What 1.4404 is, and why the “L” matters
1.4404 is the low-carbon version of 1.4401 (X5CrNiMo17-12-2 / AISI 316). Everything else about the two grades is close to identical, with the same 17 % chromium, 12 % nickel, 2 % molybdenum backbone, but 1.4401 permits up to 0.07 % carbon while 1.4404 permits no more than 0.030 %. That single change is the whole point of the grade.
When an austenitic stainless steel is held between roughly 450 °C and 850 °C, carbon diffuses to the grain boundaries and combines with chromium to form chromium carbides. The region immediately beside each carbide is left short of chromium and loses its passive film, so the boundaries corrode preferentially. That is intergranular attack, also called weld decay when it happens in the heat-affected zone of a weld. Hold the carbon below 0.030 % and there is not enough of it to form a continuous carbide network in the time a weld pass spends in that range. 1.4404 therefore arrives at site weldable without a post-weld solution anneal, which is why it dominates fabricated chemical plant, pharmaceutical skids and pipework.
The molybdenum does a different job. It stabilises the passive film against chloride ions, raising resistance to the pitting and crevice corrosion that defeat plain 1.4301/1.4307 (304/304L). The conventional index is the pitting resistance equivalent number, PREN = %Cr + 3.3 × %Mo + 16 × %N; across the EN composition window 1.4404 lands at roughly 23 to 28. That is a genuine step up from 304L but well short of duplex or 6 % Mo grades. Section 08 shows where the line falls.
What 1.4404 is not. It is not hardenable by heat treatment: strength comes from the alloy and from cold work, never from quenching. It is not seawater resistant. It is not a high-temperature grade: because the low carbon costs creep strength, most pressure codes prefer 1.4401 (316) or 1.4571 (316Ti) above about 425 °C for sustained load, even though 1.4404 is oxidation-resistant in air well beyond that.
Designations and cross-references
The same steel is ordered under a dozen names. Any of the following will be understood on an enquiry to Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal, and the resulting certificate can carry more than one of them.
| System | Designation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EN / Werkstoff number | 1.4404 | The primary European reference used throughout this page |
| EN chemical name | X2CrNiMo17-12-2 | Per EN 10088-1 |
| AISI / SAE | 316L | Widest colloquial name |
| UNS | S31603 | See our UNS S31603 page |
| ASTM / ASME forging grade | A182 F316L · SA-182 F316L | Flanges, fittings, valves and parts. See A182-F316L |
| ASTM austenitic forgings | A965 F316L | Forgings for pressure and high-temperature parts |
| JIS (Japan) | SUS 316L | – |
| GB/T (China) | 022Cr17Ni12Mo2 (formerly 00Cr17Ni14Mo2) | – |
| BS (UK, withdrawn) | 316S11 | Superseded by EN |
| AFNOR (France, withdrawn) | Z3 CND 17-11-02 | Superseded by EN |
| DIN (withdrawn) | X2 CrNiMo 17 13 2 | Superseded by EN 10088 |
Cross-references are for guidance. They are not interchangeable in a contract: order against a named specification and revision, because the chemistry and testing requirements of EN 10088-3 and ASTM A182 F316L are not identical (see § 03).
Chemical composition
The two specifications most often quoted for 1.4404 forgings do not set the same limits. The differences are small but real, and they matter when a single forging has to satisfy both.
| Element | EN 10088-3 · 1.4404 | ASTM A182 · F316L (S31603) | Why it is there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon, C | ≤ 0.030 | ≤ 0.030 | Kept low to prevent chromium-carbide precipitation |
| Silicon, Si | ≤ 1.00 | ≤ 1.00 | Deoxidiser from the melt |
| Manganese, Mn | ≤ 2.00 | ≤ 2.00 | Austenite stabiliser, sulphur control |
| Phosphorus, P | ≤ 0.045 | ≤ 0.045 | Residual; embrittling |
| Sulphur, S | ≤ 0.030 a | ≤ 0.030 | Residual; inclusions initiate pits |
| Chromium, Cr | 16.5–18.5 | 16.0–18.0 | Forms the passive film |
| Nickel, Ni | 10.0–13.0 | 10.0–15.0 | Stabilises austenite; toughness |
| Molybdenum, Mo | 2.00–2.50 | 2.00–3.00 | Pitting and crevice resistance in chlorides |
| Nitrogen, N | ≤ 0.11 | ≤ 0.10 | Strength and pitting resistance |
| Iron, Fe | Balance | – | |
a EN 10088-1 and EN 10088-2 (flat products) restrict sulphur to 0.015 % max; EN 10088-3 relaxes it to 0.030 % for bars and semi-finished products. Where a flat-product limit is contractually required on a forging, state it on the enquiry.
Dual certification, EN + ASTM. The overlapping window is Cr 16.5–18.0 %, Mo 2.00–2.50 %, Ni 10.0–13.0 %. Because Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal melts the steel rather than buying billet, the heat can be aimed at that window from the outset instead of being accepted as delivered, and one forging can be released against EN 10250-4 and ASTM A182 F316L together.
Mechanical properties
1.4404 is supplied in the solution-annealed condition, designation +AT. Values below are the specified minima on a test piece representative of the forging; actual results are recorded on the certificate.
EN 10088-3, solution annealed, room temperature
| Property | Longitudinal | Transverse | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 % proof strength, Rp0.2 | ≥ 200 MPa | ≥ 200 MPa | Diameter / thickness ≤ 250 mm |
| 1.0 % proof strength, Rp1.0 | ≥ 235 MPa | ≥ 235 MPa | Diameter / thickness ≤ 250 mm |
| Tensile strength, Rm | 500–700 MPa | 500–700 MPa | Diameter / thickness ≤ 250 mm |
| Elongation after fracture, A | ≥ 40 % | ≥ 30 % | 5.65 √S0 gauge length |
| Impact energy, KV | ≥ 100 J | ≥ 60 J | Charpy V-notch, +20 °C |
| Hardness | ≤ 215 HB | ≤ 215 HB | Brinell, annealed |
ASTM A182 grade F316L
| Property | Requirement | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength, min | 485 MPa (70 ksi) | 450 MPa (65 ksi) for sections over 130 mm (5 in.) thick |
| Yield strength, min | 170 MPa (25 ksi) | 0.2 % offset |
| Elongation in 50 mm, min | 30 % | Or 4D |
| Reduction of area, min | 50 % | – |
EN 10088-3 states requirements up to 250 mm. For heavier sections, and for forgings generally, properties are agreed against EN 10250-4 or EN 10222-5 and tested on a test piece representative of the forging. The EN and ASTM figures are not in conflict: EN sets the tighter floor on proof strength and elongation, ASTM the tighter floor on tensile strength, and ASTM adds a reduction-of-area requirement. Material aimed at both is tested against both.
Cryogenic service. 1.4404 stays austenitic and tough to −196 °C, so it is routinely used for LNG and cryogenic process equipment. Charpy testing is carried out in-house down to −60 °C; below that, impact testing is placed with an accredited third-party laboratory and the report issued alongside the mill certificate. Declare the test temperature at enquiry stage.
Physical properties
| Property | Value | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 8.0 kg/dm³ | 20 °C |
| Modulus of elasticity | 200 GPa | 20 °C (186 GPa at 200 °C, 172 GPa at 400 °C) |
| Thermal conductivity | 15 W/(m·K) | 20 °C |
| Specific heat capacity | 500 J/(kg·K) | 20 °C |
| Electrical resistivity | 0.75 Ω·mm²/m | 20 °C |
| Mean coefficient of thermal expansion | 16.0 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ | 20–100 °C (16.5 for 20–200 °C, 17.0 for 20–300 °C) |
| Magnetisability | Non-magnetic | Solution annealed; cold work raises permeability |
Thermal conductivity roughly a third that of carbon steel and expansion roughly 50 % higher are the two numbers that govern shop practice: 1.4404 must be heated slowly and allowed for generously on machining allowances and weld distortion.
Melting, forging and heat treatment
Melting
Getting carbon below 0.030 % while holding chromium in the bath is the metallurgical problem this grade poses, and it is why vacuum oxygen decarburisation is the decisive piece of equipment. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal runs a 25 t electric arc furnace, 25 t and 50 t ladle furnaces and 30 t and 60 t VOD units, with 2 t, 8 t and 25 t medium-frequency induction furnaces for smaller heats. Maximum heat size is 60 tonnes. Where a cleanliness, segregation or non-metallic inclusion requirement is specified, the 3 t and 6 t protective-atmosphere electroslag furnaces provide a remelting step.
Forging and ring rolling
1.4404 has a narrower hot-working window than carbon steel and work-hardens quickly, so heating is slow and uniform and the schedule is planned to finish before the piece drops out of range.
| Operation | Temperature | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Preheat and soak | to 1 150–1 180 °C | Slow, uniform. Poor thermal conductivity makes rapid heating a cracking risk |
| Forging, start | 1 150–1 180 °C | 6,300 t, 4,000 t and 2,000 t presses; 5 t to 750 kg hammers for drawing out |
| Forging, finish | not below ≈ 900 °C | Reheat rather than push the last reductions cold |
| Ring rolling | within the same range | Radial-axial mills: 6 m (OD to 6,000 mm), 3 m, 1 m |
| Solution annealing | 1 040–1 120 °C | EN practice starts at 1 020 °C; ASTM A182 requires 1 040 °C minimum. Hold, then cool fast |
| Cooling | through 850 → 450 °C fast | Water quench; forced air acceptable on light sections |
| Stress relief (optional) | 200–400 °C, air cool | Avoid dwelling in the 450–850 °C sensitising range |
| Hardening | not applicable | Not hardenable by heat treatment; strengthened only by cold work |
The commercial reason this matters. A forging that was never properly solution annealed, or that was allowed to cool slowly through 850–450 °C, can pass a tensile test and still fail an ASTM A262 Practice E intergranular corrosion test on site. Fourteen heat-treatment furnaces, including two 15 m well-type furnaces that let long shafts be quenched vertically without distortion, mean the anneal is run to the charts on this site rather than subcontracted, and the charts go out with the certificate.
Corrosion behaviour and its limits
Where 1.4404 performs
- As-welded fabrication. Resistant to intergranular corrosion in the as-welded condition; no post-weld solution anneal normally required.
- Moderate chlorides. Markedly better than 1.4301/1.4307 in brackish water, chlorinated potable water and many process streams.
- Organic and mineral acids at moderate strength. Sulphuric at low concentration and low temperature, phosphoric, acetic, formic. Always check the specific concentration and temperature against a corrosion chart.
- Food, dairy, pharmaceutical. Clean, passivatable, polishable surface; the default grade where 1.4435 is not demanded.
- Cryogenic. Fully austenitic and tough to −196 °C.
Where it does not
| Condition | Problem | Usual upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Seawater, continuous immersion | Pitting and crevice corrosion; PREN too low | 1.4462, 254 SMO, 904L, AL-6XN |
| Chlorides above ≈ 60 °C under tensile stress | Chloride stress-corrosion cracking | Duplex A182 F51 / F53, or a nickel alloy |
| Sour service, H₂S | NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156 limits on austenitics | Duplex, Incoloy 825, Inconel 625 |
| Sustained load above ≈ 425 °C | Low creep strength of the L grade | 1.4401 (316), 1.4571 (316Ti), 316H |
| Hot concentrated sulphuric, hydrochloric | General attack | Hastelloy C-276, Alloy 20 |
| Low magnetic permeability required | Residual delta ferrite and strain-induced martensite | 1.4435, or Nitronic 50 / Nitronic 60 |
Corrosion selection depends on concentration, temperature, flow, aeration and crevice geometry together. Send the service conditions with the enquiry and the grade can be checked before, not after, the forging is made.
1.4404 against the grades it competes with
| Grade | Common name | C max % | Cr % | Mo % | Ni % | PREN | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4307 | 304L | 0.030 | 17.5–19.5 | – | 8.0–10.5 | ≈ 18–21 | No chlorides, lowest cost |
| 1.4401 | 316 | 0.07 | 16.5–18.5 | 2.0–2.5 | 10.0–13.0 | ≈ 23–28 | Unwelded parts; better creep strength |
| 1.4404 | 316L | 0.030 | 16.5–18.5 | 2.0–2.5 | 10.0–13.0 | ≈ 23–28 | Welded fabrication in moderate chlorides; the usual first choice |
| 1.4435 | 316L high-alloy | 0.030 | 17.0–19.0 | 2.5–3.0 | 12.5–15.0 | ≈ 25–31 | Low delta ferrite; pharma and BPE surfaces |
| 1.4571 | 316Ti | 0.08 | 16.5–18.5 | 2.0–2.5 | 10.5–13.5 | ≈ 23–27 | Titanium-stabilised for elevated temperature |
| 1.4462 | 2205 duplex | 0.030 | 21.0–23.0 | 2.5–3.5 | 4.5–6.5 | ≈ 31–38 | Double the strength, chloride SCC resistance |
| 1.4547 | 254 SMO | 0.020 | 19.5–20.5 | 6.0–7.0 | 17.5–18.5 | ≈ 42–48 | Seawater and severe chloride service |
PREN ranges are calculated across each grade’s full EN composition window, so they are wider than the single typical values plotted in § 01. All seven grades are forged at Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal. Where a project is on the boundary, sending the service conditions rather than a grade name usually gets a better answer.
What we forge in 1.4404
Every item is forged from a single piece of steel melted on site, with no welding, no casting and no purchased billet of unknown origin.
Seamless rolled rings
Ring-rolled from a punched preform on radial-axial mills, rectangular or contoured section, OD 50 mm to 6,000 mm.
bearing races · slewing rings · gear blanks
Forged flanges
Weld neck, blind, slip-on, socket weld, lap joint, orifice and long weld neck to ASME B16.5, B16.47 and API 6A.
ASTM A182 F316L · MSS SP-44
Forged shafts
Pump and agitator shafts, stepped shafts, spindles and eccentric shafts, turned up to 14,000 mm between centres.
rotors · tie rods · stems
Forged bars & blocks
Round, flat and square bars and blocks, the feedstock route for machined valve bodies and manifolds.
billets · slabs · blanks
Discs & tube sheets
Solid forged discs, tube sheets and covers for heat exchangers and pressure vessels, supplied proof-machined for volumetric inspection.
covers · hubs · blanks
Valve & wellhead parts
Bodies, bonnets, stems, seat rings, spools, nozzles and manifolds for chemical, subsea and process service.
API 6A · ball, gate, globe, check
Cylinders, sleeves & hollows
Hollow forged cylinders, sleeves, bushings and heavy-wall sections bored from solid forged blanks.
bored to Ø1,600 × 10,000 mm
Size envelope
| Product | Limit | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Seamless rolled rings | OD up to 6,000 mm | 6 m radial-axial ring mill |
| Minimum ring size | from OD 50 mm | Upset-and-punch route below ring-mill range |
| Forged shafts | up to 14,000 mm turned length | C61160 lathe; 15 m well furnace for vertical quench |
| Discs, tube sheets, blocks | up to Ø5,000 mm machined | Ø5,000 mm vertical turning lathe |
| Bored cylinders & hollow shafts | up to Ø1,600 × 10,000 mm | CNC deep-hole drilling machine |
| Single-piece weight | up to 30,000 kg | 60 t heat size; 6,300 t press |
| Minimum order | 10 kg, no minimum piece count | Weight-based, not quantity-based |
Delivery condition can be as-forged with machining allowance, proof-machined for ultrasonic testing, or finish-machined to drawing.
Testing, NDT and certification
The ultrasonic standard for 1.4404 is EN 10228-4 or ASTM A745, not EN 10228-3 or ASTM A388. Parts 3 and A388 are written for ferritic and martensitic forgings. Austenitic stainless steel has a coarse, anisotropic grain structure that scatters and attenuates the beam, so the austenitic practices call for lower test frequencies, different calibration blocks and, on heavy sections, angle-beam technique. Specifications that carry A388 over from a carbon-steel template are a common source of dispute at inspection; flag it at enquiry and it can be settled before the forging is made.
| Discipline | Method / equipment | Standard | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical analysis | Optical emission spectrometer SPECTROTEST TXC25 | ASTM E1086 (austenitic stainless) | In house, at the furnace |
| Carbon & sulphur | Infrared analyser HIR-9440D | ASTM E1019 | In house |
| Alloy verification (PMI) | Handheld analyser X-Mwt3000TX | Positive material identification | In house |
| Tensile | WE-600B 600 kN · WDW-300 | ASTM A370 · ISO 6892 | In house |
| Impact | JBN-300 pendulum with DWC-60 bath | ASTM A370, to −60 °C | In house; below −60 °C third party |
| Hardness | Leeb TH140, converted | ASTM A956 / E140 | In house. Where ≤ 215 HB is a contract requirement, bench Brinell is placed with a third-party laboratory |
| Ultrasonic | PXUT-3300 · USM35XS · CTS-22 | EN 10228-4 · ASTM A745 | In house, proof-machined condition |
| Surface examination | Liquid penetrant | ASTM E165 | In house. Magnetic particle inspection is not valid on non-magnetic 1.4404, so PT is used instead |
| Intergranular corrosion | Strauss / Huey / oxalic etch | ASTM A262 Practice A, C, E · EN ISO 3651-2 | Accredited third-party laboratory |
| Pitting resistance | Ferric chloride | ASTM G48 | Accredited third-party laboratory |
| Grain size & microstructure | XJP-6A microscope, mounting, polishing | ASTM E112 | In house |
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Classification society approvals | CCS · BV · DNV · LR · NK |
| Standard certification | EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate |
| Witnessed certification | EN 10204 3.2, witnessed by BV, DNV, LR, SGS, TÜV or the customer's own inspector, on request |
| Traceability | Melt number through forging, heat treatment and machining to shipment. The chain begins at the furnace, not at a purchased billet |
| Supporting records | Heat-treatment charts, NDT reports, dimensional reports, PMI records |
Request a quotation for 1.4404 forgings
Quotations are prepared from a drawing or a written specification. Sending the six items below in the first email removes a round trip and usually gets a price back within two working days.
| # | Item | Example for a 1.4404 part |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grade and specification | 1.4404 to EN 10250-4, dual certified ASTM A182 F316L |
| 2 | Dimensions, or a drawing (PDF, DWG, DXF, STEP) | OD 1,200 × ID 900 × H 260 mm rolled ring |
| 3 | Quantity and expected repeat volume | 12 pcs, about 4 × per year |
| 4 | Delivery condition | Proof-machined for UT, 3 mm allowance on all faces |
| 5 | Heat treatment and testing | Solution annealed 1 060 °C water quench; UT to EN 10228-4 quality class 3; ASTM A262 Practice E |
| 6 | Certification and destination port | EN 10204 3.2 witnessed by DNV · Rotterdam |
- Company
- Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd.
- Plant address
- No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China
- Telephone / WhatsApp / WeChat
- +86 189 2135 9659
- Business hours
- Monday–Saturday, 08:00–17:30 China Standard Time (UTC+8)
- Getting here
- Wuxi Shuofang International Airport 30 km · Shanghai airports 160 km · export via Zhangjiagang and Shanghai
Customer audits, pre-shipment inspections and third-party witness testing are welcome. Please arrange visits by email in advance so an English-speaking engineer is available.
Frequently asked questions about 1.4404
What is 1.4404 stainless steel?
1.4404, EN name X2CrNiMo17-12-2, is a low-carbon molybdenum-bearing austenitic stainless steel containing 16.5–18.5 % chromium, 10.0–13.0 % nickel and 2.00–2.50 % molybdenum, with carbon held at or below 0.030 %. The molybdenum improves resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride-bearing media, and the low carbon prevents chromium-carbide precipitation during welding, so the grade resists intergranular corrosion in the as-welded condition.
It is not hardenable by heat treatment and is supplied solution annealed. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. forges it as rings, flanges, shafts, bars, discs, tube sheets and valve parts.
Is 1.4404 the same as 316L?
For most purposes yes: 1.4404 is the European Werkstoff number for the grade the American system calls AISI 316L / UNS S31603, and forgings are commonly ordered to ASTM A182 grade F316L.
The chemistry limits differ slightly. EN 10088-3 sets chromium at 16.5–18.5 % and molybdenum at 2.00–2.50 %, while ASTM A182 F316L allows 16.0–18.0 % chromium, 2.00–3.00 % molybdenum and 10.0–15.0 % nickel. Where both specifications must be met at once, Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal aims the melt at the overlapping window and states the dual certification on the EN 10204 certificate.
What is the difference between 1.4404 and 1.4401?
Carbon. 1.4401 (X5CrNiMo17-12-2, AISI 316) allows up to 0.07 % carbon; 1.4404 allows a maximum of 0.030 %. The chromium, nickel and molybdenum ranges are the same, so corrosion resistance in the annealed condition is comparable and the PREN of both is roughly 23–28.
The difference shows up after welding: 1.4401 can precipitate chromium carbides in the heat-affected zone and become sensitised to intergranular attack, while 1.4404 does not. In exchange, 1.4401 has better creep behaviour at elevated temperature and, under ASTM, higher specified strength (F316 515 / 205 MPa against F316L 485 / 170 MPa); under EN 10088-3 the two grades share the same minima.
What is the difference between 1.4404 and 1.4435?
1.4435 (X2CrNiMo18-14-3) is the richer version of the same low-carbon concept: 17.0–19.0 % chromium, 12.5–15.0 % nickel and 2.50–3.00 % molybdenum. The higher nickel suppresses delta ferrite, which is why 1.4435 is specified for pharmaceutical and bioprocessing equipment where a low ferrite number and a polishable, crevice-free surface are required, and why its PREN runs higher.
For general chemical, marine and oil-and-gas work, 1.4404 is the normal and lower-cost choice.
At what temperature is 1.4404 forged?
1.4404 is heated slowly and uniformly to 1,150–1,180 °C and forged down to a finishing temperature of not less than about 900 °C. Austenitic stainless steel conducts heat poorly and work-hardens quickly, so heating must be unhurried and reductions must stop before the steel falls out of the hot-working range.
Forging is always followed by solution annealing at 1,040–1,120 °C and rapid cooling. The as-forged condition is not a delivery condition for this grade.
Which standards apply to 1.4404 open-die forgings?
EN 10250-4 covers open-die steel forgings in stainless steel for general engineering purposes and EN 10222-5 covers stainless steel forgings for pressure purposes. EN 10088-3 covers bars and semi-finished products and is often quoted for forging stock rather than for the forging itself.
On the ASTM side, A182 grade F316L covers forged flanges, fittings, valves and parts for high-temperature service, and A965 grade F316L covers austenitic forgings for pressure and high-temperature parts. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal supplies 1.4404 forgings to any of these, and to dual EN and ASTM certification.
Which ultrasonic testing standard applies to 1.4404 forgings?
EN 10228-4 and ASTM A745. EN 10228-3 and ASTM A388, which are quoted for carbon and alloy steel forgings, are written for ferritic and martensitic material and are not the correct references for austenitic grades.
Austenitic stainless steel has a coarse, anisotropic grain structure that scatters and attenuates the beam, so the dedicated austenitic practices call for lower test frequencies, different calibration and, for heavy sections, angle-beam techniques. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal examines 1.4404 forgings to EN 10228-4 or ASTM A745 in the solution-annealed, proof-machined condition. Magnetic particle inspection does not work on this grade, so liquid penetrant to ASTM E165 is used for surface examination instead.
Is 1.4404 magnetic?
In the solution-annealed condition it is essentially non-magnetic, with a relative permeability close to 1.0. Two things can make a 1.4404 forging respond to a magnet: a small amount of residual delta ferrite from the melt chemistry, and strain-induced martensite produced by cold work such as machining or straightening.
If a permeability limit is a design requirement, state it on the enquiry so the chemistry can be balanced and, where necessary, 1.4435 substituted.
Is 1.4404 suitable for seawater?
No, not for continuous seawater immersion. With a PREN of roughly 23–28, 1.4404 is vulnerable to pitting and crevice corrosion in warm, stagnant, chloride-rich water, and to chloride stress-corrosion cracking above about 60 °C.
For seawater and other high-chloride service the usual upgrades are 1.4462 (2205 duplex), 1.4410 (2507 super duplex), 904L, or the 6 % molybdenum grades such as 1.4547 (254 SMO) and AL-6XN, all of which Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal also forges.
What is the largest 1.4404 forging you can supply?
Seamless rings roll to 6,000 mm outside diameter on the 6 m radial-axial mill, and the heaviest single forging is 30 tonnes, worked on 6,300 t, 4,000 t and 2,000 t hydraulic presses from heats of up to 60 tonnes.
Downstream operations set the practical limits: heat-treatment furnaces take work up to 8,000 × 2,000 × 2,000 mm, two 15 m well-type furnaces allow long shafts to be quenched vertically, vertical lathes machine to Ø5,000 mm swing and the deep-hole drilling machine bores Ø1,600 × 10,000 mm.
What is the minimum order quantity and lead time?
The minimum order is 10 kg with no minimum piece count, so a single small ring and a one-off large disc are both quotable. Normal lead time is 20 to 60 days from order confirmation.
1.4404 sits at the lower end of that range because it is melted on the electric arc furnace, ladle furnace and VOD route without an intermediate remelting step. Witnessed EN 10204 3.2 inspection or third-party corrosion testing should be declared at enquiry stage so it is scheduled into the quoted date rather than added to it.
Does 1.4404 need post-weld heat treatment?
Normally no. The low carbon content is what buys the grade its resistance to intergranular corrosion in the as-welded condition, which is the main reason to choose 1.4404 over 1.4401. A post-weld solution anneal is only called for on heavily welded, thick-section or highly restrained fabrications, or where a specification requires it.
Where stress relief is wanted it is done at 200–400 °C and air cooled. Holding an austenitic grade in the 450–850 °C range should be avoided. Matching filler is typically ER316L / E316L-16.
Sources, revision and citation
The property values on this page are the requirements of the published standards named against each table, not measured results for a particular heat. Actual values for a supplied forging are recorded on its EN 10204 certificate.
- EN 10088-1 / EN 10088-3: designation, chemical composition and mechanical properties of 1.4404 (X2CrNiMo17-12-2).
- EN 10250-4: open-die steel forgings for general engineering purposes, stainless steels.
- EN 10222-5: steel forgings for pressure purposes, martensitic, austenitic and austenitic-ferritic stainless steels.
- ASTM A182/A182M: forged or rolled alloy and stainless steel pipe flanges, forged fittings, and valves and parts for high-temperature service, grade F316L.
- EN 10228-4 · ASTM A745/A745M: ultrasonic testing of austenitic and austenitic-ferritic stainless steel forgings.
- ASTM A262 · EN ISO 3651-2: intergranular corrosion test practices.
- ASTM A965/A965M: austenitic steel forgings for pressure and high-temperature parts, grade F316L.
- EN 10204: types of inspection document.
Page revision: 2026-09-22 · reviewed by the technical sales and quality department of Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd.
Reference for this page:
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. (2026). “1.4404 (X2CrNiMo17-12-2 / 316L) Open-Die Forgings and Seamless Rolled Rings.” Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China. https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/1.4404.html