Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
AUSTENOFERRITIC
STAINLESS STEELS
-1-
Contents
Contents --------------------------------------------------------------------------2
Foreword -------------------------------------------------------------------------3
Main applications ----------------------------------------------------------------4
Analyses and reference standards ---------------------------------------------6
1. Analyses -----------------------------------------------------------------------6
2. Reference standards ---------------------------------------------------------7
2.1. Normative equivalences ---------------------------------------------------------- 7
2.2. Associated normative documents ------------------------------------------------ 7
Physical properties --------------------------------------------------------------8
Heat treatments and structure -------------------------------------------------9
Solution annealing ------------------------------------------------------------- 10
Structural transformations --------------------------------------------------- 10
Mechanical properties --------------------------------------------------------- 12
Forging -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17
Machining ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 18
Welding ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19
Corrosion resistance: examples of the use of duplex steels --------------- 20
1. Introduction to the corrosion resistance of duplex grades ------------ 20
2. Use of duplex steels in the chemical and paper manufacturing
industries ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 22
3. Use of duplex steels in the building industry: for example concrete
reinforcing bars ---------------------------------------------------------------- 29
4. Use of duplex steels in the petrochemical industry: stress corrosion
problems. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 30
Additional information -------------------------------------------------------- 32
-2-
Foreword
Stainless steels with a high content of chromium and molybdenum, the major
elements in corrosion resistance, are often recommended for use in certain very
aggressive environments.
For several decades, the market share of austenoferritic or "duplex" stainless steels
has been increasing.
Although, for many years, the use of duplex steels was almost exclusively restricted
to the production of components which were cast and then forged, they are now
available in an extensive range of long or flat laminated products.
Their outstanding characteristics, combining high mechanical properties with often
exceptional corrosion resistance and their low cost – together with their low nickel
content – make them attractive to industries that traditionally use high alloy grades:
Cellulose and paper pulp industry;
Oil industry;
Waste and effluent treatment;
Phosphoric and sulphuric derivative mineral chemical industry;
Building industries (see the special technical documentation), etc.
The purpose of this technical documentation is to help users to choose the
right Duplex grades by giving them advice on how to proceed.
In order to be as comprehensive as possible, every effort has been made
to compare these products with well-known reference stainless
steels:
4404 (316L) and its improved machinability version UGIMA®.
4539 (904L), the "superaustenitic" grade, which is the reference grade for
highly chlorinated environments (brine, sea-water treatment) where
the risks of localised pitting or crevice corrosion are considerable.
-3-
Main applications
Although the majority of duplex steels are well known and widely used in the
chemical and oil industries, their use is quickly spreading to the "green" industries
associated with water and soil pollution control or waste processing.
Increasingly strict sanitary measures are being applied in the agri-food and health
industry at the same time as stricter controls are being introduced into the chemical
sanitisation environments: several occurrences of corrosion encountered on
conventional grades (1.4307, 1.4404) can only be resolved by changing to "nobler",
more appropriate solutions, such as Duplex grades.
Where long stainless steel products are concerned, such solutions will be of
particular interest for fittings or mechanical components used in welded sheet metal
assemblies, fluid systems or structures in the following fields:
Duplex stainless steels are particularly recommended for use in the industries and
applications listed below, although this list is by no means exhaustive:
-4-
Thalassotherapy equipment;
Fish farming;
Underwater work;
Nautical equipment;
-5-
Analyses and reference standards
1. Analyses
Grade C Si Mn Ni Cr Mo S P Cu N
UGI 4404 10 16.5 2 0.015
0.03 1 2 0.040 - -
UGIMA® 4404 11 17.5 2.5 0.030
4.5 26 1.3 0.005 0.05
UGIMA® 4460 0.03 0.75 1 0.035 -
5 27 1.8 0.025 0.2
-6-
2. Reference standards
-7-
Physical properties
Value
Symbol Unit Temperature
4404 4460 4362 4462 4507 4539
No
Density d 4°C 7.9 7.9 7.8 7.8 7.9 8.05
dimensions
Specific heat c J.kg.°C 20°C 500 500 490 400 500 500
Thermal
k W/m.°C 20°C 15 15 17 16 17 14
conductivity
A comparison of physical properties indicates the lower expansion ratio and higher
thermal conductivity of Duplex steels.
Figure 1: Comparison of the thermal conductivity of austenitic stainless steels and
duplex steels (comparison of average values)
Austenitic
Austénitique Duplex
24
/m. C°
22
W/m.°C
20
enW
thermiquein
18
conductivity
16
Conductivté
14
Thermal
12
10
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Temperature
Température °C
-8-
Heat treatments and structure
Solution All the grades referenced are used in the solution-annealed state under the
annealing conditions described in Figure 2a.
Figure 2a: Solution annealing values according to grade
1180
1160
1140
1120
1100
Temperature (°C)
1080
1060
1040
1020
1000
980
960
940
Ugine 4404 Ugima 4460 Ugine 4362 Ugine 4462 Ugine 4507 Ugine 4539
T°C min 1025 1030 950 1030 1040 1075
T°C max 1100 1100 1050 1100 1120 1150
-9-
Solution annealing
The structure of Duplex steels after annealing is two-phase ferrite + austenite, with
a percentage of ferrite - appropriate for the optimisation of mechanical properties
and corrosion resistance - of between 40 and 70%, depending on the grades.
The respective percentages of austenite and ferrite can vary according to the
percentage of hot working and the temperature of the heat treatment.
Figure 3: Structures of austenitic and Duplex steels
Structural transformations
Compared with standard austenitic steels (1.4307, 1.4404), Duplex grades are liable
to undergo various types of structural transformations depending on the
temperature.
phase phase precipitation occurs when the steel is kept within a temperature range of
600 - 900°C. It causes embrittlement at ambient temperature and must therefore
be avoided.
' phrase ' phase precipitation can occur after the steel is kept at a temperature of between
350 and 550°C for a prolonged period. This embrittling phase weakens the
resilience and reduces corrosion resistance.
- 10 -
Figure 4: ' and phase precipitation TTT curves in Duplex steels
Ferrite
UGI 4362
Intergranular precipitates
UGI 4462
chi sigma
phase phase
sigma
phase
’ ’
phase phase
Time (h)
UGI 4507
core
skin
sigma phase
carbides
’ phase
The and ' phases can easily be avoided if the thermal cycles (forging,
for example) are sufficiently controlled. The limit temperature at
which duplex steels should be used is 300°C.
- 11 -
Mechanical properties
- 12 -
The figures below illustrate the variations in Rm and Rp0.2 versus grades:
1000
900
800
Rm MPa
700
600
500
400
U gine 4404 U gima 4460 U gine 4362 U gine 4462 U gine 4507 U gine 4539
600
550
350
=
300
250
Ugine 4539
200
Ugima 4404
150
100
U gima 4404 U gima 4460 U gine 4362 U gine 4462 U gine 4507 U gine 4539
- 13 -
Mechanical In view of the structural transformations that are liable to alter their working
properties at properties, the use of Duplex grades above 300°C is not recommended.
high Table 5: Mechanical properties at high temperature (minimum Rm and Rp0.2 values)
temperature
UGI and UGIMA® 4404
Test
100°C 150°C 200°C 250°C 300°C 350°C
temperature
Rm MPa min 430 410 390 385 380 380
Rp0.2 MPa min 165 150 137 127 119 113
UGIMA® 4460
Test
100°C 150°C 200°C 250°C 300°C 350°C
temperature
Rm MPa min 610 580 565 550 - -
Rp0.2 MPa min 360 335 310 295 - -
The superaustenitic grade UGI 4539 (Ugine 904L) can be used up to about 600°C,
but is not particularly useful from the technical point of view, nor is it at all
economical compared with more conventional "refractory" grades at this
temperature range.
The figures below illustrate the variation in tensile strength versus temperature for
the different grades:
- 14 -
Figure 6: Tensile strength versus temperature
700
650
Ugine 4507
600
Ugine 4462
550
Ugima 4460
Rm Mpa
500
Ugine 4362
450
Ugine 4539
350
300
100°C 150°C 200°C 250°C 300°C 350°C
Temperature
Température °C
°C
500
450
400
Ugine 4462
300
Ugima 4460
250
Ugine 4362
150
Ugima 4404
100
100°C 150°C 200°C 250°C 300°C 350°C
Temperature °C
Température °C
Mechanical The "cryogenic" applications are not, strictly speaking, applications where corrosion
properties at is a serious problem (e.g.: transportation of liquified liquids); in fact, below a certain
low temperature threshold, the development kinetics of most forms of corrosion are
temperature much slower and the majority of "standard" austenitic grades (UGIMA® 4307,
UGIMA® 4404) are perfectly suitable for most applications.
In some specific cases, if grades that can be used for a wide range of operating
temperatures (for example + 100 to - 100°C) are required for use in highly
corrosive environments, the choice of grade will be decided by the level of
mechanical properties required for the components.
In the case of high stress at ambient temperature and ductility requirements at
below -60°C, only a structurally hardened grade such as UGI 4944 (e.g. AFNOR
- 15 -
Z6NCTDV 25-15 B – ASTM grade 660) is an appropriate solution for a highly
corrosive environment.
Table 6: Preferred parameters for cryogenic applications
Figure 8: Transition curves showing the resilience of UGI grades 4462 and 4507
300
250
200
KV (Joules)
100
50
0
50 0 -20 -50 -75 -100
Ugine 4462 260 250 225 160 100 48
Ugine 4507 275 260 250 175 100 40
Température °C
Temperature °C
- 16 -
Forging
Duplex steels The forgeability of these steels is acceptable between 1200 and 900°C, which is,
however, less than that of current austenitic steels (1.4307, 1.4404).
Their deformability at high temperatures depends, for a given temperature, on the
ferrite content, as a high ferrite content improves forgeability.
The forgeability of 1.4462 and 1.4507 grade steels is slightly lower below 1100°C,
due to their nitrogen content.
Table 7: Duplex steel forging conditions
- 17 -
Machining
4404
4460
4462
100
Chip
Débit rate
copeaux
(cm3/mn
(cm3/mn)
50
0
Coated carbide
Tournage toll turning
outil carbure revêtu
4404
4460
4462
Chip rate 3
(cm3/mn
Débit copeaux
(cm3/mn) 2
0
perçage steel
High-speed acier drilling
rapide
- 18 -
Welding
Duplex grades The percentage of ferrite in the molten areas of these grades is higher when the
composition of the filler metal is identical to that of the base metal. This should be taken
into account when the optimum composition of the filler metal is determined. In addition,
the areas affected by the heat are also liable to contain more ferrite than the base metal. To
minimize this difference, high linear energy welding is recommended to reduce cooling
times. However, only energy that does not cause phase formation should be used:
- for UGI 4362, there is very little risk
- for UGI 4462, the energy must be less than 2kJ/cm
- for UGI 4507, see the table below:
A linear energy welding area where the two above-mentioned risks are minimised can
therefore be determined. The thicker the components to be welded, the higher the energy in
this area (i.e. rapid weld cooling).
It is not advisable to preheat the components prior to welding.
Components should not be heat treated after welding, but the solution annealing described
in the "Structure heat treatment" section may be performed, if necessary.
The filler metals contain a higher nitrogen and/or Ni content than the base metal in order to
optimise the ferrite content in the molten areas, see the table below:
- 19 -
Corrosion resistance: examples of the use of
duplex steels
Laboratory tests such as the "accelerated corrosion electrochemical test" have been
widely used to study the corrosion of duplex or austenoferritic grades. A great deal
has been written on this subject and we will simply mention grade classifications in
a few laboratory electrochemical tests.
Figure 10 below compares 1.4462 / 45N duplex with standard austenitic grades
304L 1.4306 and 316L 1.4404 in an accelerated fatigue - corrosion test, which
was performed in different environments: in air and for environments with pH
values ranging from neutral to highly acid.
In all these cases, the duplex steel performed best.
Figure 10: Comparison of duplex 4462 with two standard austenitic stainless steels
500
Fatigue
Limite delimit (MPa)
fatigue atà20E+7
(MPa) cycles
20E+7 cycles
450
400
350
300
Air
250 pH 7
pH 3
pH 1
200
150
100
50
0
1.4306 1.4404 1.4462/ 45N
(304L) (316L) (Duplex)
Figure 11 shows the critical pitting temperature versus the mechanical strength for
two duplex steels (45N / 1.4462 and 52N / 1.4507) in comparison with two austenitic steels
(316L / 1.4404 & 904L / 1.4539).
This critical pitting temperature is determined according to the accelerated corrosion test
(ASTM G48 Standard) in a 6% ferric chloride environment.
- 20 -
Figure 11: Critical pitting temperature versus mechanical properties
80
Ugine 4507
70
60 Ugine 4539
50 Ugine 4462
T° piqûre
Pitting T°
40
30
20 Ugine 4404
10
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Rp0,2
Rp0.2 mini
min (MPa)
(Mpa)
Note the excellent behaviour of 4507 duplex with respect to its mechanical
properties and pitting corrosion resistance.
Overall
general
Localised Localised
corrosion in Stress
Machinability crevice pitting
an H2SO4 corrosion
corrosion corrosion
acid
environment
UGIMA®
Much less
4460 Reference "BASE 100" "BASE 100" Reference
sensitive
329
Slightly less
Sensitivity as
Much less effective
UGI 4404 for all
Reference effective (by Reference
316L austenitic
(by 750%) approximately
grades
10%)
- 21 -
2. Use of duplex steels in the chemical and paper manufacturing
industries
Phosphoric acid is a non-oxidising mineral acid. Industrial phosphoric acid is a very complex
acid in terms of corrosion: it contains many impurities which can adversely affect corrosion
resistance (hydrochloric acid; hydrofluoric acid; sulphuric acid), but it can also sometimes
contain certain foreign bodies that have a beneficial effect on the corrosion resistance of the
material in question (ferric and aluminium ions).
Recommendations for materials for the main stages in industrial phosphoric acid
manufacturing:
ENVIRONMENTS MAIN Recommendations AGGRAVATING UGITECH
and STAGES PROBLEM for a pure FACTORS RECOMMENDATIONS
environment
Pure and aerated Uniform surface * Temperature <
phosphoric acid attack 90°C
UGIMA®4404
* Temperature
90-200°C
UGI4539
Natural General attack UGI4539 Considerable UGI 4507
phosphate attack related to abrasion (Behaves better than
stage depassivation due phenomena 4539 in attack tanks
(see Biblio 1 for to fluorinated ions, - stirrers with respect
further excessive amounts to corrosion–
information of H2SO4, etc. abrasion
about this stage) Grade 4404 not phenomena).
recommended
Slurry filtration UGIMA 4404 or Presence of UGI 4539 up to
stage UGI 4362 with no chlorides 2000 ppm of
(see Biblio 2) chlorides chlorides.
UGI 4507 up to
3000 ppm of
chlorides.
- 22 -
Sulphuric acid R
REECCO
OMMMMEENND
DAATTIIO
ONNSS FFO
ORRU
USSEE IIN
N SSU
ULLPPH
HUUR
RIICC AACCIID
D
Sulphuric acid is a non-oxidising mineral acid; it acts as a reducing agent if
its concentration is less than 50% and as an oxidising agent if its concentration
exceeds 80% (these limits vary according to the temperature). Its degree of
ionisation is highest for a concentration of 30%, which leads to an irregularity in
fields where grades with a maximum acid aggressivity of between 40 and 80% are
used. The solubility of the oxygen is minimum at a concentration in the region of
70%.
ENVIRONMENTS MAIN Recommendations AGGRAVATING UGITECH
PROBLEM for a pure FACTORS RECOMMENDATIONS
environment
Pure & aerated Uniform *Concentration 40 to Chlorides in UGI 4539
sulphuric acid surface 85% UGI4539 industrial acids (highly recommended
(see Biblio 3) attack (but for (On the one with high percentages
temperatures not hand, these ions of chlorides up to 2000
exceeding 35°C at act as a reducing ppm)
high concentrations) agent and, on
the other, they
* Concentration < disturb passivity
40% or > 85% because they are
UGI4507 adsorbed in
place of
hydroxide ions).
H2SO4 with Uniform Factors that can have a
oxidizing surface beneficial effect on
impurities attack grade behaviour.
(ferric ions,
etc.)
(see Biblio 4)
This iso-corrosion diagram was produced for pure acid: it is therefore limited with respect to the use of grades for
low concentrations (<40%) compared with the diagram that might be produced if oxidising impurities were present.
The operating limits are given for a maximum corrosion rate of 0.2 mm/year. They obviously apply to the use of
stainless steel grades for welding, forming, etc. according to best practice.
Note:
The 4362 grade can be
used instead of 4404 if
the H2SO4 content is
less than 13%
- 23 -
Hydrochloric RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE IN HYDROCHLORIC ACID
acid Hydrochloric acid is a mineral acid reducing agent.
The problems mainly involve general corrosion due to very high acid activity and the
fact that this reducing medium has an adverse effect on the passivation of stainless
steel.
The presence of oxidising agents therefore increases the dissolution rate of the
steel.
The aggressive nature of hydrochloric solutions may therefore vary greatly for a
given concentration, depending on whether or not the environment is in contact
with the air, or whether or not it contains impurities that can be reduced.
Consequently, high carbon grades should not be used (this is not specific to
hydrochloric acid, as dechromisation should also be avoided for many other
environments) and steels with high chromium and molybdenum contents, which are
required for concentrated solutions must be chosen very carefully, taking their
structural stability into account.
There may, of course, also be a risk of localised pitting corrosion in certain cases,
but only with the most corrosion resistant grades for which the overall general
corrosion is low.
When the passive film is unable to form, i.e. in all cases except in highly diluted
environments, the chromium no longer has a beneficial effect, since it dissolves in
the solution; the beneficial elements are therefore nickel (reduction in H2
overpotential) and molybdenum, which is stable (does not dissolve).
Recommendation
MAIN AGGRAVATING UGITECH
ENVIRONMENTS for a pure
PROBLEM FACTORS RECOMMENDATIONS
environment
Pure and de- General * Temperature < Presence of 625 or 2.4856
aerated attack on 60°C and oxidizing agents For transfer or storage
hydrochloric the surface, concentration < 2% (chlorine or iron facilities at ambient
acid as the UGI4507 chlorides) or temperature.
environment aeration
is * Temperature < (dissolved oxygen,
detrimental 20°C and etc.)
to concentration < 3%
passivation UGI4539
UGI4507
Grade
4307
should not
be used.
Temperature < 20°C High temperature UGI 4507
and concentration < risk of stress
2% corrosion UGI 4539
or
Temperature < 50°C
and concentration < In certain processes where
1% condensates enriched with
small quantities of HCl are
UGIMA®4404 formed and cracks occur in
UGI4362 grades 4307 and 4404,
904L or 52N+ may prove to
be corrosion resistant (PVC
manufacturing, for
example)
- 24 -
Soda and potash RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE IN A BASE such as sodium hydroxide NaOH
or potash KOH
The soda and potash solutions are only slightly corrosive for stainless steels,
whatever the concentrations, when the temperature does not exceed 100°C.
Recommendation UGITECH
MAIN AGGRAVATING
ENVIRONMENTS for a pure RECOMMEND-
PROBLEM FACTORS
environment ATIONS
Basic environment General For temperatures < High temperature > Up to 120°C
Sodium carbonate surface 90°C 100°C risk of UGI 4539
or pure potash attack UGIMA®4307 stress corrosion and UGI 4507
(see BIBLIO 5 for general corrosion. UGI 4462
more information)
Industrial sodium Grade Presence of Up to 80°C:
carbonate or 304L not chlorides and UGI 4362
potash recomm- chlorates risk of
ended stress corrosion Up to 100°C:
UGI 4462
Up to 140°C:
UGI 4507
Industrial soda solutions are produced by sodium chloride electrolysis and are
polluted by chlorides and chlorates whose concentrations vary from one
manufacturing unit to another and also according to the soda concentration.
Typical solution: 50% NaOH; 1 to 5% NaCl and 0.1 to 1% NaClO3.
For low chlorate contents, there is little effect on the uniform corrosion of materials,
even at 150°C.
However, the risk of stress corrosion cracking is considerably increased by the
presence of such pollution. This type of corrosion is highly complex, and a
transgranular cracking mechanism with high concentrations of chlorides and
chlorates is observed in these basic environments, as in neutral chlorinated or
acidified environments.
It must be emphasised that the limit temperature at which cracking appears can
vary considerably, depending on the level of local stress on the material, as well as
on the aeration and concentration of the manufacturing environment.
- 25 -
Selecting materials for the paper pulp industry:
BLEACHING
Washing and filtration (pitting corrosion)
UGI 4462; UGI 4362; UGI 4301 and UGI 4404
High density storage and reactor (pitting corrosion)
UGI 4462 and UGI 4404
Washing and filtration (pitting corrosion)
UGI 4462; UGI 4362; UGI 4301 and UGI 4404
Chlorine bleaching: tower (very severe pitting corrosion) Ti;
diffuser or washer and filtration tanks UGI 4507
Bleaching / sodium carbonate treatment (pitting corrosion)
UGI 4462, UGI 4507 and UGI 4404,317L
Bleaching / hypochlorite (pitting corrosion); tower
UGI 4539
washing and filtration (pitting corrosion)
UGI 4539; UGI 4462; 317L; UGI 4507
Hydrogen peroxide bleaching: tower; washing and filtration (pitting corrosion)
UGI 4362; UGI 4462; 317L; UGI 4507
PAPERMAKING
High density storage (corrosion)
UGI 4362 and UGI 4404
Pulps and hydropulps (fatigue corrosion / abrasion corrosion)
UGI 4362 UGI 4462, 317L
Drive head (localised corrosion)
UGI 4462, UGI 4507
Cylinders (fatigue corrosion / stress corrosion)
UGI 4507, UGI 4462
Pneumatic conveyor (corrosion abrasion)
UGI 4462, UGI 4362
- 26 -
Acetic acid R
REECCO
OMMM
MEEN
NDDAATTIIO
ONNSS FFO
ORRU
USSEE IIN
N AACCEETTIICC AACCIID
D
The acidity in an aqueous solution rapidly increases in line with an increase in the
concentration, making this product relatively aggressive.
Recommendation
MAIN AGGRAVATING UGITECH
ENVIRONMENTS for a pure
PROBLEM FACTORS RECOMMENDATIONS
environment
Pure General * For temperatures Acetaldehyde * bottom part of the
acetic acid surface < 80°C, and for all oxidation process column at 150°C: stainless
attack concentrations. Presence of acetic steel not recommended.
UGIMA®4307 anhydride impurities * median part of the
At 120°C, UGIMA® in the separation separation column:
4307 can be used up column and in UGI 4539
to concentrations of particular at the * top part of the column
20%. bottom (at 150°C) UGIMA® 4404
or
* In boiling condition UGI 4362
and for a
concentration of 50%:
UGI4362
Presence of
* In boiling condition byproducts at 200°C
and for all of the hydrocarbon
concentrations: chain oxidation * for the hydrocarbon
UGI4539 reaction chain oxidation process in
UGI4507 Grade 4404 not a liquid environment
UGI4462 recommended UGI 4539
The operating limits are given for a maximum corrosion rate of 0.1 mm/year. They obviously apply to the use of
stainless steel grades for welding, forming, etc. according to best practice.
- 27 -
Formic acid RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE IN FORMIC ACID
Formic acid is far more aggressive than acetic acid due to its high rate of
dissociation in water.
MAIN
ENVIRONMENTS Recommendation for a pure environment
PROBLEM
Formic acid General surface * At ambient temperature
attack UGIMA®4307
R
REECCOOMMM MEEN
ND DAATTIIO
ONNSS FFO
ORR U
USSEE IIN
N IIN
NDDU
USSTTR
RIIAALL SSEEAA W
WAATTEER
R
Sea water
D E S AL IN A T IO
DESALINATION UNITS N U NI T S
desalination
There are two types of processes:
- Physical processes: RO (reverse osmosis) for large units,
- Thermal processes: MSF (multi stage flash) which represents 90% of the
market. The thermal process involves the risks of pitting and crevice
corrosion (if the dissolved oxygen content exceeds 1 ppm) and stress
corrosion cracking (SCC) if O2 > a few ppb.
Grade 4404 is not sufficient to withstand pitting and crevice corrosion in the event
of an increase in the percentage of oxygen; similarly, if brine residues have been
deposited on the walls, 316L will not be sufficient to withstand pitting and crevice
corrosion.
UGITECH
MAIN Basic AGGRAVATING
ENVIRONMENT RECOMMEND-
PROBLEM recommendations FACTORS
ATIONS
Sea water Pitting UGIMA®4404 Increase in the UGI 4462
desalination corrosion Or percentage of
UGI 4362 oxygen
Multistage Crevice UGIMA®4404 Brine deposits UGI 4462
process corrosion Or
UGI 4362
Multi stage flash Stress Temperature up UGI 4462
(MSF) corrosion to 120°C in an
aerated
environment
- 28 -
3. Use of duplex steels in the building industry: for example concrete
reinforcing bars
This section deals with pitting corrosion in concrete reinforcing stainless steel bars.
OUR ACCELERATED CORROSION ELECTROCHEMICAL TEST CONDITIONS
(simulation test developed at the CRU in collaboration with the CEA)
Determination of the pitting potential by electrochemical tests in environments
simulating the "concrete" solution in contact with the steel reinforcement: the more
positive the value obtained, the better the corrosion resistance.
Consideration of the change in composition due to changes in this environment
over time: carbonation; the pH decreases from 12 to 8; presence of chlorides.
The presence of chlorides is highly exaggerated in our experimental conditions:
the concrete would be so cracked that sea water would be able to penetrate
through to the steel reinforcement!
- 29 -
pitting potential in mV/ ECS in a carbonate-bearing environment Na2CO3 + NaCl to 21 g/l
in chlorides and at pH=10
800
600
400
200
-200
-400
-600
1.4597 1.4301 1.4404 1.4462 acier 1.4362
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS:
The stress corrosion resistance of Duplex grades is excellent, due, on the one hand,
to their high mechanical properties and, on the other hand, to the fact that it is
difficult for cracks to propagate in a two-phase austenite–ferrite structure.
This type of corrosion is generated by acid chloride environments which often
contain hydrogen sulphide (H2S) pollutants; they are mainly encountered in the oil
industry and off-shore ("acid pits").
Duplex grades again appear to be far superior to austenitic grades in this field and
are particularly attractive in terms of cost.
- 30 -
It should be noted that in the long product sector, which mainly manufactures
mechanical components with varying degrees of stress, resistance to this type of
corrosion is more appreciated by users.
An H2S temperature versus pressure diagram showing the scope of use of the
various grades (to the left of the thick line) is illustrated below.
UGINE 4539
170
UGINE 4462
120
UGINE 4507
70
UGIMA® 4404
20
UGI 4462 and UGI 4507 are used far more widely than grade 4401.
- 31 -
Additional information
- 32 -
4507 or UGI 4462 can nevertheless be used, as they contain traces of ferrous and ferric
ions.
BIBLIO 5 / Sodium carbonate or pure potash:
For concentrations less than 30%, UGIMA® 4307/304L is appropriate in pure soda or
potash; for example at 30% (or 20%) a temperature of 120°C (or 150°C) is possible.
However, for concentrations greater than 30%, the use of UGI 4539 / 904L and duplex
grades would appear mandatory if the temperature exceeds 90°C.
Chromium Very beneficial for corrosion resistance. Optimum between 19 and 25%
The main components are molybdenum and more particularly chromium, which explains why
a type 1.4592 grade is economically optimum.
However, this type of grade is not necessarily easily available in any product.
There are two alternatives:
A completely austenitic grade, type 25-22-2 / 1.4466, with a high chromium
content
Or a superduplex.
Superduplex poses a problem with respect to pressure vessels (in this case reactors) where
stress must be relieved at the end of the manufacturing process, owing to the demixing of
the ferrite in the sigma phase and chromium carbides at the conventional temperatures used
(550-580°C). That is why 25-22-2 / 1.4466 is recommended in this case.
Our recommendation: UGI 4507
Ferritic grades with a high chromium content (20 to 25%) and a high
molybdenum content (2.5%) such as type 4592 may possibly be used.
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