Type 310 Stainless Steel Sheet

Stainless steel sheet is a material used in many industries and buildings. These materials are known for their resistance to sulfidation, weldability, and machinability. It is also resistant to a variety of atmospheric conditions, making it suitable for applications in cold working and welding.

Cold working

Type 310 stainless steel is a chromium-nickel alloy that is commonly used for applications that require high temperature performance and excellent corrosion resistance. This grade has a good resistance to oxidation, is non-magnetic, and has the highest chromium-nickel content of all grades.

Its superior resistance to oxidation makes it suitable for use in heat exchangers, furnaces, and cryogenic temperatures. In the aircraft industry, it is often used for components such as turbine blades. Aside from being resistant to pitting corrosion and crevice corrosion, it has excellent resistance to intergranular corrosion.

Stainless steel 310 is often used in the chemical and petroleum industries, as well as in heat exchangers, refractory supports, and containers for hot concentrated acids. However, it is not commonly weldable. Instead, it is manufactured by an electric furnace process. The low carbon content of the 310S grade allows it to retain its silvery surface while reducing the coefficient of expansion.

Compared with the other austenitic stainless steels, the 310 maintains a higher percentage of the room-temperature strength. Also, it has a lower tendency for martensite formation.

Austenitic grades are characterized by a structure that promotes excellent toughness and superior corrosion resistance. They can withstand temperatures up to 2000 deg F. But unlike other grades, they are not hardenable by heat treatment. Thus, they are ideally suited for decorative structural applications.

The 300 Series is a series of stainless steels that can be found in various forms, including bar, sheet, and plate. The chromium content is 18-30%, while nickel is about two percent. These grades are commonly used for elevated temperatures, and their corrosion resistance and ease of maintenance make them ideal for many applications.

Resistance to sulfidation

Sulfidation of stainless steels occurs when a sulphur-containing atmosphere forms oxides or sulphides. Although the attack mechanism is not always specific, sulphur-containing atmospheres can be extremely aggressive to stainless steels.

Stainless steels with high chromium content provide excellent resistance to sulfidation. In addition, high nickel content increases corrosion resistance. Consequently, alloy 310 is a popular choice for applications that require superior resistance to sulfidation.

Alloy 310 is commonly used in the chemical and environmental industries. It can be welded by most standard processes, including TIG, SMAW, and FCAW. Because of its high chromium content, the alloy is also resistant to oxidation. Besides, it is less prone to embrittlement and sensitization.

As a result, it is also useful in H2S atmospheres and fluidised bed combustors. However, it is not recommended for wet corrosive environments. A lower carbon version of the alloy, 310S, is available.

Typical applications for 310 stainless steel are in equipment for incinerators and burners. It is also used in kilns and radiant tubes. Other examples include tube hangers for steam boilers and saggers.

310 stainless steel is also used in the oil refining and chemical processing industries. Because of its exceptional oxidation resistance, it is often used at high temperatures. Also, it retains a large fraction of its strength at room temperature.

The alloy is also used in retorts and muffles. It is suitable for use in cryogenic structures. Moreover, it has high strength and toughness. This makes it a great option for heavy duty applications.

Alloy 310 has excellent resistance to sulfidation, and it is well suited for thermal cycling applications. Despite its lower carbon content, this alloy provides a greater level of resistance to sulfidation than Type 309.

SS 310 / 310S Sheet Plate is a highly corrosion-resistant alloy, which can be used in various environments. It has good thermal resistance, and it can be hot and cold formed.

Weldability

Stainless steel 310 is an austenitic alloy that has a higher chromium and nickel content than other types of stainless steel. It is a common choice for applications in environments that require good ductility, solid corrosion resistance, and oxidation resistance. Alloy 310 has an excellent tensile strength and high thermal conductivity.

This alloy is often used in applications where heat-resistance is a concern, such as for high-temperature furnaces, steam boilers, and thermos-wells. However, it is not an ideal choice for repeated quenching of liquids.

Stainless steel 310 sheet and plate are commonly used for a variety of furnace parts, such as burners and combustion chambers. They are also used in pharmaceutical equipment, seawater equipment, chemical equipment, and food processing equipment. The high chromium and nickel content provide superior oxidation resistance.

Despite its outstanding properties, however, it can be difficult to weld 310 stainless steel. A higher carbon content in this alloy can lead to carbide precipitation during welding. Rather, it is better to use an alloy that has a lower carbon content.

Welding 310 steel requires experience and caution. To ensure the best results, the filler metal should be a specialized austenitic alloy, such as AWS E/ER 310. Alternatively, copper back-up plates can be used to improve heat rejection.

Alloy 310 can be welded using SAW, GMAW, and TIG. For thin-section material, a higher welding rate can help prevent burn-through. In addition, the grain size should not exceed 150degC, and a preheat temperature of 50-250degC should be maintained.

Stainless steel 310 has a good resistance to oxidation, but it should be kept in a cool, dry location. If possible, it is best to avoid sulfurous gases.

Machinability

Stainless steel sheet 310 is used in the construction industry. It is also employed in the food processing, chemical, pharmaceutical, and seawater equipment industries. These alloys are commonly used in cryogenic applications as well. They offer outstanding oxidation tolerance, as well as high-temperature and heat resistance.

Grade 310 is an austenitic stainless steel that is similar to type 304. However, it has less carbon and higher nickel content. Therefore, it has better machinability than the latter. Moreover, it is less susceptible to in-service embrittlement. The grade also has a low magnetic permeability.

The machinability of 310 stainless steel is determined by the grade's chemical composition. Austenitic grades can be hardened by cold working, but these must be done with a high level of care. In addition, annealing of the metal after forging is essential for optimum corrosion resistance.

Alloy 310 is a relatively easily welded steel. For this reason, it is used to make a variety of components. However, it is not recommended for repeated quenching of liquids. Instead, it is best to forge the material and air-cool it immediately. If possible, the part should be annealed at 1900/2050oF (1040/1120oC).

There are several advantages to using the 310S stainless steel for fabrication. It has a toughness of -450 deg F and is less prone to in-service brittleness and sensitization. Besides, it has a lower hydrogen sulfide (H2S) content.

Another advantage is its resistance to carburizing and nitriding atmospheres. This allows the alloy to outperform other heat-resistant stainless steels. Similarly, the chromium and nickel contents increase its corrosion resistance.

Lastly, a low carbon content makes it more formable than the more abrasive 316. Compared to its 304 counterpart, it is much easier to machine.

Applicable atmospheres

A high quality austenitic stainless steel, alloy 310 is used for various applications, especially in cryogenic systems. The alloy is highly resistant to corrosion in high temperature conditions, and it has a low magnetic permeability. It is also ductile and readily welded by conventional shop fabrication methods.

Alloy 310 is an ideal high temperature chromium nickel austenitic stainless steel. It is suitable for a variety of applications, including thermal cycling, nitriding, and oxidizing. However, it is not designed for service in wet corrosive atmospheres.

In addition to its excellent corrosion resistance, alloy 310 has a high silicon content. This results in increased toughness at high temperatures. Nevertheless, the alloy is susceptible to carbide precipitation and intergranular corrosion, making it less than ideal for severe carburizing environments.

In applications where a high carbon content is needed, the alloy 310H is preferred. But, this alloy can be subject to thermal shock and has a lower degree of brittleness than the 310S. Because of this, it is not recommended for frequent liquid quenching. Rather, it is recommended for applications where high temperature corrosion is not a problem.

As with other austenitic alloys, the chromium and nickel content of alloy 310 makes it more resistant to high temperature corrosion. Moreover, the alloy has a medium nickel content, making it more ductile and less prone to sensitisation in service.

Despite its high chromium and nickel content, alloy 310 has a medium level of carbon. However, its chromium and nickel content does contribute to its resistance to carburization. With this combination, alloy 310 is ideal for thermal cycling applications, as well as applications where hot gas and liquid corrosion are a concern.