Stainless Steel Grade AISI 446 | EN 1.4762 | DIN X10CrAlSi25

Stainless steel AISI 446 | EN 1.4762 | DIN X10CrAlSi25 is a ferritic stainless steel intended for primary forming into forged products. Its EN 1.4762 counterpart is typically used in high-temperature environments and in applications that require excellent corrosion and oxidation resistance.

Used in burners, boiler parts and other thermal structures. The alloy can be used within the temperature range from 815 °C to 1150 °C.

This material has a relatively low electrical conductivity among forged ferritic stainless steels. In addition, it has moderately low thermal conductivity and moderately high equivalent pitting resistance.

Stainless steel grade AISI 446 | EN 1.4762 | DIN X10CrAlSi25 can withstand very high temperatures. It contains a large amount of chromium, aluminum and silicon and all these combinations of elements increase the heat resistance of this grade. It is a magnetic stainless steel and is quite difficult to weld. It is also not so easy to cultivate this grade. This material can withstand high mechanical loads. Steel EN 1.4762 is not very common, and stainless steel AISI 310 can be an alternative for many different applications.

Welding

AISI 446 stainless steel material can be welded using most conventional methods. If necessary, a filler such as AISI 308L can be used, but it will not exhibit scaling resistance equal to the base metal. The differences in the thermal expansion coefficient of the base material and the weld material must also be taken into account.

Mechanical processing

Machining of AISI 446 stainless steel is possible at low speeds with positive feed, rigid fixtures and sharp tools.

Physical properties

Forging

Forging can be started at 1149°C and completed at 871°C. The last 10% of forging should be done below 871°C to achieve room temperature graininess and brittleness.

Hot processing

Hot working of stainless steel grade AISI 446 | EN 1.4762 is carried out between the temperature ranges 1093 °C - 1177 °C. The last 10% of hot working should be carried out below 871 °C in order to obtain an improved structure.

Cold processing

Due to the high chromium content, cold working of AISI 446 stainless steel is more difficult than other stainless steels.

Annealing

Annealing of stainless steel grade AISI 446 | EN 1.4762 | DIN X10CrAlSi25 shall be carried out at a temperature of 816 °C, followed by water quenching. The temperature of this process shall not exceed 900 °C at any time, and slow cooling below 649 °C may lead to loss of ductility.

Mechanical properties

Application

Stainless steel of this grade can be used for the production of the following products:

- boilers;
- burner components;
- annealing boxes;
- industrial mufflers;
- bathroom shelves;
- glass casting molds;
- oven parts.

The metal of this alloy has excellent resistance to corrosion. It is heat-resistant and ductile. The structures made of it are reliable in oxidizing environments, in the production of caustic soda. The metal is resistant to static loads. It is used for welded structures that are not exposed to vibration or impact, and is operated at temperatures from -20 °C to 1100 °C. This steel is suitable for the manufacture of heat exchangers operating in an aggressive environment. Thermocouple covers, furnace fittings, and spark plug electrodes are made of this grade of metal. It is also used in the oil and chemical industries for collecting mine water, in the production of medicines, and in construction.