Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Outokumpu Austenitic Grade 254 Smo Comparative 6mo Stainless Grades
Outokumpu Austenitic Grade 254 Smo Comparative 6mo Stainless Grades
American
Version
Imperial Units
This brochure briefly describes the many similarities and few stainless steels have a residual copper content of
differences between Outokumpu 254 SMO®1 alloy and other about 0.20%.
6Mo stainless steel “alloys”, such as the ATI Allegheny Ludlum
AL-6XN®2 alloy. It is based on Outokumpu’s 30+ years of *“Leanest” meaning lowest Ni content of all the 6Mo grades
experience with developing, producing, and marketing of 6% listed in reference #3.
molybdenum-containing stainless steels. While extensive, this
brochure does not provide all detailed information that has been In practice, there will be only a small difference
published in applicable literature or observed by Outokumpu
between the AL-6XN and 254 SMO alloys with
over the years with respect to 6Mo stainless steels. For additional
details regarding such information as references, testing respect to copper. The N08926 alloy requires a
standards, and results, please contact Outokumpu. copper content of 0.50-1.50%.5 The effect of the
different concentrations of copper on corrosion
254 SMO and Most Other 6Mo Grades resistance would be difficult to detect in laboratory
are Essentially Equivalent corrosion tests and are not considered to be
The physical properties of 6Mo grades, including statistically significant in any application, other
both the 254 SMO®1 and AL-6XN®2 alloys than reducing acid environments, such as the
are essentially equivalent as described herein. intermediate concentration range of pure sulfuric
acid, depending on the exact exposure and
Because of the similarities among the 6Mo grades,
evaluation criteria.4
they may be used interchangeably, may be used
together and the selection of a specific grade Composition, wt. pct Table 1
should be based on availability, price, and service. Outokumpu
254 SMO® ATI Allegheny Ludlum
254 SMO: The Leanest* 6Mo Stainless Element (wrought products) Typical AL-6XN®
on the Market
Carbon 0.020 max 0.02
The 6Mo stainless steels, whether 254 SMO Chromium 19.5 - 20.5 20.5
(S31254), AL-6XN (N08367), or 1925 hMo Nickel 17.5 - 18.5 24.0
and 25-6Mo (both covered by N08926), are Molybdenum 6.0 - 6.5 6.2
substantially similar with respect to significant Nitrogen .018 - 0.22 0.22
performance characteristics.3 The chemical Copper 0.50 - 1.00 0.2
composition of the 254 SMO stainless steel Sulfur 0.010 max 0.001
typically has a slightly higher copper content than Phosphorus 0.030 max 0.020
the AL-6XN alloy (Table 1). The original Avesta Silicon 0.80 max 0.40
Jernverk AB (predecessor to Outokumpu) patent4 Manganese 1.00 max 0.40
on 254 SMO was based, to some extent, on Iron Balance Balance
data that demonstrated that 0.5-1.0% copper ** See producers’ websites for published alloy surcharges.
in a 6Mo stainless steel produced an optimal The most notable difference in composition
combination of resistance to reducing acids and between the 254 SMO and AL-6XN alloys is
resistance to chlorides.4 The AL-6XN alloy the nickel content (Table 1). The 254 SMO
contains copper only as a residual element, as alloy contains about 6% less nickel than the
do most austenitic stainless steels. Based on AL-6XN, which results in a negligible difference
Outokumpu’s experience, most austenitic in performance6, yet often achieves a significant
savings in cost due to the volatility in nickel The time to failure in boiling Isocorrosion Curves 0.1 mm/year for given steels
prices**. magnesium chloride solution of in pure sulfuric acid Figure 2
stainless steel wire as a function of Ni
content Figure 1
The 254 SMO alloy was the first nitrogen-alloyed
6Mo grade stainless steel.6,7 Avesta Jernverks
AB was granted a patent for such composition
that required various other elements.4 When
other producers decided to produce a nitrogen-
containing 6Mo steel, the use of a Ni content higher
than that in the 254 SMO alloy avoided conflict
with the patent without substantial detrimental
effects.8
Information given in this brochure may be subject to alterations without notice. Care has been taken to ensure that the contents
of this publication are accurate but Outokumpu and its affiliated companies do not accept responsibility for errors or for
information which is found to be misleading. Suggestions for or descriptions of the end use or application of products or methods
of working are for information only and Outokumpu and its affiliated companies accept no liability in respect thereof. Before using
products supplied or manufactured by the company the customer should satisfy himself of their suitability.
254 SMO® is a registered trademark of Outokumpu Stainless.
2205 Code Plus Two® is a registered trademark of Outokumpu Stainless, Inc.