904L stainless steel is a high alloy austenitic stainless steel with excellent corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance and good mechanical properties. Its characteristics are as follows:
1. Excellent corrosion resistance
Acid corrosion resistance: 904L has very good oxidation resistance and acid corrosion resistance, especially in high concentration sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid and chloride environments. It has strong corrosion resistance in seawater and acidic environments.
Anti-pitting: It has stronger pitting resistance than ordinary austenitic stainless steel and is suitable for chloride-sensitive application environments.
2. Good high temperature resistance
904L stainless steel has good high temperature resistance and can work stably in the temperature range of 600°C to 800°C. When this temperature is exceeded, it can still maintain a certain strength and corrosion resistance, but long-term high temperature use may affect its performance.
3. High strength and good mechanical properties
Due to the high alloy content, 904L stainless steel has good strength and toughness at room temperature. It has high tensile strength and yield strength, and is suitable for structural parts or parts that bear large loads.
It also has good impact resistance and is particularly suitable for low temperature environments.
4. Good processing performance
Due to its austenitic structure, 904L stainless steel has good weldability and machinability, can be subjected to conventional processing operations, and has good performance after welding.
However, the high nickel content makes it relatively difficult to handle during cold processing, requiring the use of appropriate processes and equipment.
5. Good resistance to chloride stress corrosion cracking
Due to the high content of alloying elements, especially nickel and copper, 904L stainless steel exhibits excellent resistance to chloride stress corrosion cracking in chloride environments.
6. Higher cost
Due to its high alloy content, the cost of 904L stainless steel is relatively high. Therefore, it is usually used in special applications with high performance requirements, such as chemical, petroleum, natural gas, marine engineering and other fields.
7. Wide adaptability
904L stainless steel can be used in multiple harsh environments, and common applications include chemical equipment, petrochemical pipelines, pharmaceutical industry, marine engineering, food processing, etc.
8. Chloride corrosion resistance
It can resist corrosion in environments where chlorides are present, and is suitable for seawater and environments containing chloride chemicals.
Summary: 904L stainless steel is widely used in many harsh environments mainly due to its excellent corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance and strength. It is suitable for use in fields with high requirements for corrosion and temperature resistance, such as chemical, marine, energy and food industries.
