310L grade stainless steel is a low-carbon modification of stainless steel grade 310. This steel is widely used for elevated temperature applications due to its high chromium and nickel content, which makes it highly resistant to oxidation in comparison to other austenitic stainless steels.
The 310L grade stainless steel is one of the most widely used stainless steel grades used in the engineering and construction industries. It combines the properties of toughness, strength and formability, making it well suited to most engineering and structural applications. This type of steel is also known to have excellent corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance making it suitable for a wide range of uses and applications in both indoor and outdoor environments.
The low carbon version was created to improve on the properties of the original grade 310 in terms of corrosion resistance and weldability. The increased carbon content also makes it possible to attain higher working temperatures. The main alloying elements are chromium and nickel, which when combined, create an austenitic stainless steel with excellent oxidation resistance and a lower risk of carbide precipitation in the weld region than with other stainless steel grades.
At elevated temperatures, stainless steel 310L has excellent scaling and resistance to oxidation. Its excellent resistance to oxidation is mostly due to its very high concentration of chromium, which makes up 24-26% of the alloy. The addition of nickel at 9-11 % adds to its oxidation and scaling resistance. This is why, this type of stainless steel grade is often used for parts and components that must work in extreme temperature conditions in boiler, chemical, heat treating and power industries.
Some of the other features of the stainless steel grade 310L are that it is resistant to most chemicals and acids, having rust and corrosion-resistance and excellent formability characteristics. It is also strong and malleable which makes it suitable for forming, drawing, bending and stamping operations. In addition, it is 100 % recyclable, making it very economical and cost effective.
The stainless steel grade 310L can also be readily welded by shielded metal arc, gas-tungsten arc, gas-metal arc and submerged arc welding methods. This makes it a great choice for welding maintenance and repair jobs in various industries.
In summary, the stainless steel grade 310L is a low-carbon modification of its parent grade, 310. The increased carbon content of this stainless steel makes it stronger and more heat resistant, has better oxygen resistance, is tougher than other austenitic stainless steel grades and is ideal for use in extreme temperature set-ups. All in all, the 310L grade stainless steel is widely accepted and preferred by engineers and contractors for its versatility, quality and cost-effectiveness.
