Examples of Duplex Stainless

Steels

George F. Vander Voort

Consultant Struers Inc.

7-Mo PLUS
Fe - <0.03% C 27.5% Cr 4.5% Ni 1.5% Mo 0.25% N

50 m

15% HCl in Ethanol

50 m

10% CrO3, 6 V dc, 10 s

Ferrite-austenite grain structure of hot-rolled and annealed 7-Mo PLUS

duplex stainless steel revealed using (left) 15% HCl in ethanol and (right) 10%
CrO3 in water, 6 V dc, 10 s.

7-Mo Plus

50 m
50 m

20% NaOH, 3 V dc, 10 s

Ferrite in 7-Mo PLUS colored using aqueous 20% NaOH, 3 V dc, 10 s.

7-Mo PLUS

Microstructure of 7-Mo PLUS duplex stainless steel etched with Berahas reagent
(15 mL HCl 85 mL water 1 g K2S2O5). Original at 200X. Ferrite is colored and
austenite is unaffected.

7-Mo PLUS

Microstructure of 7-Mo PLUS duplex stainless steel etched with aqueous 20% NaOH (3 V dc, 5
secs which colors the ferritic matrix blue and the austenitic particles a light yellow (normally
not colored). Hot working direction is vertical. Austenite: 362 HK; ferrite: 264 HK hardness.
Original at 500X.

2205
Fe - <0.03% C - <0.8% Mn 22% Cr 5.25% Ni 3% Mo 0.15% N

Microstructure of 2205 duplex stainless steel in the solution annealed condition. Etched with
aqueous 20% NaOH, 3 V dc, 12 sec. To color the ferrite. Austenite is white.

2205

Ferrite colored in 2205 solution annealed at 1200 C revealed using 20%

NaOH, 3 V dc, 10 s.

UNS 32760 Super Duplex Stainless Steel

Sigmatized

20 m

Bright Field

20 m

Nomarski DIC

Etched with 10% Oxalic Acid, 6 V dc, 10 s

CD-4MCu
Fe - <0.04% C 25.8% Cr 5.4% Ni 2% Mo 3% Cu

200 m

100 m

Duplex structure of cast CD-4MCu stainless steel (295 HV); waterless

Kallings reagent.

As-Cast ASTM A 890-5A

Fe <0.03% C - <1.5% Mn - <1% Si 25% Cr 7% Ni 4.5% Mo 0.2% N

Microstructure of as-cast ASTM A 890-5A duplex stainless steel in the solution annealed
condition. Etched with aqueous 20% NaOH (3 V dc, 10 sec). Original at 100X. Ferrite is colored
and austenite is unaffected.

As-Cast ASTM A 890-5A

Microstructure of as-cast ASTM A 890-5A duplex stainless steel in the solution annealed
condition. Etched with Murakamis reagent (80 C). Original at 100X. Ferrite is colored and
austenite is unaffected.

As-Cast ASTM A 890-5A

Microstructure of as-cast ASTM A 890-5A duplex stainless steel in the solution annealed
condition. Etched with LB1 (100 mL water 20 g NH4FHF 0.5g K2S2O5). Original at 100X.
Austenite is colored and ferrite is unaffected. Because it is as-cast, the are no annealing twins
in the austenite.

ASTM A 890 Grade 5A

200 m
100 mL H2O 10g NaOH 10g K3Fe(CN)6 90s

200 m
100 mL H2O 20g NaOH 20g K3Fe(CN)6 50s

Influence of etch composition on etch time at 100 C with standard Murakamis

(left) and modified Murakamis (right) to reveal the ferrite phase.

ASTM A 890 Grade 5A

200 m

100 mL H2O 30g NaOH 30g K3Fe(CN)6 10s

Etching for only 10 s at 100 C with this version of modified Murakamis

reagent colored the ferrite in only 10 s.

As-Cast ASTM A 890-4A

Fe - <0.03% C 22.25% Cr 5.5% Ni 3% Mo <1% Cu 0.2% N

100 m

20% NaOH, 3 V dc, 10s

100 m

Murakamis, boiling

Ferrite colored in ASTM A 890-4A using (left) 20% NaOH, 3 V dc, 10 s and (right)
with Murakamis, 90-100 C, 120 s.

As-Cast CD3MN
Fe - <0.03% C 22.25% Cr 5.5% Ni 3% Mo 0.2% N

As-cast CD3MN duplex stainless steel aged 30 days at 800 C after etching with
Murakamis reagent for 40 s at 90 C to color the ferrite tan. Austenite is white. The
intermetallic phases are sigma and (perhaps) chi phases.

Cast CD7MCuN Duplex Stainless Steel

200 m

Modified (30-30-100) Murakamis 10 s at 90-100 C