Austenitic Stainless Steel
Austenitic or austenite stainless steel is a stainless steel grade that is revered for its enhanced strength, durability, and corrosion resistance. Due to its aesthetically pleasing look and feel, this top-grade steel product is commonly used for various industrial and commercial applications that require an environmentally friendly metal that is easy to clean and maintain.
How is Austenitic Stainless Steel Produced?
In addition to iron, standard stainless steel contains differing amounts of manganese, molybdenum, and nitrogen. Conversely, austenitic stainless steel contains percentages of nickel and nitrogen content, the principal added elements within an austenite-graded stainless steel. Adding nickel to the stainless steel content increases the metal structure's ductility and toughness.
Austenitic Stainless Steel Properties
Austenitic stainless steel contains at least 10.5 percent and 8 to 12 percent nickel, nitrogen, carbon, and many other elements in solution. Chromium gives the steel its high corrosion resistance, while nitrogen acts as a stiffening agent. Additional properties of austenitic steel include:
- Increased corrosion stability as opposed to low-nickel chromium steel (particularly stress-crack corrosion)
- Austenitic steel is largely non-magnetic (not ferromagnetic)
- Low yield strength (200–300 N/mm²) • High tensile strength (700–1300 N/mm²)
- High heat expansion coefficient (16.0 × 10−6 K−1 for the material 1.4301)
- Density 1.4301 (V2A, AISI 304): 7.9 g/cm3, 1.4401 (V4A, AISI 316L): 8.0 g/cm3
- Cannot be hardened by conventional heat-treatment processes
- Easily weldable
Austenitic Stainless Steel Applications
With its exceptional resistance to heat and corrosion, austenitic stainless steel is used extensively in many industries, including:
- Medical
- Automotive
- Industrial
- Consumer
- Aerospace
Why Choose Austenitic Stainless Steel for Your Application?
Austenitic stainless steel grades are the most widely used stainless steel alloys available. This is mainly due to austenite’s impeccable corrosion resistance, which is the best of all standard stainless steel types. Austenite stainless steels are also non-hardenable, non-magnetic to slightly magnetic, and readily weldable and machinable.
Austenitic vs. Ferritic & Martensitic Stainless Steel
The main difference between austenitic and ferritic stainless steel is that the former features a crystalline structure, whereas the latter contains a higher chromium concentration. Austenitic stainless steel is also better protected against corrosion than ferritic stainless steel. It contains high levels of both chromium and nickel. These added elements help to protect it from corrosion.
Martensitic steel contains higher levels of chromium compared with austenitic and ferritic stainless steels. It can be hardened to produce superior, strong products.
Choose Aero Metals for Your Austenitic Stainless Steel Manufacturing Needs
At Aero Metals, we offer engineering-centric precision investment casting services with a focus on metal casting. Our extensive experience with complex geometries, hard-to-manufacture parts, and in-house CNC machining capabilities separates us from the competition.
Contact us for more information regarding our austenitic stainless steel investment casting services or view our Gallery of featured cast parts.
