Service Temperatures of Austenitic Steels & other Materials
Most common reasons for using Stainless Steels are their corrosion resistance and their high temperature properties. Therefore stainless steels can be found in applications where high temperature oxidation resistance is necessary and in applications where high temperature strength is required. The high chromium content which is so beneficial to the wet corrosion resistance of stainless steels is also highly beneficial to their high temperature strength.
Most austenitic steels, with chromium contents of at least 18%, can be used at temperatures up to 1500°F and Grade 310 (Cr content: up to 26%) even higher - up to 2000°F. Because of the problem of grain boundary carbide precipitation, discussed in Engineering Bulletin #103, prolonged exposure to the temperature in the 1100°F to 1400°F range should be avoided.
The table below shows the (approximate) maximum service temperature of Austenitic Steels & other common Materials.
Maximum Service Temperatures in dry air
| Alloy | Temperature | |
| °F | °C | |
| 304L | 1500 | 816 |
| 321 | 1500 | 816 |
| 316 | 1500 | 816 |
| 310 | 2000 | 1093 |
| AL6XN | 1000 | 538 |
| Inconel 600 | 1800 - 2000 | 982 - 1093 |
| Inconel 625 | 1800 | 982 |
| Monel 400 | 800 | 427 |
| Hastelloy C276 | 500 | 260 |
| Hastelloy C22 | 500 | 260 |
| Bronze | 450 | 232 |
| Brass | 450 | 232 |
| Copper | 400 | 204 |
Note: the temperature ratings in the table are general guidelines and could change if corrosives are present, such as sulfur, carbon, etc. In some cases ASME codes will reduce temperature limits too.
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