Corrosion Resistance of 17-4 PH Martensitic Stainless Steel

Stainless Stee17-4 is the most common grade of martensitic precipitation hardenable (PH) alloys. As for its corrosion resistance, 17-4 PH stainless steel withstands corrosive attack better than any of the standard hardenable (martensitic) stainless steels and is comparable to Type 304 in most media. The alloy exposed to seacoast atmosphere will gradually develop overall light rusting and pitting in all heat-treated conditions. In common with other stainless steels, 17-4 martensitic stainless steel material is subject to crevice attack if exposed to stagnant seawater for any length of time.

Characteristics:

17-4 PH martensitic stainless steel provides an outstanding combination of high strength, good mechanical properties at temperatures up to 600°F (316°C), and short-duration, low-temperature heat treatments that minimize warpage and scaling. Its good corrosion resistance, formability and weldability make it ideal for a variety of applications in aerospace, petrochemical, and other structural applications. In the annealed condition 17-4 maintains high mechanical properties making some forming operations difficult. 17-4 stainless steel material is typically supplied in Condition A, and can be heat treated at a variety of temperatures and times to achieve a wide range of properties.

Physical Properties:

Melting Point: 2560 - 2625°F (1404 – 1440°C)

Density: 0.282 lbs/in3 / 7.8 g/cm3

Modulus of Elasticity in Tension: 28.5 X 106 psi / 197 GPa