300 Series Stainless Steel for Investment Castings
Properties & Advantages of Stainless Steel Grades 300-316L
Corrosion-resistant and heat-resistance stainless steel alloys used for investment casting are differentiated and graded by their carbon content. Aero Metals can create castings from most stainless steel grades ranging from Austenitic Stainless Steel to Precipitation Hardening (PH) Martensitic Stainless Steel to Austenitic And Ferritic (Duplex) Stainless Steel. We can create fully customized “air melted” stainless steel to your exact specifications and application requirements. Our skilled machinists have experience forming mission-critical components from multiple grades of 300 Series Stainless Steel (ANSI). Our selection of 300 Series Stainless Steel allows us to create durable, high precision cast parts for multiple industries.
Learn more about our Series 300 Stainless Steel Casting Alloys below or contact Aero Metals for more information.
300 Series Stainless Steel Differences By Grade
300 Series austenitic stainless steels are a set of iron-based chromium-nickel alloys widely used for precision investment castings. The ideal alloy for your component depends on the required corrosion resistance, formability, wear properties, strength, temperature performance, cost, and other design factors.
Below, we outline the most common 300 Series stainless steel grades that Aero Metals frequently casts for custom parts. Our metallurgists can also adjust chemical compositions or work with specific alloy variations to meet unique performance requirements.
303 (CF165) Stainless Steel | UNS S30300
A303 Stainless steel is a non-magnetic steel that is not hardenable by heat treatment. Alloy 303 consists of 18% chromium / 8% nickel stainless steel. This is the most readily machinable austenitic stainless steel. Alloy 303 has lower corrosion resistance and toughness than higher grade steel.
303 Stainless Steel Casting Applications
Common applications for 303 stainless steel cast parts include parts that need to be heavily machined, such as:
- Nuts and bolts
- Gears
- Bushings and more
304 (CF8)Stainless Steel | UNS S30400
304 stainless steel is noted for cleanliness and corrosion resistance in food & beverage and medical applications. It is much easier to work with and form than 316 stainless steel and resists oxidation and rust. 304 alloy can be machined “as-cast” and is easy to clean and fabricate.
304 Stainless Steel Casting Applications
304 stainless steel castings are used in a wide range of industrial applications, including:
- Surgical equipment
- Brewing & wine making equipment
- Dyeing equipment and more
304L (CF3)Stainless Steel | UNS S30403
304L stainless steel has a lower carbon and is less susceptible to carbine precipitation in the Heat Affected Zone (HAZ). It consists of higher percentages of nickel than its standard counterpart. 304 alloy is considered the most versatile stainless steel due to its excellent corrosion resistance and formability.
304L Stainless Steel Casting Applications
- Food processing
- Aerospace and automotive structural use
- Cooking equipment.
309 (CH20)Stainless Steel | UNS S30900/S30908
Alloy 309/309S has a high chromium and low nickel content and can resist oxidation up to 1900°F (1038°C) under non-cyclic conditions. It was developed for use in applications requiring superior heat resistance and oxidation resistance. It is not designed for wet corrosive environments or highly carburizing atmospheres.
309 Stainless Steel Casting Applications
309 stainless steel cast components are suitable for high-temperature applications, including:
- Furnaces
- Petroleum refining components
- Waste treatment applications and more
310 (CK20)Stainless Steel | S31000
310 stainless steel is resistant to oxidation under mildly cyclic conditions through 2000°F. It has moderate strength and offers toughness at cryogenic temperatures.
310 Stainless Steel Casting Applications
310 stainless steel castings are selected for heat-resistant applications, including
- Heat exchangers
- Radiant tubes
- Tube hangers
- Cryogenic structures,
- Kilns and more
316 (CF8M)Stainless Steel | UNS S31600
316 stainless steel offers superior corrosion resistance for use in marine applications. 316 alloy is slightly magnetic and demonstrates a high resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion. It is resistant to salt and chlorides.
316 Stainless Steel Casting Applications
316 stainless steel is commonly selected for corrosion-resistant investment castings used in applications such as:
- Automotive
- Marine Environments
- Petrochemical
316L (CF3M)Stainless Steel | UNS S31603
316L stainless steel has higher nickel and molybdenum content than 304 stainless steel for increased corrosion resistant properties. 316L has outstanding formability and is immune from sensitization.
316L Stainless Steel Casting Applications
316L stainless steel is commonly used to cast precise components, including:
- Heavy gauge welded parts
- Chemical processing equipment in chloride environments
- Food preparation equipment
- Boat fittings and more
300 Series Stainless Steel Casting Applications
Aero Metals works with a number of these metal alloys in our stainless steel casting process. Based on your performance and application requirements, our expert metallurgists can help you choose the best alloy for your stainless steel investment casting needs. Frequent industries served include:
- Medical
- Mining
- Food and Dairy
- Petrochemical
- Automotive
- Valves
Contact Us Today to Learn More About Our Investment Casting Capabilities
Aero Metals is dedicated to delivering reliable investment casted parts from high-quality metals that provide outstanding benefits. With top-tier metal casting quality, testing and inspection standards, Aero Metals is a trusted source for premium grade precision investment casting services for a variety of industries.
