Stainless steel is a popular choice for many safety-critical applications requiring durability, integrity, and strength. But, there are a wide array of stainless steels, each suited for different applications. If youre not sure which type of stainless steel is best for your application, keep reading this article. Well discuss the most commonly used stainless steel in casting, as well as how to select the right type of stainless steel for your application.
Lets start by discussing the overall benefits of stainless steel casting.
Investment casting is typically used to create complex shapes that have tight tolerances. Stainless steel is used in investment casting particularly when high corrosion and wear resistance are necessary. Its high corrosion resistance makes it great for many military, medical, and industrial applications.
The benefits of stainless steel will vary depending on the alloy. All stainless steels contain at least 10.5 percent chromium, but some may contain significantly more depending on the application. Higher chromium content results in increased corrosion resistance. Additional alloying ingredients include molybdenum, nickel, titanium, aluminum, copper, nitrogen, phosphorus, and selenium.
Although many different types of alloys can be used in the investment casting process, 304 (CF-8) is the most commonly used grade. 304 stainless steel, sometimes called 18/8 steel, is a low-carbon (0.08% or less) alloy steel that usually contains 18% chromium and at least 8% nickel. This makes it resistant to scaling and corrosion at high-operating temperatures. The low carbon prevents the precipitation of carbide during welding, allowing it to be welded without annealing, even in potentially corrosive environments.
Additionally, all of the stainless steels in the 300 class have nickel in them, which helps them retain their austenitic structure as they cool down from high temperatures. Austenitic steels tend to have high ductility and can be easily welded.
304 is often used when manufacturing high-strength components for safety-critical industries in harsh environments. Other widely used stainless steel grades include: 316, 304L/316L, 410 and 416, and 17-4.
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Barron Industries pours more than 50 stainless steel alloys, and we commonly provide custom alloys with specific material chemistry and mechanical specifications. These are just a few examples:
Stainless Steel GradeConditionTensile Strength (PSI)Yield Strength (PSI)% ElongationHardness Range or MaxCommonThe right type of stainless steel grade depends on specific requirements of your application. If you have questions about each type of stainless steel alloy, or need help selecting the right grade, get help from Barron Industries. Weve been providing metal casting services for over 100 years, and take pride in being a name synonymous with quality. Contact us today, and let us know how we can help you.
Stainless steel casting is among the few methods of the investment castings process. It is made by pouring molten stainless steel into a molder to solidify and achieve a solid and compact stainless steel material in the desired pattern. Same with other steel cast alloys, this material is a common component for casting production. When corrosion resistance and the properties of steel are needed in a certain product, stainless steel casting is the perfect option.
Among the several stainless steel material grades used, the common ones are the 304, 304L, 316, 316L, 17-4 PH, and Duplex. 304 is the most extensively used austenite steel. It is commonly referred to as A2 stainless steel. Experts on investment castings also use 304L when slightly lower mechanical components are required. It is widely used by companies because of their versatility.
The reason why experts on investment castings use stainless steel is because of its unique physical properties. It is exceptionally resistant to corrosion, abrasion, and heat. Hence, it can be used in various ranges of industries, especially those which require materials that can withstand the severe environment. Stainless steel is used in building or construction purposes, pipe fitting, medical equipment, marine, kitchenware, and food machinery or processing.According to investment castings professionals, stainless steel is one of the common materials used in building and construction. Modern construction uses more stainless steel when it comes to facades, roofing, and cladding. The reason for this is that it is known to have anti-vandal characteristics, low maintenance cost, and beautifully aesthetic.As for stainless steel used in pipe fittings, it comes in various shapes and sizes. As conferred by investment castings professionals, stainless steel is used in this industry because it tends to be very convenient despite being durable and stable.
If you want to know more about the applications of stainless steel castings, contact us today!
For more stainless steel investment castinginformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
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