Precipitating Hardness Stainless Steel
Precipitation hardening stainless steels are chromium and nickel containing steels that provide an optimum combination of the properties of both martensitic and austenitic grades.
The high tensile strengths of precipitation hardening stainless steels come after a heat treatment process that leads to precipitation hardening of a martensitic or austenitic matrix. Hardening is achieved through the addition of one or more of the elements Copper, Aluminium, Titanium, Niobium, and Molybdenum.
The advantage of precipitation hardening steels is that they can be supplied in a "solution treated" condition, which is readily machineable.
After machining or fabrication, a single, low temperature heat treatment can be applied to increase the strength of the steel a process known as age-hardening. As it is carried out at low temperature, the component undergoes no distortion.
Properties:
- They are known for their ability to gain high strength through heat treatment
- They have the corrosion resistance of austenitic stainless steels
The following are the popular grades that are offered from stock -
15-5PH, 17-4PH, 17-7PH, A286 alloy
Typical Applications:
- Gears
- Engine Parts
- High Strength Shafts
- Valves
- Moulding dies
- Turbine Blades
- Nuclear waste casks
- Mechanical components
- Aerospace
- Paper and Pulp industry
Product Forms:
- Sheets, Strips, Plates, Checkered Sheets
- Round Bars, Hexagon, Flat Bars - rolled and processed, Beams, Angles, Channels, Squares
- Pipes, Tubes, Square and rectangular hollow sections, Fittings and Flanges
- Wires
- Fasteners
