Austenitic stainless steels

Technical data sheets for austenitic stainless steel grades

Overview

Austenitic stainless steels have an austenitic structure at any temperature, as unlike martensitic steels, the austenitic steels are not hardenable by heat treatment as no phase changes occur on heating or cooling. Because of their austenitic structure austenitic stainless steels exhibit superior corrosion resistance to both ferritic and martensitic stainless steels. Corrosion performance may be varied to suit a wide range of service environments by careful alloy adjustment. Austenitic stainless steel deformation behaviour (such as cold drawing) can withstand reduction values (up to 80%) and reach tensile strength higher than 2000 MPa.  Austenitic stainless steels are often described as non-magnetic, but may become slightly magnetic when machined or worked. Despite some of the alloys, such as grades 304 and 316, contain iron, these materials are non-ferromagnetic. Austenitic stainless steels are often described as non-magnetic, but may become slightly magnetic when machined or worked. The main alloying elements of this category of stainless steels are chromium and nickel. Grade 304  is the most versatile and most widely used stainless steel available, also known as 18-10, an acronym that identifies the average percentage of chromium and nickel. Grade 304L it is a low carbon version, where L stands for Low carbon. Austenitic steel has a series of variants, including 316, which differs in the presence of molybdenum and a higher percentage of nickel, used in chloride environments, such as marine environments.  While the presence of the sulphur in grade 303, makes it suitable for chip removal.

Features

The group of austenitic stainless steels represents the smallest family of commercially available stainless steels. This group of steels has the great advantage of being highly resistant to aggressive environmental conditions, especially corrosion. The austenitic structure and relative high ductility result in exceptional toughness, even at low temperatures. However, its unsurpassed strength makes austenitic steel unsuitable for chip removal.

High nickel content of austenitic steel grades has the following properties:

  • High corrosion resistance compared to nickel-free chromium steel (especially against stress corrosion cracking)
  • Low yield strength (200–300 N/mm²)
  • High tensile strength (700–1300 N/mm²)
  • High thermal expansion coefficient (16.0 × 10−6 K−1 for material 1.4301)
  • Density 1.4301 (V2A, AISI 304): 7.9 g/cm3, 1.4401 (V4A, AISI 316L): 8.0 g/cm3. Austenitic steel cannot be hardened by heat treatment
  • Readily welded

The characteristics of stainless steel are in demand in industry, medical and dental technology, the automotive sector, construction and the chemical industry.

 With its exceptional resistance to heat and corrosion, it’s used extensively in many industries including medical, automotive, aerospace, and industrial applications. However, the relatively low hardness and  cold welding are limiting factors in many applications.

Product range

Quality – n°steel
EN 10088
AISIProcessing routes *Supply status (mm)Rounds (mm)Squares (mm)Flats (mm)Hexagons (mm)Blooms*** (mm)Plates (mm)
X5CrNi18-10
1.4301
X2CrNi18-9
1.4307**
304 **Cold drawnAnnealed2-1004-608×4-180×107-65100-4500,5-3,0
X5CrNi18-10
1.4301
X2CrNi18-9
1.4307**
304**Ground h8Annealed6-60   100-4500,5-3,0
X5CrNi18-10
1.4301
X2CrNi18-9
1.4307**
304 **Peeled/TurnedAnnealed20-500   100-450profiles
X5CrNi18-10
1.4301
X2CrNi18-9
1.4307**
304 **RolledAnnealed6-1815-15010×4-150×50**70-100100-450profiles
X8CrNiS18-9
1.4305
303Cold drawnAnnealed2-1005-6010×5-100×205-60  
X8CrNiS18-9
1.4305
303Peeled/TurnedAnnealed20-500     
X8CrNiS18-9
1.4305
303RolledAnnealed 40-150    
X2CrNi19-11
1.4306
304LPeeledAnnealed35-160   100-450 
X5CrNiMo17-12-2
1.4401 X2CrNiMo17-12-2
1.4404**
316 316LCold drawnAnnealed3-10010-6010X5-100×208-60100-450 
X5CrNiMo17-12-2
1.4401 X2CrNiMo17-12-2
1.4404**
316 316LPeeled/TurnedAnnealed18-500   100-450 
X5CrNiMo17-12-2
1.4401 X2CrNiMo17-12-2
1.4404**
316 316LRolledAnnealed 15-15020X5-120×30[2] 100-450 
X2CrNiMo18-14-3
1.4435**
(316L)Cold drawnAnnealed3-9015-60 5-60  
X2CrNiMo18-14-3
1.4435**
(316L)Peeled/TurnedAnnealed30-400     
X2CrNiMo18-14-3
1.4435**
(316L)RolledAnnealed 10-10020X3-150×10   
X2CrNiMoN17-13-5
1.4439
(317LM)PeeledAnnealed20-210    2,0-40,0
X2CrNiMoN17-13-5
1.4439
(317LM)RolledAnnealed8-18    2,0-40,0
X6CrNiMoTi17-12-2
1.4571**
316TiCold drawnAnnealed2-1004-6010X3-120×105-70 steel angles
X6CrNiMoTi17-12-2
1.4571**
316TiPeeled/TurnedAnnealed20-625    steel angles
X6CrNiMoTi17-12-2
1.4571**
316TiRolledAnnealed 15-20010X3-300×1570-100 steel angles
X1NiCrMoCu20-25-5
1.4539**
(904L)Cold drawnAnnealed   8-60 profiles
X1NiCrMoCu20-25-5
1.4539**
(904L)Peeled/TurnedAnnealed20-400    profiles
X1NiCrMoCu20-25-5
1.4539**
(904L)RolledAnnealed6-1815-6020X5-100×1041-100 profiles
X6CrNiTi18-10
1.4541**
321Cold drawnAnnealed20-100  10-65100-4501,0-30,0
X6CrNiTi18-10
1.4541**
321Peeled/TurnedAnnealed20-525   100-4501,0-30,0
X6CrNiTi18-10
1.4541**
321RolledAnnealed 15-15010X5-200×8 100-450steel angles
X2CrNiMoN22-5-3
1.4462**
austenitic/ferritic
Cold drawnAnnealed6-70  17-32100-4501,0-60,0
X2CrNiMoN22-5-3
1.4462**
austenitic/ferritic
Peeled/TurnedAnnealed20-50020-5030×6-100×20 100-450steel angles

*Supply status pelato/turned with greater tolerance 
Also available: tubes – hollow bars – profiles – steel parts for plasma cutting
***Blumi per forgia molati in bianco e atti al taglio in esecuzione “laminato” fino a 200mm, dimensioni superiori in esecuzione “forgiato”.
°Anche piatti cesoiati 10×3-500×10