5/23/2014 Stainless Steel - Properties and Applications of Ferritic Grade Stainless Steel by Austral Wright Metals

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Stainless Steel - Properties and Applications of Ferritic
Grade Stainless Steel by Austral Wright Metals
Topics Covered
Background
Introduction
Ferritic Grade AWM 404GP Stainless Steel
Chemcial Composition of Ferritic Stainless Steel
Mechanical Properties of Ferritic Stainless Steel
Physical Properties of Ferritic Stainless Steel
Applications of Ferritic Stainless Steel
Toughness of Ferritic Stainless Steel AWM 404GP
Heat Treatment of Ferritic Stainless Steel AWM 404GP
Corrosion Resistance of Ferritic Stainless Steel AWM 404GP
Atmospheric Corrosion of Ferritic Stainless Steel AWM 404GP
High Temperature Applications of Ferritic Stainless Steel AWM 404GP
Machinability of Ferritic Stainless Steel AWM 404GP
Weldability of Ferritic Stainless Steel AWM 404GP
Cleanability of Ferritic Stainless Steel AWM 404GP
Background
Austral Wright Metals - part of the Crane Group of Companies, is the result of the merger of
two long established and well respected Australian owned metal distribution companies. Austral
Bronze Crane Copper Ltd and Wright and Company Pty Ltd.
This merger has bought together Australia's leaders in the distribution of:
Aluminium - Coil, sheet, plate, tread plate etc
Copper, brass, bronze - Sheet, coil, extrusions and tube
Nickel and High Performance Alloys - Hollow and bar, sheet, plate in alloys such as Incoloy,
Inconel and Monel
Stainless steel - sheet, coil, plate, flat, angle, round, tube, fittings, consumables
High Performance Materials including, titanium, duplex alloys, cobalt alloys, copper nickels,
welding consumables and other high technology metals.
Introduction
New generation general-purpose ferritic grade AWM 404GP can be used to replace the
workhorse austenitic grade 304 in most applications. it is a corrosion resistant ferritic stainless
steel with excellent strength, toughness, fabrication characteristics and weldability. The
general corrosion resistance of AWM 404GP is at least as good as grade 304, with better
resistance to atmospheric corrosion, stress corrosion cracking and sensitization to intergranular
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5/23/2014 Stainless Steel - Properties and Applications of Ferritic Grade Stainless Steel by Austral Wright Metals
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corrosion. Grade AWM 404GP compared to grade 304.
Ferritic Grade AWM 404GP Stainless Steel
Grade AWM 404GP contains 21% of chromium and 0.5% of copper, which give it excellent
resistance to corrosion in many environments. AWM 404GP has at least the corrosion
resistance of grade 304, and is increasingly replacing 304 in sheet metal applications. many
users of AWM 404GP make significant savings from the ease of fabrication ferritic grades
give less tool & machine wear than 304. Better quality products, with crisper, neater bends are
achievable with AWM 404GP. AWM 404GP is magnetic, which does not affect the excellent
corrosion resistance given by the high chromium content. Thermal expansion is lower, so there
is less thermal distortion of panels in fabrication and in service.
Chemcial Composition of Ferritic Stainless Steel
The chemical composition of different grades of ferritic stainless steel are summarised in the
following table.
Table 1. Chemical composition of different grades of ferritic stainless steel
Chemical Composition AWM 404GP 304
Chromium 21 % 18.2 %
Nickel 0.2 % 8.2 %
Carbon 0.009 % 0.05 %
Titanium 0.3 %
Copper 0.4 %
Mechanical Properties of Ferritic Stainless Steel
The mechanical properties of different grades of ferritic stainless steel are summarised in the
following table.
Table 2. Mechanical properties of ferritic stainless steel
Mechanical Properties AWM 404GP 304
Yield Stress (MPa) 310 290
Tensile Strength (MPa) 475 600
Elongation % 31 55
Hardness (HV) 157 157
Physical Properties of Ferritic Stainless Steel
The physical properties of different grades of ferritic stainless steel are summarised in the
following table.
Table 3. Physical properties of ferritic stainless steel
Physical Properties AWM 404GP 304
Density ( Kg / m
3
) 7,750 8,027
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Young's Modulus (MPa) 199,000 193,000
Thermal Conductivity (W/m.C) 22.5 16.3
Thermal Conductivity (X 10
-6
/C ) 10.0 15.9
Magnetism Magnetic Non-Magnetic
Applications of Ferritic Stainless Steel
Benchwork, cold-water tanks, whitegoods, refrigeration cabinets, chemical and food processing,
water treatment plant, street furniture, electrical cabinets. AWM 404GP can be substituted
for 304 in most applications except structures and pressure vessels.
Toughness of Ferritic Stainless Steel AWM 404GP
Toughness AWM 404GP has the same ferritic microstructure as carbon steel, so undergoes a
ductile-to-brittle fracture mode transition at low temperatures. AWM 404GP is tough in the
welded condition down to 0C, and can be used for non-structural purposes at lower
temperatures.
Heat Treatment of Ferritic Stainless Steel AWM 404GP
Heat Treatment AWM 404GP is not hardenable by heat treatment. Heat treatment is rarely
required in sheet metal applications, but AWM 404GP can be annealed at 820 900C, rapid
air cool.
Corrosion Resistance of Ferritic Stainless Steel AWM 404GP
Corrosion Resistance The chemical composition of AWM 404GP gives it a higher Pitting
Resistance equivalent (PRe) than 304, which indicates at least equivalent pitting corrosion
resistance. Pitting is the form of corrosion stainless steels are often least resistant to.
laboratory tests and service experience have not identified circumstances in which the
corrosion resistance of AWM 404GP is inferior to 304, except pitting propagation rates, which
are 3 4 times faster. unfortunately, once initiated, pitting corrosion propagation is rapid for
both grades, and practical selection of stainless steel aims to avoid pitting corrosion rather
than achieve low propagation rates.
Figure 1. Resistance to the initiation of pitting corrosion in artificial seawater at 30C.
Shows equivalent resistance to pitting corrosion initiation for the general purpose grades 304
and AWM 404GP
Atmospheric Corrosion of Ferritic Stainless Steel AWM 404GP
As a ferritic grade, AWM 404GP does not stress corrosion crack in drinking water, unlike 304
which may stress corrosion crack above about 50C. The titanium in AWM 404GP prevents
sensitization to intergranular corrosion by welding.
Figure 2. Test Conditions: Marine Industrial atmosphere at Chiba, Tokyo, Japan (10m from a
bay bigger than Melbourne Bay) Samples polished to #600 grit. Exposed for 12 months.
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Note: these grades would not normally be specified for these aggressive conditions, which
require 316 or 445M2.
High Temperature Applications of Ferritic Stainless Steel AWM 404GP
The high chromium content of AWM 404GP gives excellent oxidation and sulphidation
resistance, and similar grades are used extensively in automotive muffler systems. AWM
404GP can be used in air up to 980C for continuous service, 1035C for intermittent service.
The strength of ferritic grades above about 600C is generally less than that of austenitic
grades. Where later ambient temperature toughness and corrosion resistance are important, the
service temperature should be restricted to 400C to avoid precipitation reactions.
Machinability of Ferritic Stainless Steel AWM 404GP
Machinability AWM 404GP is easier than 304 to machine due to lower work hardening rate and
better thermal properties. Cleaner cuts and flatter panels are obtained, with better cutting tool
life.
Weldability of Ferritic Stainless Steel AWM 404GP
Weldability AWM 404GP can be welded by the common methods (TiG, miG, spot, seam),
without preheat, post heat or post weld heat treatment. Heat input needs to be 10 30%
higher than for grade 316 as heat is conducted away from the weld pool more quickly by AWM
404GP. Manual metal arc welding (mmaW or stick welding) is not recommended AWM
404GP is used in light gauges, not easy to stick weld. AWM 404GP can be TiG welded
without filler metal, or with 308l(Si) or 309l(Si) filler metal. Avoid introducing carbon into the
weld by degreasing before welding degreasing is as important with AWM 404GP as it is with
aluminium. Gas shielding must be excellent use argon, or argon plus helium or up to 3% CO
2
.
Never use nitrogen or hydrogen in welding or backing gases. For best pickling after welding,
ensure oxidation is minimised and use the pickling paste for longer than with 304.
Cleanability of Ferritic Stainless Steel AWM 404GP
Cleanability AWM 404GP is excellent for food equipment, where cleanability for the removal of
bacteria is vital. AWM 404GP resists corrosion by food and cleaning chemicals, and harbours
very low levels of bacteria after cleaning. Fabrication and Formability as a ferritic stainless
steel, AWM 404GP behaves like carbon steel (G300). Bends are neater, with low springback
and forming loads. Wear on cutting and forming tools is typically 3 5 times better. Cutting tool
clearances are similar to carbon steel. The minimum radius for bending is 1t. Deep drawability is
better than 304, but stretch capability is lower. Please consult Austral Wright Metals for deep
drawing applications.

For more information on this source please visit Austral Wright Metals


Date Added: Aug 31, 2008 | Updated: Jun 11, 2013
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5/23/2014 Stainless Steel - Properties and Applications of Ferritic Grade Stainless Steel by Austral Wright Metals
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