304H | Intamet Ltd

304H / 1.4948

304H is a high carbon stainless steel with high strength and improved high-temperature properties, good formability and weldability.

304H is a high carbon variant of 304 stainless steel, which is an austenitic stainless steel. It has a higher carbon content than 304L, which gives it improved strength and high temperature properties, making it more suitable for high temperature applications such as furnace and heat exchanger parts.

It is also known as "high carbon" or "H" grade stainless steel. It has a minimum carbon content of 0.04% which gives it a higher tensile strength and yield strength compared to 304L. The high carbon content also results in a higher hardness and better machinability compared to 304L.

304H also maintains the excellent corrosion resistance of 304 stainless steel. It is resistant to corrosion in a wide range of environments, including neutral and acidic environments. It is also resistant to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride-containing environments.

It has a good formability and weldability, which makes it suitable for various applications such as furnace and heat exchanger parts, high-temperature chemical processing equipment, and pressure vessels. It also used in the oil and gas, chemical, petrochemical, and power generation industries.

It is commonly used at temperatures above 550°C, and it can withstand temperatures up to 870°C for short periods of time. However, prolonged exposure to high temperatures can result in reduced corrosion resistance, so it is important to carefully consider the specific conditions of the application before selecting 304H stainless steel.

Chemical Composition of 304H / 1.4948

The chemical composition of 304H stainless steel includes:
Carbon: 0.04-0.10%
Manganese: 2.00% max
Phosphorus: 0.045% max
Sulfur: 0.03% max
Silicon: 1.00% max
Chromium: 18.0-20.0%
Nickel: 8.0-10.5%
Nitrogen: 0.10-0.16%

304H is an austenitic stainless steel that contains at least 18% chromium, 8% nickel, and a maximum of 0.10% carbon.

The addition of carbon gives it increased strength and high-temperature properties, while chromium and nickel give it excellent corrosion resistance. Other elements such as manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, and nitrogen may be present in smaller amounts to improve specific properties or to meet the requirements of different standards or specifications.

Please note that the specific chemical composition of 304H stainless steel can vary depending on the manufacturing process and the specific conditions under which the material is produced and used.

The mechanical properties of 304H stainless steel can vary depending on the specific conditions under which the material is produced and used. However, in general, the mechanical properties of 304H stainless steel include:

Tensile strength: 515-860 MPa (74,000-125,000 psi)
Yield strength: 205-515 MPa (29,700-74,000 psi)
Elongation: 40-50%
Hardness (Brinell): 217-269
Modulus of Elasticity: 193 GPa (28 x 106 psi)
Poisson's Ratio: 0.29

Tensile strength refers to the amount of stress a material can withstand before breaking or failing, yield strength is the stress at which a material begins to deform permanently, and elongation is the measure of a material's ability to stretch without breaking. Hardness is a measure of a material's resistance to indentation, and modulus of elasticity is a measure of a material's ability to return to its original shape after being deformed. Poisson's Ratio is the ratio of transverse strain to longitudinal strain.

Please note that these values are based on averages and can vary depending on the specific conditions under which the material is produced and used.

Physical & Mechanical Properties of 304H / 1.4948

Variants of 304

There are several variants of stainless steel 304, some of the most common include:

304L: This variant of 304 stainless steel has a lower carbon content, making it less susceptible to intergranular corrosion. It is also known as "low carbon" or "L" grade stainless steel.
304H: This variant of 304 stainless steel has a higher carbon content, making it more suitable for high-temperature applications. It is also known as "high carbon" or "H" grade stainless steel.
304N: This variant of 304 stainless steel has higher nitrogen content which improves its strength and toughness.
304LN: This variant of 304L stainless steel has higher nitrogen content which improves its strength and toughness.
304Cu: This variant of 304 stainless steel contains copper, which improves its corrosion resistance.
304F: This variant of 304 stainless steel contains sulfur, which improves its machinability.

All of these variants maintain the excellent corrosion resistance and formability of 304 stainless steel while also offering additional properties that make them well-suited for specific applications.