MVAIST- Austenitic Stainless Steel

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Valbruna Grade

MVAIST

Steel type

Austenitic Stainless Steel

Description of material

MVAIST is a Titanium stabilized austenitic stainless steel with both good general corrosion resistance and very good intergranular corrosion resistance after welding processes. This grade is a Ca-treated stainless steel obtained by a special steel making practice whose aim is a calculated and precise control of non-metallic inclusions. These inclusions are characterized by a particular morphology and lubricating properties, which are able to improve machinability. This results in lower tool wear and higher chip-breaking due to the formation of a layer between the tool and the chip.

Applications

MVAIST is suitable for the fabrication of many products such as flanges, valves, bolting, pumps shafts, food /beverages industry equipment, storage tanks, many organic chemicals and parts working in mild to medium corrosive environments. This grade is chosen in the case of welding processes and in applications where intermittent heating up to 850 C° can happen.

Corrosion resistance

MVAIST is resistant to fresh water, many organic chemicals and inorganic compounds, atmospheric corrosion, rural applications and sterilizing solutions where the chloride level is very low. Pitting and crevice corrosion may occur in chloride environments if concentration, pH and temperature are at determinate levels. As with other standard austenitic grades, MVAIST suffers from stress corrosion cracking about forty degrees (C°) above room temperature and with certain levels of stress and halogen concentration. Strain hardened structures increase the risk of stress corrosion cracking. In case of high temperature service, a stabilizing heat treatment should be carried out to improve the intergranular corrosion resistance. It should be noted that this grade, as for every kind of stainless steel, surfaces should be free of contaminant and scale, heat tint, and passivated for optimum resistance to corrosion.

Cold working

MVAIST is readily fabricated by cold working such as cold drawing and bending but should be only be used for a moderate amount of cold heading, because its chemical balance does not allow it to obtain a soft strain hardening structure after cold deformation due to a high CWHF (Cold Working Hardening Factor). This could result in a rapid die wear. Other grades for these purpose , such as AISR or AISRUH whose chemical balance provide the highest cold deformability and the lowest CWHF should be used. These grades have a poor machinability due to a low Sulfur content but, in case of welding, don’t require any post welding heat treatment due to their low Carbon content. MVAIST shouldn’t be used for high polishability or mirror finishing processes.

Machinability

MVAIST is not a Free Machining grade (FM) but rather an alloy with enhanced machinability characteristics. In terms of machinability, MVAIST stands between an intermediate position between standard and Free Machined grades but cannot compete with FM (such as AISI 303, EN 1.4305). MVAIST offers a lot of advantages in terms of productivity when compared to standard grades. The best performance are obtained when employing the correct machining parameters while using multi - spindle and automatic screw machines. However, Machinists should know that Austenitic grades are different from Ferritic and Alloy steels and require more rigid and powerful machines in addition to the correct choice of tools, coating and cutting fluids. The Austenite structure is prone to transform into α’Martensite caused by strain hardening of the tool on the surface of the work piece. The knowledge of this behavior must be correctly considered when a piece requires two or several cutting steps to be finished. The layer of α’Martensite is very hard and, if the subsequent turning or milling processes work on this hardened layer, a rapid tool wear could happen. The tool must work under this layer.

Weldability

MVAIST has a different behavior when compared to standard grades of similar alloy composition due to its special steel making process because its Calcium –treated process influences the surface tension of liquid and the regular morphology and geometry of the fused (weld) zone. Using the correct filler may reduce or overcome the difficulties of geometry. MVAIST has a special chemical composition which helps to avoid solidification cracks in the fused-zone of autogenous welds due to a special Ferrite balance. In solid state joining such as Friction Welding, MVAIST may not provide a quality bond line. PWHT is generally not necessary. Stabilization heat treatment should be carried out in the case of high temperature applications.

Hot working

MVAIST is not specifically designed for hot working and is usually supplied as cold finished round, hexagonal, flat and square bars for machining processes. If a suitable level of machinability is desired on forged pieces (such as flanges, rolled rings, closed - die forgings) a special grade similar to MVAIST can be supplied: for instance, AISTF (instead of MVAIST). However, for open die forging of large ingots and shapes using MVAIST, it has a good hot plasticity if suitable soaking and the right temperature is applied. No preheating is required. Overheating must be avoided. Small forgings can be cooled rapidly in air or water.

Designations

AISI 321
W.N. 1.4541
UNS S32100
EN X6CrNiTi18-10
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