Austenitic stainless steels

Austenitic stainless steels have high ductility, low yield stress and relatively high ultimate tensile
strength, when compare to a typical carbon steel.

A carbon steel on cooling transforms from Austenite to a mixture of ferrite and cementite. With
austenitic stainless steel, the high chrome and nickel content suppress this transformation
keeping the material fully austenite on cooling (The Nickel maintains the austenite phase on
cooling and the Chrome slows the transformation down so that a fully austenitic structure can be
achieved with only 8% Nickel).

Heat treatment and the thermal cycle caused by welding, have little influence on mechanical
properties. However strength and hardness can be increased by cold working, which will also
reduce ductility. A full solution anneal (heating to around 1045°C followed by quenching or
rapid cooling) will restore the material to its original condition, removing alloy segregation,
sensitisation, sigma phase and restoring ductility after cold working. Unfortunately the rapid
cooling will re-introduce residual stresses, which could be as high as the yield point. Distortion
can also occur if the object is not properly supported during the annealing process.

Austenitic steels are not susceptible to hydrogen cracking, therefore pre-heating is seldom
required, except to reduce the risk of shrinkage stresses in thick sections. Post weld heat
treatment is seldom required as this material as a high resistance to brittle fracture; occasionally
stress relief is carried out to reduce the risk of stress corrosion cracking, however this is likely to
cause sensitization unless a stabilised grade is used (limited stress relief can be achieved with a
low temperature of around 450°C ).

Austenitic steels have a F.C.C atomic structure which provides more planes for the flow of
dislocations, combined with the low level of interstitial elements (elements that lock the
dislocation chain), gives this material its good ductility. This also explains why this material has
no clearly defined yield point, which is why its yield stress is always expressed as a proof stress.
Austenitic steels have excellent toughness down to true absolute (-273°C), with no steep ductile
to brittle transition.

This material has good corrosion resistance, but quite severe corrosion can occur in certain
environments. The right choice of welding consumable and welding technique can be crucial as
the weld metal can corrode more than the parent material.

Probably the biggest cause of failure in pressure plant made of stainless steel is stress corrosion
cracking (S.C.C). This type of corrosion forms deep cracks in the material and is caused by the
presence of chlorides in the process fluid or heating water/steam (Good water treatment is
essential ), at a temperature above 50°C, when the material is subjected to a tensile stress (this
stress includes residual stress, which could be up to yield point in magnitude). Significant
increases in Nickel and also Molybdenum will reduce the risk.

Stainless steel has a very thin and stable oxide film rich in chrome. This film reforms rapidly by
reaction with the atmosphere if damaged. If stainless steel is not adequately protected from the
atmosphere during welding or is subject to very heavy grinding operations, a very thick oxide
layer will form. This thick oxide layer, distinguished by its blue tint, will have a chrome depleted
layer under it, which will impair corrosion resistance. Both the oxide film and depleted layer
must be removed, either mechanically (grinding with a fine grit is recommended, wire brushing
and shot blasting will have less effect), or chemically (acid pickle with a mixture of nitric and
hydrofluoric acid). Once cleaned, the surface can be chemically passivated to enhance corrosion
resistance, (passivation reduces the anodic reaction involved in the corrosion process).

Carbon steel tools, also supports or even sparks from grinding carbon steel, can embed fragments
into the surface of the stainless steel. These fragments can then rust if moistened. Therefore it is
recommended that stainless steel fabrication be carried out in a separate designated area and
special stainless steel tools used where possible.

If any part of stainless-steel is heated in the range 500 degrees to 800 degrees for any reasonable
time there is a risk that the chrome will form chrome carbides (a compound formed with carbon)
with any carbon present in the steel. This reduces the chrome available to provide the passive
film and leads to preferential corrosion, which can be severe. This is often referred to as
sensitisation. Therefore it is advisable when welding stainless steel to use low heat input and
restrict the maximum interpass temperature to around 175°, although sensitisation of modern low
carbon grades is unlikely unless heated for prolonged periods. Small quantities of either titanium
(321) or niobium (347) added to stabilise the material will inhibit the formation of chrome
carbides.

To resist oxidation and creep high carbon grades such as 304H or 316H are often used. Their
improved creep resistance relates to the presence of carbides and the slightly coarser grain size
associated with higher annealing temperatures. Because the higher carbon content inevitably
leads to sensitisation, there may be a risk of corrosion during plant shut downs, for this reason
stabilised grades may be preferred such as 347H.

The solidification strength of austenitic stainless steel can be seriously impaired by small
additions of impurities such as sulphur and phosphorous, this coupled with the materials high
coefficient of expansion can cause serious solidification cracking problems. Most 304 type
alloys are designed to solidify initially as delta ferrite, which has a high solubility for sulphur,
transforming to austenite upon further cooling. This creates an austenitic material containing tiny
patches of residual delta ferrite, therefore not a true austenitic in the strict sense of the word.
Filler metal often contains further additions of delta ferrite to ensure crack free welds.

The delta ferrite can transform to a very brittle phase called sigma, if heated above 550°C for
very prolonged periods (Could take several thousand hours, depending on chrome level. A
duplex stainless steel can form sigma phase after only a few minutes at this temperature)

The very high coefficient of expansion associated with this material means that welding
distortion can be quite savage. I have seen thick ring flanges on pressure vessel twist after
welding to such an extent that a fluid seal is impossible. Thermal stress is another major
problem associated with stainless steel; premature failure can occur on pressure plant heated by a
jacket or coils attached to a cold veesel. This material has poor thermal conductivity, therefore
lower welding current is required (typically 25% less than carbon steel) and narrower joint
preparations can be tolerated. All common welding processes can be used successfully, however
high deposition rates associated with SAW could cause solidification cracking and possibly
sensitisation, unless adequate precautions are taken.

To ensure good corrosion resistance of the weld root it must be protected from the atmosphere by
an inert gas shield during welding and subsequent cooling. The gas shield should be contained
around the root of the weld by a suitable dam, which must permit a continuous gas flow through
the area. Welding should not commence until sufficient time has elapsed to allow the volume of
purging gas flowing through the dam to equal at least the 6 times the volume contained in the
dam (EN1011 Part 3 Recommends 10). Once purging is complete the purge flow rate should be
reduced so that it only exerts a small positive pressure, sufficient to exclude air. If good
corrosion resistance of the root is required the oxygen level in the dam should not exceed
0.1%(1000 ppm); for extreme corrosion resistance this should be reduced to 0.015% (150 ppm).
Backing gasses are typically argon or helium; Nitrogen Is often used as an economic alternative
where corrosion resistance is not critical, Nitrogen + 10% Helium is better. A wide variety of
proprietary pastes and backing materials are available than can be use to protect the root instead
of a gas shield. In some applications where corrosion and oxide coking of the weld root is not
important, such as large stainless steel ducting, no gas backing is used.
A pdf guide to weld purging
Huntingdon Fusion Techniques Limited

Carbon content:
304 L grade Low Carbon, typically 0.03% Max
304 grade Medium Carbon, typically 0.08% Max
304H grade High Carbon, typically Up to 0.1%

The higher the carbon content the greater the yield strength. (Hence the stength advantage in
using stabilised grades)

Typical Alloy Content

304 (18-20Cr, 8-12Ni)

316 (16-18Cr, 10-14Ni + 2-3Mo) 304 + Molybdenum
316 Ti (316 with Titanium Added) 304 + Moly + Titanium
320 (Same as 316Ti) -
321 (17-19Cr, 9-12Ni + Titanium) 304 + Titanium
347 (17-19Cr, 9-13Ni + Niobium) 304 + Niobium
308 (19-22Cr, 9-11Ni) 304 + Extra 2%Cr
309 (22-24Cr, 12-15Ni) 304 + Extra 4%Cr + 4% Ni

All the above stainless steel grades are basic variations of a 304. All are readily weldable and all
have matching consumables, except for a 304 which is welded with a 308 or 316, 321 is welded
with a 347 (Titanium is not easily transferred across the arc) and a 316Ti is normally welded
with a 318.

Molybdenum has the same effect on the microstructure as chrome, except that it gives better
resistance to pitting corrosion. Therefore a 316 needs less chrome than a 304.

310 (24-26Cr,19-22Ni) True Austenitic. This material does not transform to ferrite on
cooling and therefore does not contain delta ferrite. It will not
suffer sigma phase embrittlement but can be tricky to weld.
904L (20Cr,25Ni,4.5Mo) Super Austenitic Or Nickel alloy. Superior corrosion resistance
providing they are welded carefully with low heat input (less than 1
kJ/mm recommended) and fast travel speeds with no weaving.
Each run of weld should not be started until the metal temperature
falls below 100°C. It is unlikely that a uniform distribution of alloy
will be achieved throughout the weld (segregation), therefore this
material should either be welded with an over-alloyed consumable
such as a 625 or solution annealed after welding, if maximum
corrosion resistance is required.