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AUSTENITIC STAINLESS

A major producer of Austenitic Stainless steel ELG Carrs Stainless Steels has achieved accreditation to ISO 9001 and TÜV supplying guaranteed quality products of the highest standard to the most demanding clients such as the MOD and the Aerospace Industry

Austenitic steels contain high percentages of certain alloying elements such as manganese and nickel, which are austenitic at room temperature. They are based on a series of iron-chromium-nickel alloys (typically 74 - 18 — 8 wt%) with a very low carbon content. Typical examples of austenitic steels include the 18/8 stainless steels. They range from basic grades such as 304 through to super austenitics such as 904L and 6% Molybdenum grades. Modifications can make the steel suited to high temperature applications or increase corrosion resistance. The principal alloying elements are sometimes reflected in the name of the steel.

Characteristics:

• They are non magnetic and cannot be hardened by heat treatment
• They have excellent corrosion resistant properties in organic acid, industrial, marine and chemical environments
• These grades have good fracture toughness properties at cryogenic temperatures
• By adding elements such as Molybdenum, Titanium or Copper, the corrosion resistance properties of the steel can be modified
• excellent weldability (all processes)
• excellent formability, fabricability and ductility
• excellent cleanability, and hygiene characteristics
• good high and excellent low temperature properties (high toughness at all temperatures)
• hardenable by cold work only (These alloys are not hardenable by heat treatment)
• Most steels become brittle at low temperatures but the Nickel in austenitic stainless makes it suited to low temperature or cryogenic applications
• Austenitic stainless steels are generally non-magnetic