Stainless Steel - Grade 17-4 (UNS S17400)

Topics Covered
Introduction Chemical Composition Physical Properties Mechanical Properties Thermal Properties Other Designations Fabrication and Heat Treatment Machinability Forming Welding Heat Treatment Forging Hot Working Cold Working Annealing Hardening Applications

Introduction
Stainless steels are known as high-alloy steels. They contain about 4-30% of chromium. They are further divided into martensitic, austenitic, and ferritic steels. Another group of stainless steels are known as precipitation-hardened steels. They are a combination of austenitic and martensitic steels. Grade 17-4 stainless steel is the most widely used steel of the precipitation hardening grade steels. It has high toughness, strength, and corrosion resistance.

Chemical Composition
The following table shows the chemical composition of grade 17-4 stainless steel.
Element Iron, Fe Chromium, Cr Nickel, Ni Copper, Cu Manganese, Mn Silicon, Si Tantalum, Ta Niobium, Nb (Columbium, Cb) Nb + Ta Carbon, C Phosphorous, P Sulfur, S Content (%) 73 15.0 - 17.5 3.0 - 5.0 3.0 - 5.0 1.0 1.0 0.45 0.45 0.15 - 0.45 0.070 0.040 0.030

Physical Properties
The physical properties of grade 17-4 stainless steel are given in the following table.
Properties Density Metric 7.75 g/cm
3

Imperial 0.280 lb/in

Mechanical Properties
The mechanical properties of annealed grade 17-4 stainless steel are displayed in the following table.
Properties Shear modulus Elastic modulus Poisson's ratio Hardness, Brinell Hardness, Knoop (estimated from Rockwell C) Hardness, Rockwell C Hardness, Vickers (estimated from Rockwell C) Metric 77.4 GPa 190-210 GPa 0.27-0.30 352 363 36 349 Imperial 11200 ksi 27557-30458 ksi 0.27-0.30 352 363 36 349

Thermal Properties
The following table outlines the thermal properties of grade 17-4 stainless steel.
Properties Thermal expansion co-efficient (@ 21-93C/69.8-199F) Thermal conductivity ( for condition H 900 at 149C. 22.6 W/mK for H 900 at 482C) Metric 10.8 m/mC 17.9 W/mK Imperial 6.00 in/inF 124 BTU in/hr.ft.F

Other Designations
Other designations that are equivalent to grade 17-4 stainless steel are listed in the following table.
AISI 630 AMS 5604 AMS 5622 AMS 5643 ASTM A564 (630) ASTM A693 (630) ASTM A705 (630) MIL C-24111 MIL P-47183 MIL S-81591 AMS 5342 AMS 5343 AMS 5344 AMS 5355 AMS 5825 MIL-S-81506 SAE J467 (17-4PH) ASME SA705 ASME SA564

Fabrication and Heat Treatment Machinability

Grade 17-4 stainless steel can be machined in the annealed condition. This alloy has long and gummy chips. Before final hardening, post machining solution treatment is needed if it is machined in the H1150M condition.

Forming
Grade 17-4 stainless steel can be formed mildly.

Welding
Grade 17-4 stainless steel can be welded using common fusion and resistance welding methods. Oxyacetylene welding method is not preferred for welding this alloy.

Heat Treatment
Grade 17-4 stainless steel is soaked at 1038C (1900F) for 30 min and cooled below 16C (60F) for complete martensite transformation in the condition A. The condition A material is treated at 482C (900F) for 1 h followed by cooling. Solution treated material is soaked for 4 h at specific temperature in H925, H1025, H1075, H1100, and H1150 conditions followed by cooling in air. Solution treated material is soaked at 760C (1400F) for 2 h in the H1150M condition followed by cooling. It is again heated at 620C (1150F) for 4 h followed by cooling.

Forging
Grade 17-4 stainless steel is forged at 1010C (1850F). Before performing this process, it is soaked at 1177C (2150F). Post-work solution treatment should be performed before final hardening.

Hot Working
Grade 17-4 stainless steel can be hot worked using common processes. It is treated at 1038C (1900F). Post-work solution treatment should be performed before final hardening.

Cold Working
Grade 17-4 stainless steel can be cold worked using common techniques in spite of its high initial yield strength.

Annealing
Grade 17-4 stainless steel is annealed at 1038C (1900F) for 0.5 h followed by cooling rapidly.

Hardening

Grade 17-4 stainless steel has high ductility, and can be formed using all conventional techniques. Powerful equipments are required for forming this alloy because it is stronger than the regular steel. Heavy-duty lubricants are used during cold working.

Applications
Grade 17-4 stainless steel is used in the following applications: Nuclear reactor Aircraft and gas turbines Oil field Chemical process components Paper mill

Date Added: Sep 10, 2012 | Updated: Jun 11, 2013

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