Introduction
S30120 stainless steel, also known as 1Cr17Ni8, is a austenitic stainless steel. It has 18Cr – 8Ni alloy content and can be classified as an austenitic stainless steel. The alloy is non-magnetic and has superior corrosion and heat resistance properties when compared to conventional stainless steels in the same family. High cold workability is a notable trait associated with this alloy, allowing for a wide range of applications.
Chemical Composition
S30120 stainless steel is composed of the following elemental content:
- 18 parts Chromium (Cr)
- 8 parts Nickel (Ni)
- 0.10-0.30 parts Carbon (C)
- 0.80-1.40 parts Manganese (Mn)
- 0.30-0.50 parts Silicon (Si)
- 0.030 parts Phosphorous (P)
- 0.030 parts Sulfur (S)
- 0.25-0.50 parts Nitrogen (N)
Mechanical Properties
S30120 stainless steel offers excellent mechanical properties, one of its key traits. The tensile strength of the alloy measured at room temperature is 530-760 MPa whereas yield stress can range between 220-310 MPa. The elongation (post fracture) and hardness (Brinell) of S30120 measures around 62% and 190 HB respectively.
Thermal Properties
The temperatures associated with transformation (rocking) for S30120 steel stand at 1215°C for face-centered cubic and 825°C for body-centered cubic transformation. Thermal conductivity of the alloy measured at 100°C/500°C is 13.1/14.7 W/m and the specific heat capacity stands at 500 J/kg-K.
Applications
Due to its high corrosion resistance, good mechanical properties, high cold formability and lower cost, S30120 stainless steel finds itself suitable for a broad range of industrial applications. Following are a few:
- Automotive industry: Its application can be seen in exhaust systems, sensors and headlamps
- Manufacturing industry: Sheet metal parts, striking tools, blades and gears
- Food processing industry: S30120 steel is widely employed in commercial kitchen cutlery and cookware
- Chemical industry: Tanks, vessels and reactors
- Aerospace industry: Fuel systems and various structural applications
Conclusion
S30120 stainless steel, also known as 1Cr17Ni8, is an austenitic stainless steel with 18Cr – 8Ni alloy content. It offers superior corrosion and heat resistance properties besides excellent mechanical strength. Additionally, it has the added advantage of being highly cold formable, thus allowing itself for use in a wide range of industrial applications including automotive, manufacturing, food processing, chemical and aerospace.
