy 903 | Inconel 718, typical | 304 stainless, typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 °C | 7.1 | 13.0 | 16.6 |
| 200 °C | 7.2 | 13.4 | 17.2 |
| 300 °C | 7.2 | 13.8 | 17.6 |
| 425 °C | 7.3 | 14.3 | 18.1 |
| 500 °C | 9.2 | 14.7 | 18.4 |
| 600 °C | 11.2 | 15.3 | 18.7 |
| 650 °C | 12.0 | 15.6 | 18.9 |
Reproducibility
Expansion behaviour is stable under both static and cyclic exposure. Published data show no measurable change in expansion coefficient after 500 hours at 595 °C. Fifty cycles of heating to 650 °C, holding 15 minutes and air cooling reproduced the expansion curve to within 1 percent. Together with the flat modulus curve, this gives the alloy good resistance to thermal fatigue and thermal shock.
§03Chemical composition of UNS N19903
Table 3.1 gives the limiting composition of Incoloy Alloy 903 in weight percent. Chromium is not an intentional addition.
| Element | Minimum | Maximum | Nominal | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickel, Ni | 36.0 | 40.0 | 38 | Sets the Invar-type low-expansion matrix |
| Cobalt, Co | 13.0 | 17.0 | 15 | Raises the Curie temperature and extends the low-expansion range |
| Niobium, Nb | 2.40 | 3.50 | 3.0 | Primary precipitation hardener, gamma double prime |
| Titanium, Ti | 1.00 | 1.85 | 1.4 | Secondary hardener, gamma prime |
| Aluminium, Al | 0.30 | 1.15 | 0.9 | Secondary hardener, held low to protect expansion behaviour |
| Iron, Fe | — | — | Balance, approx. 41 | Base of the Fe-Ni-Co matrix |
| Chromium, Cr | — | — | Not added | Excluded because it would raise expansion |
A balance figure does not guarantee that the remainder is exclusively iron. It means iron predominates and residual elements are present only in minimal quantities. Melting is normally VIM, or VIM plus VAR for aerospace work. State the required melt route on the enquiry.
§04Physical and thermal properties
| Property | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 8.25 g/cm³ | 0.298 lb/in³ |
| Melting range | 1318–1393 °C | 2405–2539 °F |
| Curie temperature | 416–471 °C | 780–880 °F |
| Mean CTE, RT to 425 °C | 7.2 µm/m/°C | 4.0 × 10⁻⁶ in/in/°F |
| Modulus of elasticity at 0 °C | 146.8 GPa | 21 290 ksi |
| Poisson's ratio at 250 °C | 0.226 | 0.226 |
| Temperature | Specific heat, J/kg·°C | Electrical resistivity, µΩ·m | Thermal conductivity, W/m·°C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 °C | 442 | 0.650 | 16.9 |
| 100 °C | 454 | 0.735 | 17.2 |
| 200 °C | 482 | 0.880 | 17.9 |
| 300 °C | 507 | 1.020 | 18.3 |
| 400 °C | 532 | 1.135 | 19.0 |
| 500 °C | 559 | 1.195 | 20.3 |
| 600 °C | 584 | 1.220 | 21.9 |
§05Modulus of elasticity
Modulus of elasticity changes little with temperature. Between −196 °C and 500 °C the tensile modulus stays within about 3 percent of 150 GPa. For springs, gauge blocks, bolted joints and rotor clearances this means load-deflection behaviour is close to identical cold and hot.
| Temperature | Tensile modulus, GPa | Tensile modulus, 10³ ksi | Torsional modulus, GPa | Poisson's ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −196 °C | 148.9 | 21.59 | — | — |
| −50 °C | 146.9 | 21.34 | — | — |
| 0 °C | 146.8 | 21.29 | — | — |
| 50 °C | 146.9 | 21.30 | 59.3 | 0.239 |
| 100 °C | 147.2 | 21.35 | 59.0 | 0.247 |
| 200 °C | 148.4 | 21.52 | 60.3 | 0.231 |
| 250 °C | 149.3 | 21.67 | 60.9 | 0.226 |
| 300 °C | 150.2 | 21.84 | 61.2 | 0.227 |
| 400 °C | 152.4 | 22.18 | 61.4 | 0.241 |
| 500 °C | 153.9 | 22.10 | 59.2 | 0.300 |
| 600 °C | 149.8 | 21.43 | 55.4 | 0.352 |
§06Mechanical properties
All values below are for material in the fully age-hardened condition, heat treated at 845 °C for 1 hour and water quenched, then aged at 720 °C for 8 hours, furnace cooled at 56 °C per hour to 620 °C for 8 hours and air cooled.
| Test temperature | Yield strength, 0.2 % offset | Tensile strength | Elongation | Reduction of area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 °C, 70 °F | 1103 MPa, 160 ksi | 1310 MPa, 190 ksi | 14 % | 40 % |
| 650 °C, 1200 °F | 896 MPa, 130 ksi | 1000 MPa, 145 ksi | 18 % | 55 % |
Properties after long exposure
Room-temperature properties measured after 1000 hours at elevated temperature show that Alloy 903 is metallurgically stable up to about 650 °C. Impact strength does not fall, which indicates no deleterious phase formation over that period.
| Exposure temperature | Yield, MPa | Tensile, MPa | Elongation, % | Reduction of area, % | Impact, J |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| None, as aged at 21 °C | 1141 | 1369 | 17 | 43 | 32.5 |
| 595 °C, 1100 °F | 1169 | 1382 | 16 | 44 | 33.9 |
| 650 °C, 1200 °F | 1027 | 1276 | 19 | 47 | 35.3 |
| 705 °C, 1300 °F | 738 | 1027 | 20 | 41 | — |
Stress rupture and fracture toughness
- Stress rupture: the typical stress to produce rupture in 100 hours at 650 °C is 586 MPa, or 85 ksi. Rupture life depends strongly on thermomechanical processing, covered in section 9.
- Plane-strain fracture toughness, KIC: approximately 111 MPa·m0.5, or 100.6 ksi·in0.5, at room temperature, average of three tests.
- Comparative strength: age-hardened Alloy 903 is approximately twice as strong as annealed Inconel 600.
Purchasing note. The 100-hour rupture figure above is only achievable if the finishing reduction is controlled. A forging finished too hot can meet the tensile requirement and still fall short on rupture. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal records finish-forging temperature on every Alloy 903 heat and reports it with the mill test certificate.
§07Oxidation resistance
Alloy 903 contains no chromium and does not form a protective chromia scale of the kind that gives Inconel 625 or Incoloy 800H their oxidation resistance. Attack is measurable, though not severe, in the 540 to 650 °C band.
| Test temperature | Weight gain, mg/cm² | Depth of attack, cm | Depth of attack, in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 540 °C, 1000 °F | 0.7 | 0.0038 | 0.0015 |
| 595 °C, 1100 °F | 2.2 | 0.0064 | 0.0025 |
| 650 °C, 1200 °F | 2.7 | 0.0102 | 0.0040 |
| Cyclic exposure | 540 °C | 595 °C | 650 °C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 h | 0.32 | 0.6 | 1.1 |
| 200 h | 0.38 | 0.7 | 1.9 |
| 300 h | 0.40 | 0.9 | 2.4 |
| 400 h | 0.43 | 1.0 | 3.0 |
| 500 h | 0.48 | 1.1 | 3.6 |
For short-duration or moderate-temperature service, uncoated Alloy 903 is normally acceptable. For sustained hot-section service a protective coating should be specified. Aluminide diffusion coatings are commonly used on turbine seal rings and shrouds.
§08Heat treatment of Alloy 903 forgings
Alloy 903 is supplied either solution treated, for customers who will machine and then age the part themselves, or fully precipitation hardened. The reference cycle is a solution treatment followed by a two-step age with a controlled furnace cool between the steps.
| Step | Operation | Temperature | Time | Cooling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solution treatment | 815–980 °C, commonly 845 °C | 1 h | Water quench |
| 2 | First age | 720 °C, 1325 °F | 8 h | Furnace cool at 56 °C/h |
| 3 | Controlled cool | 720 to 620 °C | approx. 1.8 h | Furnace cool |
| 4 | Second age | 620 °C, 1150 °F | 8 h | Air cool |
The solution temperature chosen within the 815 to 980 °C window depends on product form and prior condition. Heavier forgings and material that has seen little hot work generally take the upper end of the range. Confirm the intended cycle on the purchase order so that it appears on the certificate.
Annealing
For a simple soften without ageing, anneal at 845 °C for one hour. Material supplied in this condition typically runs around HRC 25 to 32 and machines considerably more easily than the aged condition.
§09Forging, machining and joining practice
| Operation | Parameter | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hot working range | 815–1120 °C, 1500–2050 °F | Softer than Inconel X-750 between 870 and 1095 °C, so press loads are lower |
| Finishing reduction for rupture life | 40 % minimum at 816–871 °C | Required where high stress-rupture properties are specified |
| Solution treatment | 815–980 °C | See section 8 |
| Machining group | Group D-2 practice | Machine in either the solution-treated or aged condition |
| Welding | GTAW preferred | Also weldable by GMAW, SAW and SMAW. Age after welding to restore properties |
| Cold forming | Heavy-duty lubricants required | Soft die materials such as bronze reduce galling |
Process control. Stress-rupture properties of Alloy 903 are governed by thermomechanical processing as well as by chemistry. Two forgings from one heat can both meet the tensile requirement and differ in rupture life if finishing reduction and finish temperature differ. It is worth asking any supplier to state the finishing reduction on the certificate.
§10Incoloy Alloy 903 forged shapes supplied
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. produces the following Alloy 903 (UNS N19903) shapes to customer drawing, or to rough dimensions where the customer applies their own machining allowance.
Rings
Seamless rolled rings, forged rings, turbine seal rings, shrouds, spacer rings and flanged rings.
Bars
Forged round bar, square bar, rectangular and flat bar, stepped shafts, valve stems and spindles, turbine blade stock.
Discs and blocks
Forged discs, disks, blisks, impeller and wheel blanks, plates and rectangular blocks.
Hollow sections
Hollow bars, sleeves, bushes and bushings, barrels, cylinders, hubs, housings and casing blanks.
Casings and shells
Compressor and turbine casings, cases, shells and near-net-shape structural blanks.
Custom
Open-die and near-net-shape forgings to drawing, including proof-machined and rough-turned deliveries.
| Shape | Size range | Delivery condition |
|---|---|---|
| Seamless rolled rings | OD 100–3500 mm, wall 20–500 mm, height 20–1200 mm | Solution treated or precipitation hardened |
| Round bar | Ø 20–800 mm, length up to 6000 mm | Black forged, rough turned or peeled |
| Flat and rectangular bar | Thickness 20–600 mm, width up to 1200 mm | Black forged or machined all over |
| Discs and blocks | Diameter or across flats up to 2000 mm | Rough machined to drawing |
| Hollow bar and sleeves | OD 120–1500 mm, ID from 60 mm | Bored and rough turned |
| Single-piece weight | 5 kg to 8000 kg | — |
§11Factory capability and quality control
Alloy 903 has a narrow forging window and a long ageing cycle, and its rupture properties depend on process discipline rather than on chemistry alone. The controls below are applied by Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal to every Alloy 903 order.
| Stage | Control |
|---|---|
| Incoming material | Heat number and EN 10204 3.1 certificate cross-checked against the melt supplier. Melt route, VIM or VIM plus VAR, verified against the order |
| Billet heating | Multi-zone furnaces with calibrated thermocouples and alarms on any zone deviating from the set point |
| Forging | Pyrometric measurement at start and during forging to keep the piece inside the hot-working window. Material below the minimum temperature is returned to the furnace |
| Finishing reduction | Recorded and reported where stress-rupture properties are specified |
| Heat treatment | In-house solution treatment and double age with recorded charts. Furnace uniformity surveyed to AMS 2750 |
| Chemical analysis | Spectrographic verification per ASTM E1473 |
| Mechanical testing | Room-temperature and elevated-temperature tensile, hardness and impact. Stress-rupture testing on request |
| Non-destructive testing | Ultrasonic to ASTM A388 or EN 10228-3, dye penetrant to ASTM E1417, magnetic particle where applicable |
| Dimensional | Full dimensional inspection against drawing. Straightness 1.5 mm/m maximum on bars as standard |
| Documentation | EN 10204 3.1 as standard. 3.2 with TUV, SGS, BV or Lloyd's Register witness on request |
§12Alloy 903 compared with 907, 909 and Invar 36
Enquiries for Alloy 903 are often placed against Alloy 909, and the reverse. Table 12.1 sets out the practical differences.
| Property | Incoloy 903 | Incoloy 907 | Incoloy 909 | Invar 36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNS | N19903 | N19907 | N19909 | K93600 |
| Nominal Ni | 38 % | 38 % | 38 % | 36 % |
| Nominal Co | 15 % | 13 % | 13 % | — |
| Silicon addition | No | Yes, approx. 0.15 % | Yes, approx. 0.4 % | No |
| Precipitation hardened | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| RT tensile, aged | approx. 1310 MPa | approx. 1170 MPa | approx. 1310 MPa | approx. 490 MPa |
| Notch rupture behaviour | Notch sensitive | Improved | Best of the three | Not applicable |
| Typical service ceiling | approx. 650 °C | approx. 650 °C | approx. 650 °C | approx. 200 °C |
| Typical use | Rocket thrust chambers, springs, bolts, gauge blocks | Turbine rings and casings | Turbine seal rings, shrouds and casings, the most widely specified today | Metrology, cryogenic tanks, optical benches |
Alloy 903 gives the highest room-temperature strength and the classic low-expansion response. Alloy 909 is preferred where notched components carry sustained rupture loading. Invar 36 is used where dimensional stability is required and strength is not. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal forges all four grades.
§13Applications of Incoloy Alloy 903
Aerospace propulsion
- Rocket-engine thrust chambers
- Gas-turbine seal rings and shrouds
- Compressor and turbine casings
- Exhaust ducting and structural rings
Power generation
- Steam-turbine bolts and studs
- Valve spindles and stems
- Turbine discs, wheels and impellers
- Blade root and shroud hardware
Precision and instrument
- Gauge blocks and metrology fixtures
- Constant-rate springs and diaphragms
- Die-casting sleeves paired with ceramics
Defence and industrial
- Ordnance hardware
- High-stability fasteners
- Thermal-shock-resistant tooling
§14Frequently asked questions
What is Incoloy Alloy 903?
Incoloy Alloy 903 (UNS N19903) is an age-hardenable nickel-iron-cobalt superalloy. Its principal characteristics are a low and nearly constant coefficient of thermal expansion, a nearly constant modulus of elasticity, and high strength at temperatures up to about 650 °C. The nominal composition is 38 % nickel, 15 % cobalt, 3 % niobium, 1.4 % titanium, 0.9 % aluminium, balance iron. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. forges Alloy 903 into rings, bars, discs and shafts for gas-turbine and rocket-engine hardware.
Is Incoloy 903 the same as Inconel 903?
In practice, yes. The correct grade name is INCOLOY alloy 903, but drawings and purchase orders often use Inconel 903, Inco 903 or Alloy 903. All refer to UNS N19903. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal accepts enquiries under any of these names and quotes against the UNS number and the applicable AMS specification.
What is the coefficient of thermal expansion of Incoloy Alloy 903?
Alloy 903 shows a typical mean coefficient of thermal expansion of about 7.2 µm/m/°C, equivalent to 4.0 × 10⁻⁶ in/in/°F, measured from room temperature to about 425 °C. That is roughly 40 % of the expansion of 304 stainless steel over the same range. Above the Curie temperature band of 416 to 471 °C the coefficient rises, so the low-expansion benefit is normally used below about 425 °C.
What is the chemical composition of UNS N19903?
The limiting composition is 36.0 to 40.0 % nickel, 13.0 to 17.0 % cobalt, 2.40 to 3.50 % niobium, 1.00 to 1.85 % titanium and 0.30 to 1.15 % aluminium, with iron as the balance at roughly 41 %. Chromium is not an intentional addition, which is what permits the low expansion coefficient and also limits uncoated oxidation resistance.
What is the correct heat treatment for Incoloy Alloy 903?
The reference cycle is a solution treatment in the 815 to 980 °C range, commonly 845 °C for 1 hour followed by a water quench, then an age at 720 °C for 8 hours, a furnace cool at 56 °C per hour to 620 °C, a hold of 8 hours and an air cool. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal carries out this cycle in-house in furnaces surveyed to AMS 2750 and supplies the charts with the mill test certificate.
What are the mechanical properties of age-hardened Alloy 903?
Typical age-hardened room-temperature properties are 1310 MPa (190 ksi) tensile strength, 1103 MPa (160 ksi) yield strength at 0.2 % offset, 14 % elongation and 40 % reduction of area. At 650 °C the alloy gives about 1000 MPa tensile strength and 896 MPa yield strength. Room-temperature plane-strain fracture toughness is about 111 MPa·m0.5.
At what temperature should Incoloy Alloy 903 be forged?
Alloy 903 should be hot worked in the 815 to 1120 °C range. Where high stress-rupture properties are required, the forging should receive a minimum of 40 % reduction at 816 to 871 °C, because the finishing reduction controls grain structure and therefore rupture life. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal measures billet and finishing temperatures pyrometrically on every heat.
Why does Incoloy Alloy 903 sometimes need a protective coating?
Alloy 903 contains no chromium and does not form a protective chromia scale. In 500-hour static oxidation tests the weight gain rises from 0.7 mg/cm² at 540 °C to 2.7 mg/cm² at 650 °C. For sustained service above about 540 °C in an oxidising atmosphere, an aluminide or overlay coating is normally specified.
What is the difference between Incoloy 903, 907 and 909?
All three are low-expansion nickel-iron-cobalt superalloys from the same family. Alloy 903 is the original grade and has the highest room-temperature strength. Alloys 907 and 909 contain silicon additions that improve notch stress-rupture behaviour, and Alloy 909 is now the most widely specified of the three for gas-turbine rings and seals. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal forges all three grades.
Which forged shapes can be supplied in Incoloy Alloy 903?
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal supplies Alloy 903 as seamless rolled rings, forged round and flat bars, discs and blocks, hollow bars and sleeves, shafts and stepped shafts, turbine seal rings and shrouds, compressor and turbine casings, valve stems and spindles, and near-net-shape blanks to drawing. Ring outside diameters run from about 100 mm to 3500 mm and single-piece weights from 5 kg to 8000 kg.
What certification is issued with Alloy 903 forgings?
Every Alloy 903 forging is shipped with an EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate as standard, covering heat number, full chemical analysis, mechanical test results, heat-treatment charts and NDT reports. EN 10204 3.2 certification with third-party witness by TUV, SGS, BV or Lloyd's Register is available on request.
How do I get a quotation for Incoloy Alloy 903 forgings?
Send the drawing or rough dimensions, quantity, specification and required delivery condition to sales@steelforgepieces.com, or call +86 189 2135 9659. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. is located at No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China, and normally returns a quotation within 24 hours.
§15Request a quotation for Alloy 903 forgings
Include as much of the following as is available at enquiry stage.
| Item | Detail needed |
|---|---|
| Shape | Ring, bar, disc, sleeve, shaft, or drawing and STEP file |
| Dimensions | Finished or rough size, with machining allowance if known |
| Specification | AMS 5803, customer specification, or commercial to UNS N19903 |
| Condition | Solution treated, or precipitation hardened |
| Melt route | VIM, or VIM plus VAR for aerospace |
| Testing | Tensile, impact, stress rupture, ultrasonic, penetrant, grain size |
| Certification | EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 with named witness body |
| Quantity and schedule | Piece count and required delivery date |
§16About Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd.
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. is an open-die forging factory in Jiangyin, Jiangsu Province, China. The company produces custom open-die forgings and seamless rolled rings in carbon steel, alloy steel, tool steel, stainless steel and nickel-based superalloys, including Incoloy Alloy 903 (UNS N19903), for gas turbine, power generation, oil and gas, aerospace and heavy machinery customers worldwide.
Jiangyin sits in the Yangtze River delta between Shanghai and Nanjing, in a district with one of the densest concentrations of forging and special-steel capacity in China. Raw-material lead times and shipping distance to Shanghai port are both short.
- Company
- Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd.
Open-Die Forging Factory - Address
- No.1 Chengxiqiao Road,
Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City,
Jiangsu Province, China - Telephone
- +86 189 2135 9659
- Website
- www.steelforgepieces.com
- Capability
- Open-die forgings and seamless rolled rings, 5 kg to 8000 kg single piece
§18References and data sources
Property values on this page are drawn from published alloy producer data and public standards, cross-checked against production and test records at Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal. Where a value is typical rather than guaranteed, it is described as such.
- Special Metals Corporation, INCOLOY alloy 903 technical bulletin, publication SMC-100. Source of composition limits, physical constants, thermal, thermoelastic, tensile and oxidation data reproduced above.
- SAE International, AMS 5803, Alloy, Corrosion and Heat Resistant, Bars, Forgings and Rings, nickel-iron-cobalt low-expansion type.
- ASTM International, ASTM E1473, Standard Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Nickel, Cobalt and High-Temperature Alloys.
- ASTM International, ASTM A388 / A388M, Standard Practice for Ultrasonic Examination of Steel Forgings.
- SAE International, AMS 2750, Pyrometry, for heat-treatment furnace temperature uniformity surveys.
- EN 10204, Metallic products, types of inspection documents.
Disclaimer. The data on this page is published for informational purposes. Typical values are not guaranteed minima. Design to the certified values on the mill test certificate supplied with the order and to the requirements of the governing specification. INCOLOY and INCONEL are trademarks of the Special Metals Corporation group of companies. HASTELLOY is a trademark of Haynes International. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. is an independent forging manufacturer and is not affiliated with those companies. Grade names are used here only to identify material specifications.