Duplex Stainless Steel - Grades

The high corrosion resistance and the excellent mechanical properties combination of duplex stainless steels can
be explained by their chemical composition and balanced ('duplex') microstructure of approximately equivalent
volume fractions of ferrite and austenite. Firstly, the chemical composition based on high contents of Cr
and Mo, improves intergranular and pitting corrosion resistance, respectively. Moreover, additions of
nitrogen can promote structural hardening by interstitial solid solution mechanism, which raises the yield strength
and ultimate strength values without impairing toughness. Secondly, the two-phase microstructure
guarantees higher resistance to pitting and stress corrosion cracking in comparison with conventional
stainless steels. The duplex stainless steels comprise a family of grades with a range in corrosion performance
depending on their alloy content. Modern duplex stainless steels are often addressed in four groups :

1. Lean duplex, such as 2304 (S32304), which contain little or no deliberate Mo addition;
2. 2205 (S32205), the workhorse grade accounting for more than 80% of duplex use;
3. 25 Cr duplex, such as 255 (S32550) and S31260;
4. Superduplex, with 25-26 Cr and increased Mo and N, such as 2507 (S32750).

The table lists the duplex stainless steels covered in ASTM specifications for plate, sheet, and bar products.
Although few of the duplex grades are patented, many of these grades are closely associated with particular steel
producers as proprietary developments. This situation is often reflected in the naming of the grades. Only one
duplex stainless steel has an AISI designation, Type 329, a first generation duplex stainless steel without
intentional nitrogen addition. Many of the grades have become commonly known by a number that
reflects their typical chromium and nickel contents, e.g., 2205 with 22% Cr and 5% Ni. These
composition-based names, used by many producers, have recently been added to A 240 and are being added to
the ASTM specifications for other product forms. Trademarks of individual producers are not permitted in the
ASTM specifications. All grades in the ASTM specifications are all listed by their designations in the Unified
Numbering System (UNS). It is important to reference the UNS number when ordering to the standard
specifications in order to get the desired grade.

Composition of Duplex Stainless Steelsa

UNS Number Typeb C Mn P S Si Cr Ni Mo N Cu Other
Duplex
Grades
S31200 ... 0.030 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 24.0- 5.5-6.5 1.20- 0.14- ... ...
26.0 2.00 0.20
S31260 ... 0.03 1.00 0.030 0.030 0.75 24.0- 5.5-7.5 2.5-3.5 0.10- 0.20- W0.10-
26.0 0.20 0.80 0.20
S31803 ... 0.030 2.00 0.030 0.020 1.00 21.0- 4.5-6.5 2.5-3.5 0.08- ...
23.0 0.20
S32001 ... 0.030 4.0- 0.040 0.030 1.00 19.5- 1.00- 0.60 0.05- 1.00
6.0 21.5 3.00 0.17
S32205 2205 0.030 2.00 0.030 0.020 1.00 22.0- 4.5-6.5 3.0-3.5 0.14- ...
23.0 0.20
S32304 2304 0.030 2.50 0.040 0.030 1.00 21.5- 3.0-5.5 0.05- 0.05- 0.05-
24.5 0.60 0.20 0.60
S32520 ... 0.030 1.50 0.035 0.020 0.80 24.0- 5.5-8.0 3.0-4.0 0.20- 0.50-
26.0 0.35 2.00
S32550 255 0.04 1.50 0.040 0.030 1.00 24.0- 4.5-6.5 2.9-3.9 0.10- 1.5-2.5
27.0 0.25
S32750 2507 0.030 1.20 0.035 0.020 0.80 24.0- 6.0-8.0 3.0-5.0 0.24- 0.50
26.0 0.32
c
S32760 ... 0.030 1.00 0.030 0.010 1.00 24.0- 6.0-8.0 3.0-4.0 0.20- 0.50-
26.0 0.30 1.00
S32900 329d 0.06 1.00 0.040 0.030 0.75 23.0- 2.5-5.0 1.0-2.0 ... ...
28.0
S32950 ... 0.03 2.00 0.035
a
Weight percent, maximum unless otherwise noted.
b
Unless otherwise indicated, a common name, not a trademark, widely used, not associated with any one
producer, as listed in ASTM A 240.
c
W 0.50-1.00; Cr+3.3Mo+16N=40 min.
d
AISI designation