Blog What Is Austenitic Stainless Steel?

Stainless steel material is a form of steel that contains significant amounts of chromium, nickel, often manganese, molybdenum, and nitrogen as a supplement to the iron base. The addition of nickel is key to otherwise ferritic chrome-iron alloys. This can yield predominately austenitic alloys. The microstructure change brings a marked increase in ductility and toughness.

The family of austenitic stainless steels is, by far, the most widely used of the stainless alloys in industrial markets. That is because corrosion resistance provided by austenitics is generally the best of all standard stainless types. Stainless steel materials are non-hardenable (hardness ranges 130 to 200 BHN), non-magnetic to slightly magnetic, and readily weldable and machinable.

What Is Austenitic Stainless Steel Used For?

• Piping
• Flanges
• Fittings
• Sink rolls
• Bearings
• Impellers
• Shaft sleeves
• Pressure vessels
• Heat exchangers
• Centrifuge bowls
• Pulp & paper rolls
• Pump & valve components
• Downhole rigging equipment
• Chemical & processing equipment

As workhorse alloys, each offers some slightly different performance expectations:

• CF8 (MTEK 304) combines strength and ductility with good corrosion resistance at relatively low cost. The alloy retains high impact strength to -400ºF / -240ºC. This general purpose corrosion resistant alloy used for flanges, rolls, sleeves, marine and sanitary fittings and valve parts.
• CF8M (MTEK 316) offers resistance to reducing corrosives and chloride pitting attack due to an addition of molybdenum. Like CF8, this alloy has good machinability, but requires re-annealing after welding for maximum corrosion resistance. The presence of controlled ferrite, CF8M exhibits stress corrosion resistance superior to wrought material of the same alloy. Uses include evaporator parts, marine fittings, pump parts, rolls, flanges and valve parts.
• CG8M (MTEK 317) provides exceptional strength combined with corrosion resistance. This alloy delivers cost effective performance in more highly stressed components operating in chemical processing equipment such as centrifuge bowl shells and parts.
• CN7N (MTEK 20) delivers especially good resistance to sulphuric acid and many reducing chemicals. It resists hydrochloric acid, and chloride salt solutions. Excellent machinability and fait welding characteristics. Well suited for flanges, rolls, pump parts, ball valve bodies and parts, and centrifuge parts for chemical processing.