Our well-sorted and particularly extensive range naturally also includes stainless steel 1.4307. As you surely know, every stainless steel alloy has very specific properties and qualities. In this article we would like to give you detailed guidance on 1.4307 and thus a better basis for decision-making when looking for the right stainless steel for your application. You will then be optimally prepared for a later consultation with our team.
Since we always take a hands-on approach, we will focus less on molecular structures or other chemical details and more on the things that really matter to you: the best fields of application for steel 1.4307, its welding characteristics and its corrosion resistance. From practitioners for practitioners - not from specialists for chemists.
A quick refresher: what actually defines stainless steel?
Stainless steel refers to alloyed or unalloyed types of steel of particular purity. Above all, this means a very low proportion (below 0.025%) of sulphur and phosphorus, as both elements have negative effects on the steel's properties.
By the way: although most people assume that stainless steel is always rust-proof, this is a misconception. Only stainless steels with a chromium content of at least 10.5% are corrosion-resistant. In 1.4307, the chromium content is between 17% and 19.5%, which makes it particularly resistant to rust.
Steel 1.4307: properties
Let's start with the technical data and then work through the various properties and special features step by step:
| Designation | 1.4307 - the 1 denotes the main material group (steel), 43 the type number (stainless steel with ≥ 2.5% Ni) and 07 the counting number of this steel type |
| Further international designations | AISI 304L, X2CrNi18-9, SS 2352, ASTM TP304L, UNS S30403 and others |
| Austenitic steel | yes |
| Welding characteristics | excellent |
| Chromium content | 17% to 19.5% |
| Other properties | low carbon content, best corrosion class, only slightly magnetic, cold forming and polishability possible |
Under the American AISI system for classifying steels, 1.4307 is designated AISI 304L. Other countries use their own designations. AISI 304 and 304L are the most widely used chromium-nickel steels of all, as they exhibit outstanding properties.
This is also confirmed by the term "austenitic". The name goes back to Sir Robert Austen and denotes particularly high-quality, corrosion-resistant stainless steels with a nickel content of at least 8%, very good mechanical properties and the best corrosion stability - even under particularly aggressive ambient conditions.
Another quality of austenitic steel - its low carbon content, which also applies to steel 1.4307 - is its outstanding weldability. A further consequence of the low carbon content is a reduced tendency to work hardening, which makes steel 1.4307 suitable for machining.
1.4307: welding and forging characteristics
The welding characteristics of this stainless steel deserve special mention, as they are rated "excellent". Steel 1.4307 can be welded with or without filler metal. Furthermore, no heat treatment is required after welding. But beware: welding does affect corrosion resistance.
The forgeability of 1.4307 is rated "good". The steel must be heated to 1,150-1,180 degrees Celsius for this purpose and can then be cooled in air or in water.
By the way: even sheets thicker than 6 mm do not require post-treatment after welding.
1.4307: corrosion resistance
On a scale of 1 to 5, its corrosion resistance is rated 5 - the highest class. Let's take a very brief excursion into chemistry to understand the connections better:
If the carbon content of a steel is too high, overheating can lead to the precipitation of a chromium-carbon compound, which would have a negative effect on corrosion resistance. As the carbon content of 1.4307 is, as mentioned, very low (below 0.03%), this risk does not exist here. In addition, this type of stainless steel is particularly resistant to pitting corrosion.
1.4307: further properties
1.4307 can also be cold formed, is only slightly magnetic and can be polished. This V2A steel machines well, is acid-resistant and can be used at service temperatures of up to 500 degrees Celsius.
Where and for what can stainless steel 1.4307 be used?
The fields in which 1.4307 can be applied are extremely diverse - from the food industry and mechanical engineering, through the construction and automotive industries, to the chemical and petroleum industries and even aerospace.
The food and chemical industries particularly value its high resistance to acids and its overall very high corrosion resistance, while other sectors appreciate its good workability, especially its excellent welding characteristics.
What other processing characteristics does 1.4307 have?
As mentioned several times, the weldability of 1.4307 is excellent - in gas fusion welding, arc welding and resistance welding alike. This steel type can be welded with or without filler metal; material 1.4316 is a suitable filler. Heat treatment is usually not necessary after welding.
In addition, 1.4307 can be cold formed, polished and forged (open-die or closed-die), and it is machinable. For hot forming, heating to 900-1,200 degrees Celsius is required.
What are the main differences from other steel types?
There is a special grade of stainless steel for almost every application. If you want to build a furnace, material 1.4828 is ideally suited thanks to its very high temperature resistance; if you want to build apparatus for high-temperature service, 1.4713 is the better choice. Both of these grades, however, offer only low corrosion resistance - which is precisely what distinguishes 1.4307. When it comes to corrosion and weldability, 1.4307 is truly at the very top of all steel grades.
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You may wonder why you cannot simply order a steel sheet from an online shop with us. We simply attach the greatest importance to personal contact and thorough advice. Only in this way can we ensure that you get exactly the material you need.
Our professional and experienced sales staff know precisely whether you need 1.4841 steel, a 5 mm or rather a 10 mm plate. We can also take some of the preparatory work off your hands by cutting, forming or surface-treating the sheets.
Such a consultation does not take long at all. After just a few minutes we already know what you need and will prepare a completely free and non-binding quotation for you.
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