Highest Melting Point Alloys

20 alloys

Melting point defines the temperature at which a solid alloy transitions to liquid. Alloys with extreme melting points are essential in jet engines, nuclear reactors, and industrial furnaces where temperatures routinely exceed 1,000 °C. The refractory alloys — based on tungsten, molybdenum, and tantalum — maintain structural integrity above 2,500 °C.

Nickel superalloys, while not the highest-melting, dominate turbine applications because they retain strength at 80–90% of their melting temperature. Cobalt-based alloys offer similar high-temperature performance with superior hot corrosion resistance, making them the material of choice for combustion chambers.

This ranking orders alloys by melting point in degrees Celsius. The alloy family and metal base are included to help identify material families suited to extreme-temperature engineering challenges.
How we ranked these

Ranked by melting point (or solidus temperature) in °C. Values from ASM International and manufacturer datasheets. Alloys without a recorded melting point are excluded.

🥈 #2
1.4104 Stainless Steel X14CrMoS17 Material Properties Equivalent, QT650
1.4104 Stainless Steel X14CrMoS17 Material Properties Equivalent, QT650

Stainless Steel · Stainless Steel

Stainless Steel
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🥉 #3
1.7147 Material 20MnCr5 Steel Equivalent, Properties, Composition
1.7147 Material 20MnCr5 Steel Equivalent, Properties, Composition

Steel

Steel
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  1. 2024 Aluminum Properties, Alloy AA2024 2024T3, 2024T351, 2024T4 Sheet, Plate & Tube
    32 MPa Aluminum
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  2. (20Cr13) 2Cr13 Stainless Steel Equivalent, Properties & Chemical Composition
    Stainless Steel
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  3. 20CrMo Steel Equivalent, Chemical Composition, Mechanical Properties
    Steel
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  4. 25CrMo Steel Chemical Composition, Mechanical Properties, Equivalent
    Steel
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  5. 304 Stainless Steel Properties: SS304 Composition, Density, Yield Strength, Thermal Conductivity, Hardness, Modulus of Elasticity
    585 MPa Stainless Steel
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  6. 42CrMoS4 +QT (1.7227) Steel 42CrMoS4V Material Properties, Composition, Hardness
    1,100 MPa Steel
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  7. 7Cr17MoV High Carbon Stainless Steel Properties, Hardness, Heat Treatment, Equivalent
    Stainless Steel
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  8. (90Cr18MoV) 9Cr18MoV Stainless Steel Equivalent, Chemical Composition, Mechanical Properties
    Stainless Steel
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  9. 9Cr18Mo Stainless Steel Equivalent, Chemical Composition, Mechanical Properties
    Stainless Steel
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  10. A2 Tool Steel Properties A2 Material Heat Treat, Hardness, Tensile Yield Strength
    Steel
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  11. AA 1100 Aluminum Alloy
    AA 1100 Aluminum Alloy

    Aluminum Alloy · Aluminum

    Pure Aluminum (99%+ Al). AA designation 1100.

    187 MPa Aluminum
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  12. AA 2017 Aluminum Alloy
    AA 2017 Aluminum Alloy

    Aluminum Alloy · Aluminum

    Copper Alloy (Al-Cu). AA designation 2017.

    425 MPa Aluminum
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  13. AA 2050 Aluminum Alloy
    AA 2050 Aluminum Alloy

    Aluminum Alloy · Aluminum

    Copper Alloy (Al-Cu). AA designation 2050.

    560 MPa Aluminum
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  14. AA 2124 Aluminum Alloy
    AA 2124 Aluminum Alloy

    Aluminum Alloy · Aluminum

    Copper Alloy (Al-Cu). AA designation 2124.

    420 MPa Aluminum
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  15. AA 2198 Aluminum Alloy
    AA 2198 Aluminum Alloy

    Aluminum Alloy · Aluminum

    Copper Alloy (Al-Cu). AA designation 2198.

    157 MPa Aluminum
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  16. AA 3003 Aluminum Alloy
    AA 3003 Aluminum Alloy

    Aluminum Alloy · Aluminum

    Manganese Alloy (Al-Mn). AA designation 3003.

    132 MPa Aluminum
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  17. 1.0037 Material St37-2 Steel Equivalent, Properties, Composition, DIN 17100
    Steel
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which alloy has the highest melting point?
Tungsten-rhenium alloys have the highest melting points among practical alloys, exceeding 3,000 °C. Pure tungsten melts at 3,422 °C, and alloying with rhenium improves ductility while maintaining extreme heat resistance.
Why do jet engines need high-melting-point alloys?
Turbine blades in jet engines operate at temperatures above 1,000 °C while spinning at tens of thousands of RPM. Nickel superalloys retain their strength at 80-90% of their melting temperature, preventing creep deformation under these extreme conditions.
What is the difference between melting point and service temperature?
Melting point is where the alloy becomes liquid. Service temperature is the maximum operating temperature where the alloy maintains adequate strength and creep resistance — typically 50-80% of the melting point depending on the alloy system and load duration.

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