410 Stainless Steel Pipes & Tubes

410 stainless steel is a hardenable martensitic stainless steel alloy. Unlike austenitic grades it can be heat treated ("quench and temper") to generate high strength with good ductility. 410 alloy is required when strength, hardness and wear resistance is required with some corrosion resistance. 

Due to the hardening capabilities of this steel, other properties and the resulting performance of this material are somewhat compromised. The alloy can only effectively be used in mildly corrosive environments. The operating temperature range is limited a) a loss of strength by over tempering at elevated temperatures and b) a loss of ductility at sub-zero temperatures. 

Type 410 is officially a stainless steel but characteristically the material is actually a compromise of high carbon steel alloy (which promotes wear resistance) with chromium stainless steel (which promotes corrosion resistance). 

This steel is ideal for use in the manufacture of highly stressed parts found in a variety of industries including petrochemical, automotive and power generation. 
Product Range

Composition

Typical compositional ranges for grade 304 stainless steels are given in table 1.
Table 1. Composition ranges for 304 grade stainless steel

Mechanical Properties

Typical mechanical properties for grade 304 stainless steels are given in table 2

Table 2. Mechanical properties of 304 grade stainless steel

Physical Properties

Typical physical properties for annealed grade 304 stainless steels are given in table 3.
Table 3. Physical properties of 304 grade stainless steel in the annealed condition

Grade Specification Comparison

Approximate grade comparisons for 304 stainless steels are given in table 4.
Table 4. Grade specifications for 304 grade stainless steel

Corrosion Resistance

Excellent in a wide range of atmospheric environments and many corrosive media. Subject to pitting and crevice corrosion in warm chloride environments, and to stress corrosion cracking above about 60°C. Considered resistant to potable water with up to about 200mg/L chlorides at ambient temperatures, reducing to about 150mg/L at 60°C.

Heat Resistance

Good oxidation resistance in intermittent service to 870°C and in continuous service to 925°C. Continuous use of 304 in the 425-860°C range is not recommended if subsequent aqueous corrosion resistance is important. Grade 304L is more resistant to carbide precipitation and can be heated into the above temperature range.

Grade 304H has higher strength at elevated temperatures so is often used for structural and pressure-containing applications at temperatures above about 500°C and up to about 800°C. 304H will become sensitised in the temperature range of 425-860°C; this is not a problem for high temperature applications, but will result in reduced aqueous corrosion resistance

Heat Treatment

Solution Treatment (Annealing) - Heat to 1010-1120°C and cool rapidly. 
These grades cannot be hardened by thermal treatment.

Background
Grade 410 is the basic martensitic stainless steel; like most non-stainless steels it can be hardened by a "quench-and-temper" heat treatment. It contains a minimum of 11.5 per cent chromium, just sufficient to give corrosion resistance properties. It achieves maximum corrosion resistance when it has been hardened and tempered and then polished. Grade 410 is a general purpose grade often supplied in the hardened, but still machinable condition, for applications where high strength and moderate heat and corrosion resistance are required.
Martensitic stainless steels are optimised for high hardness, and other properties are to some degree compromised. Fabrication must be by methods that allow for poor weldability and usually the need for a final heat treatment. Corrosion resistance of the martensitic grades is lower than that of the common austenitic grades, and their useful operating temperature range is limited by their loss of ductility at sub-zero temperatures and loss of strength by over-tempering at elevated temperatures.

Composition

Typical compositional ranges for grade 410 stainless steels are given in table 1.

Table 1. Composition ranges for 410 grade stainless steel

Mechanical Properties

Typical mechanical properties for grade 410 stainless steels are given in table 2.

Table 2. Mechanical properties of 410 grade stainless steel

Physical Properties
Typical physical properties for annealed grade 410 stainless steels are given in table 3.
Table 3. Physical properties of 410 grade stainless steel in the annealed condition

Grade Specification Comparison

Approximate grade comparisons for 410 stainless steels are given in table 4.

Table 4. Grade specifications for 410 grade stainless steel

Corrosion Resistance
410 resists dry atmosphere, fresh water, mild alkalies and acids, food, steam and hot gases. Must be hardened for maximum heat and corrosion resistance. Performance is best with a smooth surface finish. Less corrosion resistant than the austenitic grades and also less than 17% chromium ferritic alloys such as Grade 430.
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Heat Treatment
Annealing
Full anneal - 815-900°C, slow furnace cool to 600°C and then air cool.
Process Anneal - 650-760°C and air cool.

Applications
Typical applications include:

• Bolts
• Nuts
• Screws
• Bushings
• Pump and valve parts and shafts
• Steam and gas turbine parts
• Petroleum fractionating towers
•  Mine ladder rungs