904L stainless steel is an austenitic stainless steel that contains approximately 25% chromium, 4% molybdenum, and 1.5% nickel. It is known for its excellent corrosion resistance, high-temperature strength, and durability.
Corrosion Resistance: 904L stainless steel is known for its excellent corrosion resistance in harsh environments, including acidic and alkaline environments. It is resistant to corrosion from chemicals, solvents, and salts, making it suitable for use in aggressive environments.
Strength: 904L stainless steel has good strength and is suitable for applications that require high levels of mechanical strength. It has a minimum tensile strength of 490 MPa and a minimum yield strength of 220 MPa.
Weldability: 904L stainless steel is known for its good weldability, making it a popular choice for welding, brazing, and soldering. It can be welded using common welding techniques, such as TIG, MIG, and stick welding.
Ductility: 904L stainless steel has good ductility, which means that it can be easily formed and shaped without cracking or breaking. This property makes it ideal for applications that require complex shapes or designs.
Magnetic Properties: 904L stainless steel is non-magnetic in all conditions.
Heat Resistance: 904L stainless steel has good heat resistance up to 400°C (752°F). It can be used in high-temperature applications such as heat exchangers and furnace parts.
The table below provides the compositional ranges of grade 904L stainless steels:
Grade | C | Mn | Si | P | S | Cr | Mo | Ni | Cu | |
904L | min.max. | -0.02 | -2 | -1 | -0.045 | -0.035 | 1923 | 45 | 2328 | 12 |
The typical mechanical properties of grade 904L stainless steels are given in the table below:
Grade | Tensile Strength (MPa) min | Yield Strength 0.2% Proof (MPa) min | Elongation (% in 50mm) min | Hardness | |
Rockwell B (HR B) | Brinell (HB) | ||||
904L | 490 | 220 | 36 | 70-90 typical | 150 |
The physical properties of grade 904L stainless steels are tabulated below:
Grade | Density (kg/m3) | Elastic Modulus (GPa) | Mean Co-eff of Thermal Expansion (µm/m/°C) | Thermal Conductivity (W/m.K) | Specific Heat 0-100°C (J/kg.K) | Elec Resistivity (nΩ.m) | |||
0-100°C | 0-315°C | 0-538°C | At 20°C | At 500°C | |||||
904L | 7900 | 190 | 15 | - | - | 11.5 | - | 500 | 952 |