What challenges exist during machining and forming Inconel Alloy?

Inconel Alloy features low thermal conductivity, which concentrates cutting heat on workpiece surfaces and accelerates tool wear severely. It generates obvious work hardening during cold rolling, stamping and turning, requiring specialized high-hardness cutting tools and sufficient cooling fluid. Welding demands strict inert gas shielding to prevent surface oxidation and embrittlement of weld seams. Large forgings need multi-stage high-temperature homogenization forging to eliminate internal segregation. All processing steps raise manufacturing costs far above carbon steel and regular stainless steel materials.