Stainless steel is an ideal material to select when opting to forge a product requiring corrosion and heat resistance. Its resistance to corrosion is directly correlated to its chromium content. These valuable properties are further improved during the forging process by optimizing grain flow and structure.
Benefits of Forging Stainless Steel
Corrosion Resistance: Stainless steel is naturally corrosion-resistant due to the addition of chromium. The chromium reacts with the atmosphere to create a thin oxide layer on the surface, shielding it from the environment and reducing the risk of stress cracking, deformation, pitting, and other factors that would impact the structural integrity and lifespan of the forged components.
Improved Strength: The forging process creates a continuous grain flow throughout the component, which improves the mechanical properties of stainless steel and increases strength, fatigue resistance, and impact resistance in the forged component.
Improved Heat Resistance: Components designed for high-friction and high-heat applications made from stainless can withstand extreme temperatures without deforming or losing their structural integrity. Specialty stainless grades such as 17-4PH are particularly well-suited to applications that need to resist deformation under such conditions.
Common Stainless Steel Grades Used in Forging
300 and 400 series stainless steel are commonly used in forging. 300 series stainless steel is made of austenitic chromium-nickel alloys, while 400 series is made of martensitic and ferritic chromium alloys. Other exotic grades of stainless steel can also be used for critical or specialty applications.
Commonly forged stainless steel grades include:
304: 304 is one of the most common stainless steel grades. It has exceptional corrosion resistance and high ductility.
316: 316 is similar to 304 but has additional molybdenum for improved corrosion resistance, particularly in chloride environments. It’s commonly used in marine and chemical processing applications.
410: 410 is martensitic. With the addition of carbon, 410 can be hardened and is magnetic.
17-4PH: 17-4 is a precipitation age-hardening stainless with excellent strength and fatigue resistance. It excels in forging due to its dimensional stability throughout heat cycles.
Why Work With Trenton Forging?
Trenton Forging has been a trusted American forging company since our founding in 1967. We specialize in impression die forging and can produce custom asymmetrical and symmetrical forged components from stainless steel, steel, and steel alloys. We also hold an ISO 9001 certification to ensure quality and are known for having some of the fastest turnaround times in the industry.
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