Analysis of Heat Treatment Process and Application of Austenitic

1. Heat treatment process of austenitic stainless steel  

1. Solution Annealing  

● Temperature range: 1010℃`1150℃ (304 stainless steel is usually 1050℃~1100℃)  

● Cooling method: Rapid water cooling (to prevent carbide precipitation)  

● Function: Eliminate cold working stress, restore corrosion resistance, and dissolve carbides in the austenite matrix  

2. Stabilization (Stabilization Annealing)  

● Applicable steel grades: Stabilized stainless steel containing titanium or niobium (such as 321, 347)  

● Temperature range: 850℃~900℃, insulation for 24 hours  

● Role: Promote the formation of TiC/NbC and prevent intergranular corrosion  

3. Stress Relieving annealing  

● Temperature range: 300℃~450℃ (avoid entering the sensitization zone 450℃~850℃)  

● Application scenarios: Remove residual stress after welding or cold working  

Remarks: Austenitic stainless steel cannot be hardened through heat treatment, and its strength can only be improved through cold working (such as cold rolling and cold drawing). nbsp; 

Typical applications of austenitic stainless steel  

3. Answers to frequently asked questions  

Q1: Why can't austenitic stainless steel be hardened through quenching?& nbsp; 

→Because it has a face-centered cubic (FCC) structure, there is no martensite transformation and can only rely on cold working strengthening. nbsp; 

Q2: Why is solution treatment needed after welding?   

→Eliminate carbide precipitation in the welding heat-affected zone and restore corrosion resistance.& nbsp; 

Q3: How to choose 304 and 316 stainless steel? nbsp; 

→316 contains molybdenum (2%~3%) and is more resistant to chloride ion corrosion and is suitable for marine or chemical environments;304 has lower cost and is suitable for general purposes. nbsp; 

For the selection of austenitic stainless steel, under high temperature (>500℃) or strong corrosive environments, it is recommended to use low-carbon (such as 304L, 316L) or stabilized stainless steel (321, 347) to avoid the risk of intergranular corrosion. Evan Industrial Hardware provides standardized and non-standard customized one-stop solutions for high-end equipment manufacturing companies. It also has its own community and has a variety of materials and surface treatment processing technologies. For more technical questions about parts and components, please consult: 4008-717-355!