CLC 18-12-4LN

A 3%Mo austenitic stainless steel with Nitrogen addition (317LN grade)

CLC 18-12-4LN (317LN) is a Nitrogen alloyed austenitic stainless steel with a

3% Mo minimum addition (>4%). Alloys CLC 18-12-4LN (317LN) exhibit austenitic
microstructure free of deleterious carbide precipitations in grainboundaries. The
grade contains some residual ferrite ( 2%) after solution annealing (1100 - 1150°C
/ 2012 - 2102°F) and water quenching.
Its low carbon content avoids the intergranular corrosion, even on welded pieces
without an ulterior water quenching.
The high Molybdenum content gives this steel a higher resistance to corrosion in
chlorides environments than standard grades (CLC17-12-2L / 316L). Nitrogen
additions improves sructure stability, increases the yield strength and improves
pitting and crevice corrosion resistance when compared to CLC 18-15-4L (317L).
Its main properties are : high ductility and improved corrosion resistance.
The main applications are chemical and petrochemical applications, pollution
control equipments and chemical tankers.

STANDARDS EURONORM ............................ 1.4434 X2CrNiMoN18.12.4

AFNOR ..................................... Z3 CND 19-14 Az
DIN............................................ W 1.4434
ASTM........................................ A240 TP 317LN
UNS 31753

CHEMICAL Typical values (Weight %)

C Cr Ni Mo N Others
ANALYSIS
<0.030 18.2 13 3.2 0.14 -
PREN (%Cr+3.3%Mo+16%N) ≥ 32

MECHANICAL Tensile properties after solution annealing heat treatment

PROPERTIES °C
YS 0.2%
N/mm²
YS 1.0%
N/mm²
UTS
N/mm² °F
YS 0.2% YS 1.0%
KSI KSI
UTS
KSI El%
20 290 315 590 68 43 46 86 40
100 225 255 525 212 33 37 76 40
200 185 210 490 392 27 31 71 40
300 165 190 460 572 24 28 67 35
400 150 175 450 752 22 25 65 30
500 135 160 440 932 20 23 64 25
Minimum guaranteed values following EN 10088 hot rolled plates
The EN guaranteed values are valid for a thickness from 5 up to 75mm.

CLC 18-12-4 LN (317 LN) - Ed 29/09/1999 - Page 1

STRUCTURE CLC 18-12-4LN (317LN) grade presents an austenitic microstructure with about 1-
2% ferrite. The grade must be annealed at 1100-1150°C (2012 - 2102°F) and water
quenched in order to avoid intermetallic phase precipitations which reduce the
ductility and the corrosion resistance properties. Nitrogen additions are needed to
improve structure stability.

PHYSICAL Density : 8000 kg/m3

PROPERTIES Interval Thermal °F Thermal Specific
Young Shear
°C Resistivity modulus Modulus
Temper Expansion conductivity heat E G
°C αx10-6°C-1 Ω cm)
(µΩ (W.m-1.K-1) (J.kg-1.K-1) (GPa) (GPa)
20-100 16 20 68 80 14 500 200 77
20-200 16.5 100 212 87 15 500 194 75
20-300 17 200 392 94 16.5 520 186 71
20-400 17.5 300 572 100 18 530 179 68
20-500 18 400 752 105 19.5 540 172 65
500 932 110 21 540 165 62
The alloy is non magnetic in the solution treated condition, very slightly
ferromagnetic after cold work.

CORROSION Quality corrosion tests guaranteed (special request may be discussed)

Test Other name Corrosion (1) Results
ASTM A262A Intergranular Step or dual structure
ASTM A262B STREICHER Intergranular <1.5mm/year
ASTM A262C HUEY Intergranular <1mm/year
ASTM A262E
DIN 50914 STRAUSS Intergranular No cracking after bending
RCCM
ASTM G48A Pitting CPT 20°C-68°F
ASTM G48B ASTM G78 Crevice CCT 10°C-50°F
(1)
kind of corrosion mechanism investigated
General corrosion

ppm Cl - °C °F

1600 100 Boiling curve 212

1200 75 167

800 317LN
50 122
317 LN
317 LN
400 316 L 25 77
316 L
0
20 40 60 80 100% 20 40 60 80 100 %
304
54% P205 – H2SO4 < 4% Isocorrosion diagram
Industrial solution % H2SO4 (weight)

PROCESSING Hot forming

Hot forming should be carried out in a temperature range of 900-1150°C (1652-
2102°F). If the final forming temperature falls below 950°C (1742°F) a solution
annealing (1080-1180°C / 1976-2156°F) is necessary.
The cleanliness of the surface is very important (avoid oil contamination). A neutral
or slightly oxidising atmosphere is required. Due to the low thermal conductivity, the
holding time of temperature may be longer than for carbon steel ( 50%).
Quenching must be fast after forming.

CLC 18-12-4 LN (317 LN) - Ed 29/09/1999 - Page 2

 Cold forming
The alloy can be cold formed without any problem.
Nitrogen bearing stabilizes the structure and maintains the austenitic structure after
a strong cold work at room temperature.

The cold hardening of the steel explains that it may require more powerfull
equipments than structural steel.
Molybdenum and Nitrogen bearing implie also some more powerfull equipments
than Cr-Ni austenitic stainless steels.

Pickling
A nitro hydrofluoric acid bath (10-20% HNO3 – 1.5-5% HF) at 20-60°C is used for
the pickling treatment.

A 10-20% H2SO4 – 1.5-5% HF pickling bath may also be used.

Passivation-decontamination treatments may be performed with a 10-20% weight
nitric acid solution.

Cutting
- Thermal cutting (plasma, thermal sawing…). After cutting, pickling or grinding are
necessary to eliminate the oxide formed layer.

- Mechanical cutting (shearing, stamping, cold sawing…).

The alloy, stabilized by Nitrogen addition, can be very easy welded without hot
WELDING cracking phenomenon, using an adequate filler metal.
The alloy is not sensitive to cold cracking phenomenon.

All welding processes can be used. The fillerless processes may be used after
checking out the no hot cracking of the weld metal and the lack of porosities.

Filler material :

Electrode E317L-15 or E317L-16 (ASME Sect II – Part C SFA5-4)

Wire ER 317L (ASME Sect II - Part C SFA 5-9)

18-16-5L filler materials with a higher Molybdenum content and giving a fully
austenitic weld metal should be used to improve the pitting corrosion resistance or
when an amagnetic weld metal is required.

Preheating and post weld heat treatment are not necessary.

120°C (248°F) is the maximum interpass temperature.

Post weld pickling and passivation treatment are necessary.

CLC 18-12-4 LN (317 LN) - Ed 29/09/1999 - Page 3

MACHINING Due to its cold work hardening the alloy is less machinable than structural steel or
than a 13%Cr martensitic stainless steel.

APPLICATION The alloy is corrosion resistant in :

- Diluted sulfuric solutions at moderate temperature
- Very diluted hydrochloric acid solutions at moderate temperature
- Industrial phosphoric acid (pure phosphoric acid up to 100°C/212°F)
- Sulphurous acid solutions of sulphites and bisulphites at high temperature
- Hot nitrogen sulphide solutions
- Hot organic acid solutions (acetic, formic, citric)
Please consult our SVP CORROSION service for more data.
The main applications are :
Chemical tankers Petrochemical industry
Chemical and pharmaceutical industries Oil and gas industry
Food and beverage industry Pollution control equipments

SIZE RANGE Plates

Quarto plates Cut to length Cold rolled plates Clad plates
5 to 150 mm 2 to 12 mm 2 to 14 mm 6 to 150 mm
Thickness 3/16" to 6" 5/64" to 1/2" 5/64" to 5/8" 1/4" to 6"
Up to 3800 mm* Up to 2000 mm* Up to 2300 mm Up to 3900 mm
Width Up to 150" Up to 79" Up to 90.5" Up to 154"
Up to 16000 mm Up to 12000 mm Up to 8000 mm Up to 16000 mm
Length Up to 52' Up to 39" Up to 315" Up to 551"
Indicative dimensional programme – *Width related to thickness ; please consult for specific request.

NOTE
This technical data and information represents our best knowledge at the time of printing. However, it
may be subject to some slight variations due to our ongoing research programme on corrosion resistant
grades.
We therefore suggest that information be verified at time of enquiry or order.
Furthermore, in service, real conditions are specific for each application. The data presented here is
only for the purpose of description, and may only be considered as guarantees when our company has
given written formal approval.
Further information may be obtained from the following address.

For all information :

INDUSTEEL Creusot INDUSTEEL Belgium
56 Rue Clemenceau 266, rue de Châtelet
71201 LE CREUSOT CEDEX - FRANCE B- 6030 MARCHIENNE AU PONT
Sales Tel +33 3 85 80 55 31 Tel +32 71 44 16 99
Fax +33 3 85 80 51 77 Fax +32 71 44 19 56

CLC 18-12-4 LN (317 LN) - Ed 29/09/1999 - Page 4