ASM Handbook, Volume 1, Properties and Selection: Irons,

Steels, and High Performance Alloys

Section: Specialty Steels and Heat-Resistant Alloys

Elevated-Temperature Properties of Stainless Steels

STAINLESS STEELS are widely used at elevated temperatures when carbon and low-alloy steels do not provide adequate
corrosion resistance and/or sufficient strength at these temperatures. Carbon and low-alloy steels are generally more economical
than stainless steels and are often used in applications with temperatures below about 370 qC (700 qF). Several low-alloy steels
with moderate chromium contents (between 1 and 10%) and improved high-temperature strength are also widely used at elevated
temperatures above 370 qC (700 qF). These steels include the creep-resistant chromium-molybdenum ferritic steels discussed in
the article"Elevated-Temperature Properties of Ferritic Steels" in this Volume. Carbon steels may even be suitable for
temperatures above 370 qC (700 qF), if high strength and oxidation are not concerns.
This article deals with the wrought stainless steels used for high-temperature applications (see the article "Cast Stainless
Steels" in this Volume for the elevated-temperature properties of cast stainless steels). Corrosion resistance is often the first
criterion used to select stainless steel for a particular application. However, strength is also a significant factor in a majority of
elevated-temperature applications and may even be the key factor governing the choice of a stainless steel. The stainless steels
used in applications in which high-temperature strength is important are sometimes referred to as heat-resistant steels.
Table 1 gives some typical compositions of wrought heat-resistant stainless steels, which are grouped into ferritic, martensitic,
austenitic, and precipitation-hardening grades. Of these steels, the austenitic grades offer the highest strength at high temperatures
(Fig. 1 ). The precipitation-hardening steels have the highest strength at lower temperatures (Fig. 1 ), but they weaken
considerably at temperatures above about 425 qC (800 qF).
Table 1 Nominal compositions of wrought iron-base heat-resistant alloys

UNS Composition, %
Designation number C Cr Ni Mo N Nb Ti Other
Ferritic stainless steels
405 S40500 0.15 13.0 ... ... ... ... ... 0.2 Al
max
406 ... 0.15 13.0 ... ... ... ... ... 4.0 Al
max
409 S40900 0.08 11.0 0.5 max ... ... ... 6 u C min ...
max
429 S42900 0.12 15 ... ... ... ... ... ...
max
430 S43000 0.12 16.0 ... ... ... ... ... ...
max
434 S43400 0.12 17.0 ... 1.0 ... ... ... ...
max
439 S43035 0.07 18.25 ... ... ... ... 12 u C min 1.10 Ti max
max
18 SR ... 0.05 18.0 ... ... ... ... 0.40 max 2.0 Al max
18Cr-2Mo S44400 ... 18.5 ... 2.0 ... (a) (a) 0.8 (Ti + Nb) max
446 S44600 0.20 25.0 ... ... 0.25 ... ... ...
max
E-Brite 26-1 S44627 0.01 26.0 ... 1.0 0.015 0.1 ... ...
max max
26-1Ti S44626 0.04 26.0 ... 1.0 ... ... 10 u C min ...
29Cr-4Mo S44700 0.01 29.0 ... 4.0 0.02 max ... ... ...
max
Quenched and tempered martensitic stainless steels
403 S40300 0.15 12.0 ... ... ... ... ... ...
max
410 S41000 0.15 12.5 ... ... ... ... ... ...
max
410Cb S41040 0.15 12.5 ... ... ... 0.12 ... ...
max
416 S41600 0.15 13.0 ... 0.6(b) ... ... ... 0.15 min S
max
422 S42200 0.20 12.5 0.75 1.0 ... ... ... 1.0 W, 0.22 V
H-46 ... 0.12 10.75 0.50 0.85 0.07 0.30 ... 0.20 V
Moly Ascoloy ... 0.14 12.0 2.4 1.80 0.05 ... ... 0.35 V
Greek Ascoloy S41800 0.15 13.0 2.0 ... ... ... ... 3.0 W
Jethete M-152 ... 0.12 12.0 2.5 1.7 ... ... ... 0.30 V
Almar 363 ... 0.05 11.5 4.5 ... ... ... 10 u C min ...
431 S43100 0.20 16.0 2.0 ... ... ... ... ...
max
Lapelloy S42300 0.30 11.5 ... 2.75 ... ... ... 0.25 V
Precipitation-hardening martensitic stainless steels
Custom 450 ... 0.05 15.5 6.0 0.75 ... 8 u C min ... 1.5 Cu
max
Custom 455 ... 0.03 11.75 8.5 ... ... 0.30 1.2 2.25 Cu
15-5 PH S15500 0.07 15.0 4.5 ... ... 0.30 ... 3.5 Cu
17-4PH S17400 0.04 16.5 4.25 ... ... 0.25 ... 3.6 Cu
PH 13-8 Mo S13800 0.05 12.5 8.0 2.25 ... ... ... 1.1 Al
Precipitation-hardening semiaustenitic stainless steels
AM-350 S35000 0.10 16.5 4.25 2.75 0.10 ... ... ...
AM-355 S35500 0.13 15.5 4.25 2.75 0.10 ... ... ...
17-7 PH S17700 0.07 17.0 7.0 ... ... ... ... 1.15 Al
PH 15-7 Mo S15700 0.07 15.0 7.0 2.25 ... ... ... 1.15 Al
Austenitic stainless steels
304 S30400 0.08 19.0 10.0 ... ... ... ... ...
max
304H S30409 0.040. 19.0 10.0 ... ... ... ... ...
10
304L S30403 0.03 19.0 10.0 ... ... ... ... ...
max
304N S30451 0.08 19.0 9.25 ... 0.13 ... ... ...
max
309 S30900 0.30 23.0 13.0 ... ... ... ... ...
max
309H S30909 0.040. 23.0 13.0 ... ... ... ... ...
10
310 S31000 0.25 25.0 20.0 ... ... ... ... ...
max
310H S31009 0.040. 25.0 20.0 ... ... ... ... ...
10
316 S31600 0.08 17.0 12.0 2.5 ... ... ... ...
max
316L S31603 0.03 17.0 12.0 2.5 ... ... ... ...
max
316N S31651 0.08 17.0 12.0 2.5 0.13 ... ... ...
max
316H S31609 0.040. 17.0 12.0 2.5 ... ... ... ...
10