ThyssenKrupp Materials International

Austenitic Corrosion Resistant Steel Material Data Sheet

Steel Designation: Name Material No.

X5CrNiMo17-12-2 1.4401

Scope
This data sheet applies to hot and cold rolled sheets and strips, semi-finished products, rods, rolled wire and profiles as
well as seamless and welded tubes and pipes for pressure purposes

Application
Construction encasement, doors, windows and armatures; off shore-technology; cisterns and tubes for chemical tanker;
production, warehousing and overland transport of chemicals, food and beverages.
Due to the Mo-content, good resistance against media containing chlorides and non-oxidizing acids. The resistance to
intergranular corrosion is guaranteed in the delivery condition; depending on the selected welding process the resis-
tance can't be guaranteed for larger product thicknesses in the welded condition.

Chemical composition (heat analysis in %)

Product C Si Mn P S N Cr Mo Ni
form

C, H, P ≤ 0.07 ≤ 1.00 ≤ 2.00 ≤ 0.045 ≤ 0.0151) ≤ 0.11 16.50 - 18.50 2.00 - 2.50 10.00 - 13.00

L ≤ 0.07 ≤ 1.00 ≤ 2.00 ≤ 0.045 ≤ 0.0301) ≤ 0.11 16.50 - 18.50 2.00 - 2.50 10.00 - 13.00

TW ≤ 0.07 ≤ 1.00 ≤ 2.00 ≤ 0.0452) ≤ 0.0152) ≤ 0.11 16.50 - 18.50 2.00 - 2.50 10.00 - 13.00

TS ≤ 0.07 ≤ 1.00 ≤ 2.00 ≤ 0.040 ≤ 0.0151) ≤ 0.11 16.50 - 18.50 2.00 - 2.50 10.00 - 13.00
C = cold rolled strip; H = hot rolled strip; P =hot rolled sheet; L = semi-finished products, rods, rolled wire and profiles
T W = welded tubes; T S = seamless tubes
1)
For machinability a controlled sulphur content of 0.015-0.030 % is recommended and permitted.
2)
For tubes, which are welded without filler metal, P + S max. 0.040 %.

Mechanical properties at room temperature in solution annealed condition

Product Thick- 0,2 % 1% Tensile Elongation Impact energy
form ness strength (ISO-V)
Yield strength A1) A1) Room temperature
R p0,2 R p1,0 Rm % min % min ≥ 10 mm thick
mm max N/mm² min N/mm² (längs) (quer) J min J min
(längs) (quer)
C 6 2403) 2703) 530 - 6803) - 40 - -

H 12 2203) 2603) 530 - 6803) - 40 90 60

P 75 2203) 2603) 520 - 6703) - 45 90 60

L 160 2004) 2354) 500 - 7004) 40 - 100 -

L 2502) 2005) 2355) 500 - 7005) - 30 - 60

T W/S 60 2056) 2406) 510 - 7106) 40 30 100 60

1) 4)
Gauge length and thickness according to DIN EN Longitudinal test piece
2) 5)
> 160 mm Transverse test piece
3) 6)
Transverse test piece, with product widths < 300 mm longitudinal test piece Longitudinal test piece, external diameter > 508 mm
transverse test piece

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Reference data on some physical properties (for guidance only)

Density bei 20 °C Modulus of elasticity Thermal conductivity Specific thermal Specific electrical
kN/mm² at at 20 °C capacity at 20 °C resistivity at 20 °C
kg/dm³ 20 °C 200 °C 400 °C 500 °C W/m K J/kg K Ω mm²/m
8,0 200 186 172 165 15 500 0,75

Mean coefficient of thermal expansion 10-6 K-1 between 20 °C and

100 °C 200 °C 300 °C 400 °C 500 °C
16,0 16,5 17,0 17,5 18,0

Guidelines on the temperatures for hot forming and heat treatment1)

Hot forming Heat treatment AT (solution annealed), Microstructure
Temperature °C Type of cooling Temperature °C2) 3) 4) Type of cooling Microstructure
1150 to 850 Air 1030 to 1110 Water, air Austenite with a low
content of ferrite
1)
For simulative heat treated test pieces the temperatures for solution annealing have to be agreed.
2)
Solution annealing is in applicable, if the conditions for the hot forming and the concluding cooling are in such a way that the
requirements for the mechanical properties of the product can be maintained.
3)
If heat treatment is carried out in a continuous annealing furnace, usually the upper area of the mentioned temperature range is
preferred or even exceeded.
4)
For heat treatment within subsequent processing, the lower area of the stated temperature range for solution annealing has to be
aspired, as otherwise the mechanical properties could be affected. If the lower limit for the solution annealing temperature was
not undercut during hot forming, while repeating annealing a temperature of 1000 °C as the lower limit is sufficient.

Processing / Welding
Standard welding processes for these steel grades are:
TIG–welding Arc welding (E)
MAG–welding solid wire Submerged arc welding (SAW)
Laser beam welding

Process Filler metal

similar higher alloyed
TIG Thermanit GE-316 L 1.4430 Thermanit A 1.4576
MAG solid wire Thermanit GE-316 L Si 1.4430 Thermanit A Si 1.4576
Thermanit GE Spezial 1.4430 Thermanit A Spezial 1.4576
Arc welding (E)
Thermanit GEW 316 L-17 1.4430 Thermanit AW 1.4576
Wire Powder Wire Powder
SAW Thermanit GE-316L Marathon 431 Thermanit A Marathon 431+213
Marathon 213
Laser beam welding see page 3

When choosing the filler metal, the corrosion stress has to be regarded, as well. The use of a higher alloyed filler metal
can be necessary due to the cast structure of the weld metal.
A preheating is not necessary for this steel. A heat treatment after welding is normally not usual.

Austenitic steels only have 30 % of the thermal conductivity of non-alloyed steels. Their fusion point is lower than that of
non-alloyed steel therefore austenitic steels have to be welded with lower heat input than non-alloyed steels.

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To avoid overheating or burn-thru of thinner sheets, higher welding speed has to be applied. Copper back-up plates for
faster heat rejection are functional, whereas, to avoid cracks in the solder metal, it is not allowed to surface-fuse the cop-
per back-up plate.

This steel has an extensively higher coefficient of thermal expansion as non-alloyed steel. In connection with a worse
thermal conductivity, a greater distortion has to be expected.

When welding 1.4401 all procedures, which work against this distortion (e. g. back-step sequence welding, welding alter-
nately on opposite sides with double-V butt weld, assignment of two welders when the components are accordingly large)
have to be respected notably. For product thicknesses over 12 mm the double-V butt weld has to be preferred instead of a
single-V butt weld. The included angle should be 60° - 70°, when using MIG-welding about 50° are enough. An accumula-
tion of weld seams should be avoided. Tack welds have to be affixed with relatively shorter distances from each other
(significantly shorter than these of non-alloyed steels), in order to prevent strong deformation, shrinking or flaking tack
welds. The tacks should be subsequently grinded or at least be free from crater cracks.

1.4401 in connection with austenitic weld metal and too high heat input the addiction to form heat cracks exists. The ad-
diction to heat cracks can be confined, if the weld metal features a lower content of ferrite (delta ferrite). Contents of ferrite
up to 10 % have a favorable effect and do not affect the corrosion resistance generally. The thinnest layer as possible
have to be welded (stringer bead technique) because a higher cooling speed decreases the addiction to hot cracks.
A preferably fast cooling has to be aspired while welding as well, to avoid the vulnerability to intergranular corrosion and
embrittlement.

1.4401 is very suitable for laser beam welding (weldability A in accordance with DVS bulletin 3203, part 3). With a weld-
ing groove width smaller 0,3 mm respectively 0,1 mm product thickness the use of filler metals is not necessary. With
larger welding grooves a similar filler metal can be used. With avoiding oxidation within the seam surface during laser
beam welding by applicable backhand welding, e. g. helium as inert gas, the welding seam is as corrosion resistant as the
base metal. A hot crack hazard for the welding seam does not exist, when choosing an applicable process.

1.4401 is also suitable for laser beam fusion cutting with nitrogen or flame cutting with oxygen. The cut edges only have
small heat affected zones and are generally free of micro cracks and thus are well formable. While choosing an applicable
process the fusion cut edges can be converted directly. Especially, they can be welded without any further preparation.

While processing only stainless tools like steel brushes, pneumatic picks and so on are allowed, in order to not endanger
the passivation.

It should be neglected to mark within the welding seam zone with oleigerous bolts or temperature indicating crayons.
The high corrosions resistance of this stainless steel is based on the formation of a homogeneous, compact passive layer
on the surface. Annealing colors, scales, slag residues, tramp iron, spatters and such like have to be removed, in order to
not destroy the passive layer.

For cleaning the surface the processes brushing, grinding, pickling or blasting (iron-free silica sand or glass spheres) can
be applied. For brushing only stainless steel brushes can be used. Pickling of the previously brushed seam area is carried
out by dipping and spraying, however, often pickling pastes or solutions are used. After pickling a carefully flushing with
water has to be done.

Remark
In quenched condition the material can be slightly magnetizable. With increasing cold forming the magnetizability increas-
es.

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Editor
THYSSENKRUPP MATERIALS INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Technical Sales / Quality Management
Am Thyssenhaus 1
45129 Essen

References
DIN EN 10088-2:2005-09 Beuth Verlag GmbH, Postfach, D10772 Berlin
DIN EN 10088-3:2005-09
DIN EN 10216-5:2004-11
DIN EN 10217-7:2005-05
MB 821 "Properties" Informationsstelle Edelstahl Rostfrei, Postfach 10 22 05,
MB 822 "The converting of stainless steel" D-4013 Düsseldorf
DVS bulletin 3203, part 3 Verlag für Schweißen und Verwandte Verfahren DVS Verlag GmbH,
Postfach 10 19 65, D-4010 Düsseldorf
Laser beam electric arc cutting of stainless steels Thyssen Lasertechnik GmbH, Aachen
Laser beam - longitudinal welding of profiles of stainless steel
Böhler Schweisstechnik Deutschland GmbH, Hamm

Important note
Information given in this data sheet about the condition or usability of materials respectively products are no warranty for
their properties, but act as a description.
The information, we give on for advice, comply for the experiences of the manufacturer as well as our own. We cannot give
warranty for the results of processing and application of the products.

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