UGI 4404FGX3 Drawn Bar – Premium 316L Molybdenum Austenitic Stainless Steel

UGI 4404FGX3 has very good corrosion resistance, as is the case with the entire 316 family; it can be used:

UGI 4404FGX3 withstands intergranular corrosion well, even after welding, and passes standard tests:

and, on request, specific tests.

Optimum corrosion resistance is obtained where a surface is free from all traces of machining oil or foreign particles (of iron for example).

UGI 4404FGX3 is pickled and decontaminated in the same way as 1.4404 grade steel (316L).

Reminder: the corrosion resistance of a stainless steel depends on many factors related to the composition of the corrosive atmosphere (chloride concentration, presence or absence of oxidizing agents, temperature, pH, agitation or no agitation, and so on), as well as to the preparation of the material (surfaces free from metal particles, surface finish such as hardening, polishing, and so on). Experimental precautionary measures should also be taken for certain tests, such as the salt spray test (ISO 9227): for example marking labels that might cause corrosion run-outs and reduce the test resistance time should not be used on the sample.

With a sulphur percentage of approximately 0.015% and a controlled sulphide inclusion population, UGI 4404FGX3 offers good machining performance, but without achieving the exceptional machinability levels of UGIMA® 4404HM.

Annealing

Heat treatment of UGI 4404FGX3 consists in quenching the metal in water or air after keeping it for a long time at a high temperature of between 1000 and 1100°C. This heat treatment which is known as annealing removes all traces of work-hardening and prevents chromium carbide precipitation, whilst giving the steel its lowest level of mechanical properties (Rm between 500 and 650 MPa) and good corrosion resistance.

Forging

There are no particular problems associated with forging UGI 4404FGX3. Heating without any special precautions up to 1150-1200°C.

Forging between 1200°C and 950°C (the best behaviour being obtained between 1100 and 1200°C).

Air or water cooling, if no deformation is feared (priority will be given to WATER cooling for large charges; avoid cooling stacked forgings in air)

Available products:

Other: contact also the supplier

There are no particular difficulties with welding UGI 4404FGX3 by electric arc processes (MIG, TIG, coated electrodes, plasma, submerged arc, etc.), resistance welding, friction welding, electron beam welding, etc.

In addition, thanks to an analytical balance allowing primary ferritic solidification under standard arc welding conditions, the risk of thermal cracking inherent in austenitic stainless steels is very low. Only LASER welding can, under certain conditions, cause a phenomenon of thermal cracking of heat-affected zones (HAZ).

If a filler metal is used, the following filler grades are recommended: E316L (coated electrodes), ER316L (TIG), ER316LSi (MIG). No heat treatment is necessary after welding. However, if a guaranteed non-magnetic property is required when welding UGI 4404FGX3 without the use of filler material, ferrite regression heat treatment in the HAZ could be advantageous.