Inconel 718 in Space Propulsion
Liquid rocket engines operate in one of the most extreme engineering environments imaginable: components must withstand cryogenic propellant temperatures (-423°F for liquid hydrogen) on one side and combustion temperatures exceeding 6,000°F on the other, all while enduring intense vibration, thermal shock, and enormous pressure differentials during engine start and shutdown transients. Inconel 718 is extensively used in rocket engine turbopump assemblies where its high strength, excellent cryogenic toughness, and good fatigue life make it ideal for turbine housings, pump inducers, impellers, and structural cases.
Components and Capabilities
CastAlloy manufactures Inconel 718 rocket engine components through both investment casting and closed-die forging, depending on geometry complexity and property requirements. Turbopump housings with complex internal flow passages are typically investment cast using vacuum induction melting, followed by HIP and precision machining. Rotating components like inducer shafts and turbine discs are forged for maximum fatigue strength. We produce components for both expendable launch vehicles and reusable rocket engines, where the higher fatigue life requirements of reuse demand even more stringent material and process controls.
Rapid Development Support
The commercial space industry demands faster development cycles than traditional aerospace. CastAlloy supports rapid prototyping and iterative design by maintaining Inconel 718 billet inventory for quick-turn forging, offering expedited investment casting with reduced lead times for prototype quantities, and providing in-house CNC machining for fast turnaround from raw stock to finished components. Our engineering team collaborates directly with propulsion designers to optimize designs for manufacturability while meeting demanding performance specifications. Contact us for your rocket engine component needs.