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CarpenterStainlessType431

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Identification
UNSNumber
S43100

TypeAnalysis
Singlefiguresarenominalexceptwherenoted.
Carbon(Maximum)
Phosphorus(Maximum)
Silicon(Maximum)
Nickel

0.20 %
0.040 %
1.00 %
1.25to2.50 %

Manganese(Maximum)
Sulfur(Maximum)
Chromium
Iron

1.00 %
0.030 %
15.00to17.00 %
Balance

GeneralInformation
Description
CarpenterStainlessType431isdesignedtoprovideimprovedcorrosionresistanceandtoughnessinaquench
hardenablestainlesssteel.Ithasbeenusedforpartssuchasaircraftfastenersandfittingsandshouldbe
consideredforstructuralmembersexposedtomarineatmosphere.Mechanicalpropertiesincludeexcellent
toughness(impactstrength)atrelativelyhighhardnesslevel.Itoffersthebestcorrosionresistanceofthe
conventionalmartensiticstainlessgrades.ConsiderablequantitiesofthissteelhavebeenproducedtoMILS
18732,andAMS5628.
CarpenterStainlessType431hasbeenusedforhighlystressedaircraftcomponentsincludingfasteners,bomb
racks,bolting,pumpshafts,valvestems,etc.Itshouldbeconsideredforapplicationsrequiringtheoptimum
combinationofcorrosionresistance,hardnessandtoughnessfromapproximately100to1200F(73to650C).
Selection
Thisisthemostcorrosionresistantoftheconventionallyhardenablestainlesssteels.Fewvariationsare
produced.
Scaling
Thesafescalingtemperatureforcontinuousserviceis1300F(704C).

CorrosionResistance
Thisalloyhasresistedatmosphericcorrosionandoffersthebestresistancetomarineatmospheresofthe
regularmartensiticstainlessgrades.Onlytheagehardenablemartensiticstainlessalloysoffersuperiorcorrosion
resistance.Italsoresistsattackbymanypetroleumproductsandorganicmaterials,andbynitricacidand
severalotheracidicenvironments.
Foroptimumcorrosionresistance,surfacesmustbefreeofscale,lubricants,foreignparticles,andcoatings
appliedfordrawingandheading.Afterfabricationofparts,cleaningand/orpassivationshouldbeconsidered.

ImportantNote:Thefollowing4levelratingscaleisintendedforcomparativepurposesonly.Corrosiontestingis
recommendedfactorswhichaffectcorrosionresistanceincludetemperature,concentration,pH,impurities,
aeration,velocity,crevices,deposits,metallurgicalcondition,stress,surfacefinishanddissimilarmetalcontact.
NitricAcid
PhosphoricAcid
SodiumHydroxide
SeaWater

Good
Restricted
Moderate
Restricted

SulfuricAcid
AceticAcid
SaltSpray(NaCl)
Humidity

Properties
PhysicalProperties
SpecificGravity

7.75

Density

0.2800 lb/in

MeanSpecificHeat
32to212F

0.1100 Btu/lb/F

MeanCTE
32to1200F

6.80 x106in/in/F

ThermalConductivity
212F

140.0 BTUin/hr/ft/F

ModulusofElasticity(E)

29.0 x103ksi

ElectricalResistivity
70F
TypicalMechanicalProperties

433.0 ohmcirmil/ft

Restricted
Restricted
Moderate
Good

HeatTreatment
Annealing
Heatuniformlyto1200/1250F(650/677C)removechargefromfurnaceandcoolinair.Brinellapproximately
270.Thistreatmentwillbebestformostmachiningoperations.
Hardening
Heatto1800/1950F(982/1066C),soakatheat,quenchinoil.Thisgradewillalsohardenbycoolinginair.
Whentemperingbelow700F(371C),thehighsideofthehardeningrangeshouldbeemployedforthebest
impactstrength.Lowerhardeningtemperaturesshouldbeusedwhentemperingabove1100F(538C)forbest
impactstrength.
Tempering
Tempertosecurehardnessandmechanicalpropertiesdesired.Soakatheatatleastonehour,andlongerfor
largerpiecescoolinair.Temperingintherangeof700/1050F(371/565C)resultsindecreasedimpact
strengthandcorrosionresistance.

Workability
HotWorking
Itcanbereadilyhotheadedanddropforged.Heatuniformlyto2100/2200F(1149/1204C)thenforge.Small
forgingsshouldbeallowedtocoolslowlylargeforgingsindrylimeorashes.Annealafterforgingcooltoroom
temperaturebeforeannealing.Trimhot,orelseannealandtrimcold.Donotforgebelow1650F(900C).Lossof
toughnessandductilitywillresultfromoverheating.
ColdWorking
Intheannealedcondition,thealloycanbeblanked,formed,andcoldheaded.
Machinability
WhenmachiningCarpenterStainlessType431intheannealedcondition,thereisatendencytogallandbuildup
onthecuttingedgeofthetool,whichresultsinpoorfinishes.Inturningoperations,itiscomparabletoSAE3150or
6150.
FollowingaretypicalfeedsandspeedsforCarpenterStainlessType431.

AdditionalMachinabilityNotes
Whenusingcarbidetools,surfacespeedfeet/minute(sfpm)canbeincreasedbetween2and3timesoverthe
highspeedsuggestions.Feedscanbeincreasedbetween50and100%.
Figuresusedforallmetalremovaloperationscoveredareaverage.Oncertainwork,thenatureofthepartmay
requireadjustmentofspeedsandfeeds.Eachjobhastobedevelopedforbestproductionresultswithoptimum
toollife.Speedsorfeedsshouldbeincreasedordecreasedinsmallsteps.

Weldability
CarpenterStainlessType431canbeweldedsatisfactorilywithmostoftheelectricweldingprocesses.Ifafiller
metalisrequired,oneofsimilarcompositionsuchasAWSE/ER410shouldbeconsidered.Anausteniticfillermetal
mayalsobeusediftheresponsetoheattreatmentandmechanicalpropertiesoftheweldarenotrequiredtobe
similartothoseofthebasemetal.
Topreventcrackingoftheweldment,itisnecessarytopreheatthebasemetalto400/600F(204/316C)and
maintainaninterpasstemperatureof400F(204C)minimum.Theweldmentshouldreceiveapostweldheat
treatmentat1200F(649C)assoonaspossibleaftertheparthasbeenallowedtocooltoroomtemperature.

OtherInformation
ApplicableSpecifications
AMS5628
ASTMA314
ASTMA580
FormsManufactured
BarRounds
Strip
WireRod
TechnicalArticles

ASTMA276
ASTMA479
MILS18732
Billet
Wire

ADesigner'sManualOnSpecialtyAlloysForCriticalAutomotiveComponents
AlloySelectionforColdForming(PartI)
AlloySelectionforColdForming(PartII)
HowtoPassivateStainlessSteelParts
HowtoSelecttheRightStainlessSteelorHighTemperatureAlloyforHeading
PassivatingandElectropolishingStainlessSteelParts
SelectingHighTemperatureAlloysforFastenersinAutomotiveExhaustSystems
SelectionofHighStrengthStainlessSteelsforAerospace,MilitaryandOtherCriticalApplications
UniquePropertiesRequiredofAlloysfortheMedicalandDentalProductsIndustry

Disclaimer:
Theinformationanddatapresentedhereinaretypicaloraveragevaluesandarenotaguaranteeofmaximumor
minimumvalues.Applicationsspecificallysuggestedformaterialdescribedhereinaremadesolelyforthepurposeof
illustrationtoenablethereadertomakehis/herownevaluationandarenotintendedaswarranties,eitherexpress
orimplied,offitnessfortheseorotherpurposes.Thereisnorepresentationthattherecipientofthisliteraturewill
receiveupdatededitionsastheybecomeavailable.
Unlessotherwisespecified,registeredtrademarksarepropertyof
CRSHoldingsInc.,asubsidiaryofCarpenterTechnologyCorporation.
Copyright2015CRSHoldingsInc.Allrightsreserved.
EditionDate:09/01/1986