Austenitic stainless steel
As a premier stockholder, manufacturer and supplier of flanges, pipe, pipe fittings and fasteners to the oil, gas and petrochemical industries, Arc Alloys products are built to meet the precise specifications of the applications in which they are used, which is why we offer a truly comprehensive range of austenitic stainless steel options including 304H, 304/L, 316/L, 317L, and Nitronic 60.
What is stainless steel made of?
Steel is a strong alloy made from Iron; Stainless steel is an iron alloy which has added materials to give it a higher corrosive resistance. Stainless steel products containing a minimum of 10.5% chromium. Although 304 grade stainless steel, and 316 stainless steel are popular grades, the term ‘stainless steel’ is a blanket term for steel comprised of chromium and can also can contain nickel.
What is it made of?
Iron
A chemical element, iron is the most common element on Earth. It is the majority of the Earths inner and outer core and is a valuable resource in construction. One of the key concerns iron has is that it has a low corrosion resistance and rusts. 304 stainless steel is virtually rust proof which is critical if used for support.
Chromium
A hard white metal; it is predominantly used for the creation of stainless steel alloys. Chromium is what gives stainless steel its stainless property. Chromium in a stainless steel sheet, for example, is why the stainless steel sheet won’t rust.
Nickel
Nickel is also a great chemical with high corrosive resistance but it also has a high level of ductility. Allowing stainless steel to be stretched into stainless steel wire.
What range of stainless steel are there?
300 stainless steel series
The most recognised grade across the industry, the 300 series has a low carbon content and high manganese, chromium, and nickel content. This means they can withstand varying degrees of temperature and chemicals without austenitic properties; which is a crystalline structure that prevents heat from affecting the steel.
304h and 304L stainless steel
304 stainless steel has become the industry standard for good reason, 304 stainless steel is effective for corrosion resistance and a lower weight. If you need a better heat resistance then the 304H stainless steel is most popular as it has a higher level of carbon content. The 304L is a much better material for welding.
316L stainless steel
316 stainless steel is the standard when it comes to impressive welding and workability properties. The 316L stainless steel has a lower carbon content which has several benefits. The 316L stainless steel is better for heavy gauge components due to having a better level of immunity to intergranular corrosion and higher heat resistance.
317L stainless steel
If the need for stainless steel is for harsh environments where chemicals and corrosion risks are a certainty, 317L stainless steel is the best option. the 317L stainless steel has a low carbon content and a high level of sulphide resistance, which has seen an increase in 317L stainless steel uses.
Nitronic 60
The ideal solution for environments were galling and wear resistance are a priority, Nitronic 60 outstrips both 304 and 316 in this area, making Nitronic 60 a low cost, durable and effective material for applications such as valve stems and rings and bushings for the gas, oil and petro-chemical industries.
Nitronic 60 provides high galling, temperature, cavitation, Chloride pitting, high temperature oxidation and low temperature impact resistance, combined with high strength to make Nitronic 60 a viable choice for a multitude of applications.
What stainless steel can Arc Alloys offer?
Stainless steel pipes
Stainless steel pipes are used in many industries, as it is used to transport water and oil safely. A stainless steel pipe is a great type of pipe as it has a high corrosive resistance. 316 stainless steel and 316L stainless steel is the predominant type of stainless steel used for stainless steel pipe.
Stainless steel pipe fittings
Similar to the stainless steel pipe material, stainless steel pipe fittings use 316L stainless steel or equivalent as they are Austenitic stainless steel. Not using a low corrosive stainless steel could prove problematic if not catastrophic.
Why choose Arc Alloys?
With a long history of quality service and quality products, Arc Alloys are an excellent choice. The business started in 1988 and evolved to manufacturing in 1998 servicing the oil and gas industry. Get in touch with us today on 01384 79695 or 07973381528 for out of hours queries! Or drop us an email to sales@arcalloys.com