Total hemispherical emissivity of Inconel 718

• We have measured the total hemispherical emissivity for Inconel 718 from about 600–1250 K.
• Oxidation in air at 1073 K resulted in an increase in emissivity.
• Sandblasting of Inconel 718 was also observed to increase the emissivity.
• Coating of graphite powder onto the ‘as-received’ Inconel 718 showed no increase in the emissivity.
• Coating of graphite powder onto the 220 grit sandblasted Inconel 718 did show an increase in emissivity.

Total hemispherical emissivity for Inconel 718 was measured in anticipation of its application in Very High Temperature Gas Reactors (VHTRs). A majority of current emissivity data for Inconel 718 is in the form of spectral measurements. The data presented here were obtained with an experimental apparatus based on the standard ASTM C835-06 for total hemispherical emittance. Measurements of Inconel 718 were made for four different surface types including: (i) ‘as-received’ from the manufacturer, (ii) oxidized in air and humidified helium, (iii) sandblasted with aluminum oxide powder, and (iv) with a thin coating of nuclear grade graphite powder (grade NGB-18). The emissivity for the ‘as-received’ sample ranged from 0.21 to 0.28 in the temperature interval from 760 K to 1275 K. Oxidation in air at 1073 K resulted in an increase in emissivity into the range from 0.2 at 650 K to 0.52 at 1200 K. There was no dependence on the oxidation times studied here. Oxidation with humidified helium at 1073 K produced less of an increase in emissivity than the oxidation in air but there was an increase up to the range from 0.2 at 600 K to 0.35 at 1200 K. Sandblasting of Inconel 718 was also observed to increase the emissivity up to the range from 0.43 at 780 K to 0.53 at 1270 K when 60 grit sized powder was used and up to the range from 0.45 at 683 K to 0.57 at 1267 K when 120 and 220 grit sized powders were used. Coating of graphite powder onto the ‘as-received’ Inconel 718 showed no increase in the emissivity whereas the coating of graphite powder onto the 220 grit sandblasted Inconel 718 did show an increase in emissivity up to the range from 0.60 at 650 K to 0.70 at 1200 K. This was apparently due to better adhesion of graphite on the roughened surface.