Austenitic stainless steels are the most common. Their microstructure is derived from the addition of nickel, manganese and nitrogen. It is the same structure as occurs in ordinary steels at much higher temperatures. This structure gives these steels their characteristic combination of weldability and formability. Corrosion resistance can be enhanced by adding chromium, molybdenum and nitrogen.
They cannot be hardened by heat treatment but have the useful property of being able to be work hardened to high strength levels whilst retaining a useful level of ductility and toughness. Standard austenitic steels are vulnerable to stress corrosion cracking. Higher nickel austenitic steels have increased resistance to stress corrosion cracking. They are nominally non-magnetic but usually exhibit some magnetic response depending on the composition and the work hardening of the steel.
metallurgy
- Non magnetic, usually
- Non hardening by heat treatment
- Single phase from 0°K to melting point
- Very ductile
- Lower strength
- Not subject to hydrogen embrittlement
- Is subject to chloride stress corrosion crack
- Very easy to weld
Grades
18-18PlusTM, 20Cb-3TM, 904L, AISI S30430, AISI 201, AISI 202, AISI 205, AISI 216, AISI 301, AISI 302, AISI 302B, AISI 302Cu, AISI 303, AISI 303PlusX, AISI 303Se, AISI 304, AISI 304H, AISI 304HN, AISI 304L, AISI 304LN, AISI 304N, AISI 305, AISI 308, AISI 308L, AISI 309, AISI 309Cb+Ta, AISI 309S, AISI 309SCb, AISI 310, AISI 310S, AISI 312, AISI 314, AISI 316, AISI 316F, AISI 316H, AISI 316L, AISI 316LN, AISI 316N, AISI 317, AISI 317L, AISI 317LM, AISI 321, AISI 321H, AISI 329, AISI 330, AISI 330HC, AISI 332, AISI 347, AISI 347H, AISI 348, AISI 348H, AISI 384, AISI 385, AL-6X, Crutemp25, CryogenicTenelon, HNM, JS-700, JS-777
abbreviations
- ASS - sustenitic stainless steel
