Mar 7 2013
Topics Covered
Introduction
Chemical Composition
Mechanical properties
Manufacturing process
Applications
Introduction
Stainless steel 404 has excellent corrosion resistance owing to the presence of copper and chromium in its composition. Therefore, it is increasingly replacing 304 steel in many applications. Stainless steel 404 allows for significant cost savings due to the ease of fabrication. It is magnetic, and has low thermal expansion, so there is less distortion of alloys during fabrication.
Chemical Composition
The chemical composition of Grade 404 stainless steel is outlined in the following table.
|
Element |
Content (%) |
|
Iron, Fe |
Balance |
|
Chromium, Cr |
11-12.5 |
|
Nickel, Ni |
1.25-2 |
|
Manganese, Mn |
1 |
|
Silicon, Si |
0.5 |
|
Carbon, C |
0.05 |
|
Phosphorous, P |
0.03 |
|
Sulfur, S |
0.03 |
Mechanical properties
The mechanical properties of Grade 404 stainless steel are displayed in the following table.
|
Properties |
Metric |
Imperial |
|
Tensile strength |
1120 MPa |
162442 psi |
|
Yield strength |
910 MPa |
131984 psi |
|
Elastic modulus |
190-210 GPa |
27557 – 30458 ksi |
|
Poisson's ratio |
0.27-0.30 |
0.27-0.30 |
|
Elongation at break |
15% |
15% |
|
Reduction of area |
50% |
50% |
|
Hardness |
35 |
35 |
Manufacturing process
Stainless steel 404 can be machined more easily than 304 due to the better thermal properties and low work hardening rate. It can also be welded by common welding techniques without any preheating or post-heating techniques. It is not hardenable by heat treatment, but it can be annealed at 820 to 900°C (1508 to 1652°F) and rapidly air cooled.
Applications
The following are some of the major applications of Grade 404 stainless steel:
-
Electrical cabinets
-
Street furniture
-
Water treatment plant
-
Chemical and food processing
-
Refrigeration cabinets
-
Whitegoods
-
Cold-water tanks
-
Benchwork