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DREAM OR NIGHTMARE?
Abstract
For more than 50 years manganese additions have been considered to replace nickel in austenitic
stainless steels. As a result, reductions in alloy surcharge particularly when nickel price are jumping
can be expected. This has result in the development of the so-called 200 series. The grades are
know to have complementary nitrogen additions in order to further stabilize the austenitic phase.
Copper additions have also been successfully considered in order to provide a stable austenite. With
copper additions, nitrogen additions can be reduced providing softer manganese austenitic grades.
The grades until end of last century, with a few exceptions like in India, had only very limited
applications and where selected mainly for their combination of high strength and ductility ( possible
strengthening by very high nitrogen additions and / or by cold deformations ) More recently huge
amount of 200 series have been produced in Asia. The grades have modified chemical compositions
– low chromium additions, extra low nickel additions, ... – and high residual elements like sulfur which
are know to have detrimental effects on localized corrosion resistance ( pitting ). The paper will
present a review of the 200 – series grades and point out the specificities of the new developed
grades. Chemical compositions, mechanical properties, corrosion resistance properties and
applications are presented. The lack of international codes , references for those grades are pointed
out. Finally warnings are addressed for improper uses of those grades which might lead on end-
users.
EN 1.4371 16.0 - 17.0 3.5 - 5.5 6.0 - 8.0 0.15 - 0.20 0.03MAX 0.015MAX -
EN 1.4372 16.0 - 18.0 3.5 - 5.5 5.5 - 7.5 0.05 - 0.25 0.15MAX 0.015MAX
EN 1.4373 17.0 - 19.0 4.0 - 6.0 7.5 - 10.5 0.05 - 0.25 0.15MAX 0.030MAX
Simultaneously China became a major consumer phase stability and make it possible to increase
of stainless steel. Part of the tonnage was somewhat the chromium content of the low Ni.
produced locally. The continuous pressure to grades.
obtain low cost grades resulted in the
development of cheaper grades with always less
alloying elements like nickel and even less
chromium. Due to low cost manufacturing routes
or less performing facilities grades with very
high sulfur and carbon containing grades were
sold on the market. Those productions from a
marginal production level moved to hundred of
thousands tons production.
Figure 3. Austenite stability at 1075 °C (Franks) Figure 5. Mechanical properties of several S.S.
Figures 9 presents current density data It is clearly observed that pitting corrosion
recorded on several stainless steels (ferritic, resistance is directly related to the chromium
manganese austenitic and nickel austenitic content of the grades. Higher sulfur contents
grades ) being immersed in sulfuric 2M acid have a negative effect on pitting corrosion
solution at 23°C. Corrosion resistance is directly resistance (Figure 11). This is a well know
linked to the chromium content. The current phenomenon since sulfide inclusions are
density data are plotted on a logarithmic scale. preferential sites to initiate pits. The grades
This underlines the powerful effects of newly manufactured particularly in China have
chromium content on the corrosion resistance of the worst pitting corrosion resistance and in no
stainless steels in acidic conditions. case may perform as an austenitic 304 grade.
Figure 12 presents data performed on a multipit
cell. About 20 samples per plate have been
High corrosion rates
tested. It is confirmed that the new developed
grades of 4 and 1 Ni. families are more sensitive
to pitting than a 304 grade even if the testing
conditions are not severe.