Everything you should know about 904L Stainless Steel

The 904L grade of stainless steel is very popular for its applications in various industries. It is durable, versatile and long-lasting, making it favourable over other varieties. The 904L pipes can be found in many environments, including chemical and heat heavy. Read on to learn about the advantages and properties of this grade of stainless steel.

Advantages of 904L Stainless steel

1. Resistance to corrosion

The 904L is incredibly popular for its non-corrosive property. Many industries require pipes with extensive non-corrosive properties that stay intact for long periods.Due to the presence of high amounts of Nickel, the 904L remains intact to seawater and chloride attacks. The grade finds applications in industries dealing with these materials.

This variety is resistant to Nitric acid due to the presence of Molybdenum, unlike other grades of stainless steel. It is incredibly resistant to all concentrations of Sulfuric acid due to the presence of Copper. Industrialists ensure adequate treatment with solution after each coldwork to increase its resistance to corrosion. The better the resistance rates, the higher its applications in industries of all kinds.

2. Resistance to heat

The steel grade is resistant to vast amounts of heat, making it suitable for application in settings with heat released or absorptions. The 904l stainless steel supplier always stresses excellent resistance to oxidation. This property alone favours this grade of stainless steel over others for application in some industries.

The pipes hold structural integrity till temperatures of 400 degrees Celsius. With most chemical, pulp and paper plants operating at much lower temperatures, the 904L pipes are well-suited for these industries. High melting points guarantee a safe region to rely on in case of industry mishaps.

3. Weldability

Welding can be performed in all conventional methods. The grade is sturdy enough to withstand the process without needing pre-weld and post-weld procedures and treatments. In many forms of welding, they can be subject to hot cracking, depending on the situation.

The weld material used between two or more 904L pipes or other structures is 904L rods. Electrodes of the same grade can also be used in place of filler material. Using the same filler helps bind the two parts better, especially when the material is well-suited to welding.

Due to its excellent weldable property, the USA stock levels have risen considerably over the past year. This increases the valuation of the industry, attracting more research to improve the quality and increase its applications when other industries learn about its benefits.

4. Machinability

The significant advantage stressed by a 904l stainless steel supplier is that it can be machined by any standard method available in the market. It is highly advantageous to form small radius pipes in cold environments, unlike other varieties, which can’t be malleable into small variations.

Traditional pipes don’t even require annealing to increase the sturdiness of the grade of steel. However, you can follow through with the process depending on the environment’s needs, like corrosive settings, which will need all the protection it can get.

Chemical and Mechanical properties

Chemically, the composition of stainless steel is made up of Chromium and Nickel. The addition of Nickel enhances the versatility and adds toughness to the alloy. Other than the two main elements, the other small additions include Carbon, Silicon, Manganese, Phosphorus, Sulphur, Molybdenum, Copper and Iron.

The melting point of 904L stainless steel is around 1300 degrees Celsius. It has a specific heat of 450 Joules per kilogram kelvin and a modulus of elasticity of 190 gigapascals. These physical properties are responsible for the significant resistance qualities and versatility of stainless steel. They find many applications due to their abundant advantages.

From the mechanical perspective, the 904L has a hardness of about 80 on the Brinell scale and about 150 on the Rockwell scale. The grade of steel has an excellent tensile strength of 71 KSI, making them sturdy and durable. They are helpful for different applications in heavy-pressure industries, which need good tensile strength in their pipes. 

The additions of other elements to the primary mixture of Chromium and Nickel are strategic to enhance the properties of the alloy. Although small in quantity, each of the other components bears an immense impact on each of these physical and chemical properties. The composition of the 904L has been perfected to suit industrial environments and last longer.

Applications

The 904L stainless steel finds many applications. It is sturdy and designed to withstand harsh conditions in various industries. The industries which mainly contribute to the purchase are given below:

• Oil refinery industries

• Electrostatic applications

• Pulp, paper and seawater industries

• Gas scrubbing and chemical plants

• Acetic, sulfuric and phosphoric acid plants

Steel finds many more applications. Due to its property of resistance to heat, corrosion and various chemicals, it is well suited for most industries which demand durability. You can find applications of 904L stainless steel in many major industries in need of long-lasting pipes.