Summary
1.4449, EN chemical designation X3CrNiMo18-12-3, is a molybdenum-bearing austenitic chromium-nickel stainless steel listed in EN 10222-5, the European standard for steel forgings for pressure purposes. Composition limits are carbon 0.035 % maximum, chromium 17.0 to 18.2 %, nickel 11.5 to 12.5 %, molybdenum 2.25 to 2.75 %, nitrogen 0.08 % maximum and copper 1.00 % maximum, balance iron. The low carbon limit resists sensitisation during welding, and the molybdenum raises resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride-bearing and moderately reducing service. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd., an integrated melting works and open-die forging factory in Jiangyin, Jiangsu Province, China, melts its own 1.4449 and forges it into rings, seamless rolled rings, bars, discs, tube sheets, flanges, shafts and valve components, supplied solution annealed with an EN 10204 3.1 certificate.
- Steel typeAustenitic Cr-Ni-Mo stainless, low carbon, non-magnetic as solution annealed.
- StandardEN 10222-5, forgings for pressure purposes. The only standard covering this grade.
- PREN26.5 mid-range, 24.4 at the lean end. On the same basis 316L is 25.8.
- Note1.4449, 1.4438, 1.4439 and ASTM A182 F317 are different grades. None of the molybdenum ranges overlap.
- Forged byJiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. Contact sales@steelforgepieces.com, +86 189 2135 9659.
Grade description
1.4449 has a nominal composition of about 18 % chromium, 12 % nickel and 2.5 % molybdenum. Three features of that composition govern how Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. forges and heat treats the steel.
Carbon, 0.035 % maximum
The limit is roughly half the 0.07 % permitted in a standard 316-class grade and below the 0.08 % of AISI 317. Carbon retained in solution does not precipitate as chromium carbide at the grain boundaries during welding or slow cooling, so local chromium depletion is avoided. 1.4449 therefore tolerates welding and moderate thermal cycling without the intergranular attack found in sensitised higher-carbon grades. Room-temperature strength is reduced slightly, and the nitrogen allowance of up to 0.08 % partly compensates.
Molybdenum, 2.25 to 2.75 %
Molybdenum distinguishes this steel from a plain 18-10 austenitic grade. It stabilises the passive film against chloride ions, the mechanism behind pitting and crevice attack, and improves performance in moderately reducing acids where chromium alone passivates poorly. This addition accounts for the performance difference between 1.4449 and a 304-class grade.
Standard basis
Many stainless grades are supplied to forge shops under a plate or bar standard. 1.4449 appears in EN 10222-5, which covers steel forgings for pressure purposes, so the acceptance rules, the test-piece locations and the solution-treatment requirements were written for forged sections from the outset. This is significant for heavy cross-sections, where a test coupon taken from an unrepresentative location will not reflect the properties of the part.
Designations and equivalents
1.4449 is commonly cross-referenced to AISI 317 and UNS S31700 in equivalence tables. The cross-reference identifies the alloy family but does not indicate a chemical match. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. asks buyers to nominate one governing standard on the order.
| System | Designation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EN material number | 1.4449 | German Werkstoff number, also written W.Nr. 1.4449 |
| EN chemical name | X3CrNiMo18-12-3 | X3 denotes 0.03 % nominal carbon |
| Principal standard | EN 10222-5 | Steel forgings for pressure purposes, stainless steels |
| Related EN standards | EN 10088-3, EN 10272, EN 10250-4 | Bar, pressure-purpose bar, open-die forgings |
| US cross-reference | AISI 317, UNS S31700 | Family match, composition windows differ |
| ASTM forging grade | ASTM A182 F317 | The forging specification usually quoted alongside |
| French | Z6CND17.12 | Legacy AFNOR designation |
Grades with similar designations
Three EN numbers that differ by one digit describe three different steels. Substitution changes the molybdenum content by up to a factor of two, together with the corrosion performance and the price.
| Grade | EN name | Cr % | Ni % | Mo % | N % | Usual US name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4449 | X3CrNiMo18-12-3 | 17.0 to 18.2 | 11.5 to 12.5 | 2.25 to 2.75 | 0.08 max | 317 cross-ref |
| 1.4404 | X2CrNiMo17-12-2 | 16.5 to 18.5 | 10.0 to 13.0 | 2.00 to 2.50 | 0.11 max | 316L |
| 1.4438 | X2CrNiMo18-15-4 | 17.5 to 19.5 | 13.0 to 16.0 | 3.00 to 4.00 | 0.11 max | 317L |
| 1.4439 | X2CrNiMoN17-13-5 | 16.5 to 18.5 | 12.5 to 14.5 | 4.00 to 5.00 | 0.12 to 0.22 | 317LMN |
| A182 F317 | UNS S31700 | 18.0 to 20.0 | 11.0 to 15.0 | 3.00 to 4.00 | not specified | 317 |
Molybdenum and chromium ranges
1.4449 allows 2.25 to 2.75 % molybdenum. ASTM A182 F317, the specification it is most often equated with, requires 3.00 to 4.00 %. Those bands do not overlap at any point. The chromium ranges overlap by only 0.2 %, 17.0 to 18.2 % against 18.0 to 20.0 %. Material certified to EN 10222-5 as 1.4449 will not satisfy an order written against A182 F317, and the reverse also applies. On composition, 1.4449 is closer to an enhanced 316L than to a 317. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. melts to whichever window is nominated. The enquiry must state which standard applies. A single heat cannot be dual-certified to both.
Chemical composition of 1.4449
Composition limits in weight percent, per EN 10222-5 for X3CrNiMo18-12-3. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. melts its own steel, so the heat analysis is verified at the furnace. The certificate that ships with the part carries the measured values, not these limits.
| Element | Min % | Max % | Role in the steel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron (Fe) | Balance | Matrix | |
| Chromium (Cr) | 17.0 | 18.2 | Forms the passive film |
| Nickel (Ni) | 11.5 | 12.5 | Stabilises austenite, adds toughness |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 2.25 | 2.75 | Pitting and crevice resistance |
| Carbon (C) | - | 0.035 | Held low to resist sensitisation |
| Nitrogen (N) | - | 0.08 | Strength and pitting resistance |
| Copper (Cu) | - | 1.00 | Permitted residual |
| Silicon (Si) | - | 1.00 | Deoxidiser |
| Manganese (Mn) | - | 2.00 | Deoxidiser, austenite former |
| Phosphorus (P) | - | 0.045 | Impurity |
| Sulphur (S) | - | 0.015 | Impurity, held low for forgeability |
Published listings of 1.4449 differ slightly on the molybdenum band, some giving 2.25 to 2.75 % and others 2.30 to 2.80 %, depending on the revision of EN 10222-5 they were compiled from. The difference is small in service but significant on a certificate. State the standard and revision on the order and Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. will certify to it.
Mechanical properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1.4449 in the solution-annealed condition, alongside the minimum acceptance values of ASTM A182 F317, the forging specification most often quoted against this grade. Acceptance minima under EN 10222-5 depend on the revision and the section thickness ordered; Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. tests every heat and reports the measured values.
| Property | Symbol | Typical, 1.4449 | Minimum, A182 F317 | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | Rm | 620 | 515 (75 ksi) | MPa |
| 0.2 % proof strength | Rp0.2 | 250 | 205 (30 ksi) | MPa |
| Elongation at break | A | 48 | 30 | % |
| Reduction of area | Z | - | 50 | % |
| Modulus of elasticity | E | 200 | - | GPa |
| Brinell hardness | HB | 190 | - | HB |
The 1.4449 column holds published typical values for solution-annealed material. They are not acceptance criteria and they are not guaranteed by any standard. EN 10222-5 is the only standard covering 1.4449 and published data for the grade is limited. Treat these figures as indicative and work to the minima in the revision nominated on the order, which will be lower. Section size, forging reduction and the solution-treatment cycle all move the measured figures.
Strength characteristics
1.4449 has a low proof strength relative to its tensile strength and a high elongation, as do austenitic stainless steels generally. It cannot be hardened by heat treatment. Cold work raises strength but is impractical on heavy forged sections and reduces corrosion performance. For a design requiring proof strength well above 250 MPa in this corrosion class, a duplex grade such as 1.4462 is the usual selection. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. forges both grades.
Physical properties
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 8.0 | g/cm³ |
| Thermal conductivity | 15 | W/(m·K) |
| Specific heat capacity | 500 | J/(kg·K) |
| Melting range | 1400 to 1440 | °C |
| Electrical conductivity | 2.3 | % IACS |
| Magnetic response | Non-magnetic | solution annealed |
Density and specific heat follow the EN 10088-1 convention for molybdenum-bearing austenitic steels, which assigns 8.0 g/cm³ and 500 J/(kg·K) to this family and not the 7.9 and 470 often quoted for molybdenum-free 1.4301. Use 8.0 g/cm³ to estimate forged weight from a drawing: a 1.4449 ring of 900 mm outside diameter, 650 mm bore and 200 mm height weighs roughly 490 kg as forged, before machining allowance. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. confirms the exact forged weight against your drawing at quotation.
Corrosion resistance and PREN
The usual first-pass index for chloride pitting resistance is the pitting resistance equivalent number, PREN = %Cr + 3.3 × %Mo + 16 × %N. Applied across the 1.4449 composition window it gives 24.4 at the lean end, 26.5 in the middle and 28.6 at the rich end. The chart below compares it with the grades Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. is most often asked about. Every figure is recalculated on the same mid-range basis.
PREN 0PREN 46
Each figure is calculated from the mid-point of that grade's own composition window. Published PREN tables often mix bases, quoting a typical mill analysis for one grade and a nominal composition for another. The same two alloys can therefore appear several points apart in one table and level in another. PREN ranks alloys against each other; it does not predict whether a given part will survive a given service. Temperature, chloride concentration, pH, crevice geometry and surface finish all move the real threshold.
Comparison with 316L
On a consistent basis 1.4449 and 316L are close, 26.5 against 25.8. Tables that show a large 1.4449 advantage over 316L have mixed their calculation bases. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. states this at enquiry stage.
The difference between the two grades lies at the lean end of each composition window. 316L may be supplied at 16.5 % chromium and 2.00 % molybdenum, a PREN of 23.1. The leanest permissible 1.4449 is 17.0 % chromium and 2.25 % molybdenum, a PREN of 24.4. Mid-range heats are comparable, but the lowest permissible composition of 1.4449 is higher. On a pressure part, that lower bound is the figure a designer works to. EN 10222-5 also sets acceptance rules written for forged sections instead of rules adapted from a plate standard. Those two factors, and not the mid-range PREN, are the technical case for selecting the grade.
Service conditions
1.4449 resists atmospheric corrosion and moderately oxidising and moderately reducing conditions, and performs better than a molybdenum-free austenitic in dilute sulphuric and phosphoric acid service. In highly oxidising acids such as nitric acid, molybdenum-bearing grades are less resistant than molybdenum-free grades.
Service limits
At a PREN near 26, 1.4449 is an austenitic steel in the standard molybdenum class. In warm, concentrated chloride service, and in any crevice, its pitting threshold is far below that of duplex or super-austenitic grades. It is also, like all standard austenitics, susceptible to chloride stress corrosion cracking. Onset is generally taken as near 60 C, but that figure applies to full immersion. Where chlorides concentrate by evaporation, under insulation or at a wet and dry interface, cracking is reported well below it, and some suppliers publish a threshold nearer 50 C. State the service conditions on the enquiry where they include hot seawater, high-chloride brine, a tight crevice or an evaporative surface. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. also forges 2205, 904L, 254 SMO and A182 F44, and will advise where the lower-cost grade is unsuitable.
1.4449 forged shapes and sizes
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. produces 1.4449 by open-die forging and radial-axial ring rolling, then heat treats and machines in the same works. The limits below are set by the equipment installed on site: a 6,300 tonne hydraulic press, ring mills of 6 m, 3 m and 1 m, fourteen heat-treatment furnaces and a machine shop with a 5,000 mm vertical lathe.
| Form | Size limit | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Seamless rolled rings | OD 50 to 6,000 mm | 6 m radial-axial ring mill; small sizes upset and punched |
| Forged rings and retaining rings | To drawing | Upset-and-punch route for sections outside the mill envelope |
| Round, flat and square bars | Length to 6,000 mm | 6,300 t, 4,000 t and 2,000 t presses |
| Shafts and spindles | Turned length to 14,000 mm | C61160 horizontal lathe; 15 m well furnace for vertical quench |
| Discs, tube sheets and covers | Machined to Ø5,000 mm | Ø5,000 mm vertical turning lathe |
| Flanges | To ASME B16.5, B16.47, API 6A or drawing | Press and ring mill |
| Sleeves, bushings and hollow sections | Bored to Ø1,600 × 10,000 mm | CNC deep-hole drilling machine |
| Valve bodies, bonnets, stems, seat rings | To drawing | Near-net forged, proof or finish machined |
| Single-piece weight | 10 kg to 30,000 kg | 60 t maximum heat size; 6,300 t press |
Delivery condition: as forged, shot blasted, proof machined for volumetric inspection, or finish machined to drawing. The machining allowance depends on the delivery condition specified, so state it on the enquiry. Minimum order at Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. is 10 kg with no minimum piece count, and a single prototype ring can be quoted.
Manufacturing route
Many forging suppliers in China purchase billet. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. melts on site, so the certificate for a 1.4449 part traces back to a melt number instead of a purchased billet certificate.
- Melting and refining
The 25 t electric arc furnace melts the charge, a 25 t or 50 t ladle furnace refines it, and vacuum oxygen decarburisation in the 30 t or 60 t units brings carbon down to the 0.035 % ceiling while holding chromium in the bath. The VOD step is required to reach the carbon level specified for this grade.
- Ingot and cogging
The ingot is cogged down and cropped on the press. Electroslag remelting is added where the order requires improved cleanliness or reduced segregation in a heavy section.
- Open-die forging or ring rolling
Worked from about 1,150 to 1,200 C and finished above 950 C on a 6,300 t, 4,000 t or 2,000 t press, or rolled on the 6 m, 3 m or 1 m radial-axial ring mill. The reduction ratio is planned to close porosity through the full section.
- Solution annealing
1,050 to 1,125 C per EN 10222-5, held to section thickness, then cooled in water or a water-based medium. This is what puts the chromium carbides back into solution and restores full corrosion resistance after hot work.
- Machining
Descaling and proof machining on the vertical and horizontal lathes, or finish machining to drawing, leaving whatever allowance the order specifies.
- Non-destructive examination
Ultrasonic testing to EN 10228-3, SEP 1921 or ASTM A388 at the acceptance class on the order, with dye penetrant examination where surface indications matter.
- Testing and certification
Heat chemistry by optical emission spectrometry, tensile and hardness testing, impact testing where required, and any corrosion test specified, compiled into an EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 certificate.
- Marking, preservation and packing
Marked with heat number and part identification, then packed for sea or air freight with the certificate pack.
Heat treatment, welding and machining
Solution annealing
1.4449 is supplied solution annealed. EN 10222-5 specifies 1,050 to 1,125 C followed by cooling in water or a water-based medium, and Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. works to that range and not to the 1,020 to 1,120 C often quoted, which is the generic EN 10088-3 window for 316L-type bar and not this grade's own requirement. On a pressure-purpose forging, use of the wrong range is a nonconformity. The cooling rate is more critical than the peak temperature. The part must pass through the range of roughly 450 to 850 C quickly enough that chromium carbides do not re-form at the grain boundaries. There is no hardening heat treatment for this steel, and no ageing cycle.
Welding
Weldability is good, which is the purpose of the low carbon limit. Matching or slightly over-alloyed filler is normal practice, commonly a 316L or 317L type consumable depending on which side of the composition window the application sits. Preheat is not required. Post-weld solution annealing is not normally needed for this grade, but should be specified where the weldment will see aggressive chloride service and full corrosion performance is required across the heat-affected zone.
Hot working
Forge from about 1,150 to 1,200 C and finish above 950 C. Finishing below that temperature leaves residual stress and risks cracking in an austenitic steel of this hot strength. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. reheats between passes on heavy 1.4449 sections. Solution annealing after forging is mandatory.
Machining
1.4449 work hardens during cutting. Use rigid setups, sharp positive-rake tooling, heavy constant feed, moderate surface speed and generous coolant. A dwelling or rubbing edge hardens the surface, and the following pass must cut through that layer. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. can supply 1.4449 parts finish machined.
Testing and certification
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. holds CCS, BV, DNV, LR and NK classification society approvals and runs its own laboratory on site. The steel is melted in the same works, so the chemistry of a 1.4449 forging is verified at the furnace and is not taken from a supplier certificate.
In-house testing
| Discipline | Method | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical analysis | Optical emission spectrometry | ASTM E415 |
| Carbon and sulphur | Infrared combustion analysis | ASTM E1019 |
| Alloy verification | Handheld PMI analyser | Positive material identification |
| Tensile | 600 kN and 300 kN universal testing machines | ASTM A370, ISO 6892 |
| Impact | Pendulum impact with low-temperature bath | ASTM A370, to -60 C |
| Hardness | Leeb hardness tester | ASTM A956, converted per ASTM E140 |
| Ultrasonic | Digital flaw detectors | EN 10228-3, SEP 1921, ASTM A388 |
| Magnetic particle | Multipurpose crack detector | ASTM E709 |
| Metallography | Microscope, mounting press, polisher | ASTM E112 grain size |
Tests placed with accredited third-party laboratories
Intergranular corrosion testing to ASTM A262 or ASTM G28, pitting resistance to ASTM G48, impact testing below -60 C and bench Brinell or Rockwell hardness are placed with an accredited laboratory and the report is issued alongside the mill certificate. ASTM A262 Practice E is the test most often requested on 1.4449. State the requirement on the enquiry so that testing is scheduled before shipment.
Certificates
An EN 10204 3.1 inspection certificate is supplied as standard with every 1.4449 forging from Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd., covering heat chemistry, mechanical test results, the heat-treatment record and the NDT report. An EN 10204 3.2 certificate witnessed by BV, DNV, LR, SGS, TUV or your own inspector is available on request. Nominate the inspectorate at order stage so witness points can be scheduled.
Applications
1.4449 is selected where a 316-class grade is marginal in chloride or acid service and a duplex or super-austenitic grade exceeds the duty. The sectors that specify it to Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. most often are listed below.
- Chemical and petrochemicalPressure-vessel flanges, tube sheets, covers, nozzles, pump and valve parts in dilute sulphuric and phosphoric acid service.
- Pulp and paperDigester and liquor-tank hardware, bleach-plant components, paper machine parts exposed to chloride-bearing process water.
- Oil and gasValve bodies, bonnets, stems, seat rings, spools and manifold components for surface and topside service.
- Power generationHeat exchanger tube sheets, condenser components, casing flanges and feedwater hardware.
- Flue gas and environmentalScrubber and absorber tower internals, stack liners, thermal oxidiser components and waste treatment hardware.
- Food, pharmaceutical and biochemicalProcess vessel flanges, agitator shafts, sleeves and fittings where cleanability and moderate chloride resistance are required.
- Heat exchangers and pressure vesselsSolid forged discs, tube sheets and covers supplied proof machined for volumetric inspection.
- Forged hardwareRings, rolled rings, bars, shafts, sleeves, bushings and blanks supporting all of the above, forged to drawing by Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd.
How to order 1.4449 forgings
Include the six items below in the first email to Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. A complete enquiry is normally quoted within two working days. Minimum order is 10 kg with no minimum piece count, and normal lead time runs 20 to 60 days.
| # | Item | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grade and governing standard | 1.4449 / X3CrNiMo18-12-3 to EN 10222-5 |
| 2 | Dimensions or a drawing | OD 900 × ID 650 × H 200 mm, or PDF, DWG, DXF, STEP |
| 3 | Quantity and repeat volume | 8 pcs, about 3 times per year |
| 4 | Delivery condition | Proof machined, 6 mm allowance on all faces |
| 5 | Heat treatment and testing | Solution annealed, UT to EN 10228-3 class 3, ASTM A262 Practice E |
| 6 | Certification and destination | EN 10204 3.2 witnessed by DNV, Rotterdam |
Request a quotation
Send a drawing or a specification. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. returns price, lead time and the certification package, normally within two working days.
Frequently asked questions about 1.4449
What is 1.4449 steel?
1.4449 is the EN material number for X3CrNiMo18-12-3, a molybdenum-bearing austenitic chromium-nickel stainless steel listed in EN 10222-5, the European standard for steel forgings for pressure purposes. It contains 17.0 to 18.2 % chromium, 11.5 to 12.5 % nickel and 2.25 to 2.75 % molybdenum, with carbon held to 0.035 % maximum and nitrogen to 0.08 % maximum, balance iron. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. melts and open-die forges it into rings, bars, discs, flanges and shafts.
Is 1.4449 the same as AISI 317 or UNS S31700?
They are cross-referenced in commercial literature, but they are not the same steel. 1.4449 allows 2.25 to 2.75 % molybdenum and 17.0 to 18.2 % chromium, while ASTM A182 F317 and UNS S31700 require 3.00 to 4.00 % molybdenum and 18.0 to 20.0 % chromium. The molybdenum bands do not overlap at all and the chromium bands overlap by only 0.2 %, so material certified to one standard will not satisfy an order written against the other. On composition, 1.4449 is closer to an enhanced 316L than to a 317. Nominate one governing standard on the order and Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. will melt and certify to that window.
What is the difference between 1.4449, 1.4438 and 1.4439?
They are three different steels with EN numbers that differ by one digit. 1.4449 (X3CrNiMo18-12-3) carries 2.25 to 2.75 % molybdenum. 1.4438 (X2CrNiMo18-15-4, usually called 317L) carries 3.00 to 4.00 % molybdenum with higher nickel. 1.4439 (X2CrNiMoN17-13-5, usually called 317LMN) carries 4.00 to 5.00 % molybdenum plus 0.12 to 0.22 % nitrogen. Corrosion resistance and price rise across that sequence.
What is the PREN of 1.4449?
Calculated as PREN = %Cr + 3.3 x %Mo + 16 x %N across the composition window, 1.4449 gives 24.4 at the lean end, 26.5 in the middle and 28.6 at the rich end. Recalculated on the same mid-range basis, 316L comes out at 25.8 and 317L at 30.9, so 1.4449 is only marginally above 316L, and far below duplex 2205 at 34.5 or 904L at 36.1. Tables that show a large 1.4449 advantage over 316L have mixed a typical mill analysis for one grade with a nominal composition for the other. PREN ranks alloys against each other and does not predict survival in a specific service.
What heat treatment is applied to 1.4449 forgings?
Solution annealing at 1,050 to 1,125 C per EN 10222-5, held to section thickness and then cooled in water or a water-based medium. The purpose is to dissolve chromium carbides formed during hot work and cool quickly enough through the 450 to 850 C range that they do not re-form. Note that the 1,020 to 1,120 C range widely quoted for this grade is the generic EN 10088-3 window for 316L-type bar, not the requirement of 1.4449's own standard. 1.4449 cannot be hardened by heat treatment and receives no ageing cycle.
Can 1.4449 be welded?
Yes. The 0.035 % carbon limit is specified to resist sensitisation, so weldability is good and preheat is not required. Matching or slightly over-alloyed filler is normal practice, commonly a 316L or 317L type consumable. Post-weld solution annealing is not normally needed, but should be specified where the weldment will see aggressive chloride service and full corrosion performance is required across the heat-affected zone.
Where should 1.4449 not be used?
It is a standard-molybdenum austenitic steel, so its pitting threshold falls away in warm concentrated chloride service and in tight crevices, and like all standard austenitics it is susceptible to chloride stress corrosion cracking. Onset is generally taken as near 60 C under full immersion. Where chlorides concentrate by evaporation, under insulation or at a wet and dry interface, cracking is reported well below that temperature. It is also the weaker choice in highly oxidising acids such as nitric acid, where a molybdenum-free grade performs better. For hot seawater or high-chloride brine, Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. would recommend a duplex or super-austenitic grade instead.
Which forged shapes can be made in 1.4449?
Seamless rolled rings from 50 mm up to 6,000 mm outside diameter, forged rings, round and flat bars, shafts to 14,000 mm turned length, discs and tube sheets machined to 5,000 mm diameter, flanges, sleeves, bushings, hollow sections bored to 1,600 by 10,000 mm, and valve bodies, bonnets, stems and seat rings. Single-piece weight runs from 10 kg to 30 tonnes at Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd.
What certificates come with 1.4449 forgings?
An EN 10204 3.1 inspection certificate is standard, covering heat chemistry, mechanical test results, the heat-treatment record and the NDT report. An EN 10204 3.2 certificate witnessed by BV, DNV, LR, SGS, TUV or the customer's own inspector is available on request. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. holds CCS, BV, DNV, LR and NK classification society approvals.
What is the minimum order quantity for 1.4449 forgings?
10 kg, with no minimum piece count, because the limit is set by weight and not by quantity. Both single prototypes and series orders are quoted. Very small parts are grouped into a batch to share furnace and setup time, so quantity affects the unit price although it does not affect whether Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. can accept the job.
What is the lead time for 1.4449 forgings?
20 to 60 days from order confirmation. Standard stainless grades such as 1.4449 are at the lower end of that range because the steel is melted, refined under vacuum, forged and solution annealed without an intermediate remelting step. Third-party witnessed inspection to EN 10204 3.2 and corrosion testing placed with an outside laboratory require scheduling. State both at enquiry stage so they are included in the quoted date.
Who supplies 1.4449 forgings, and where are they made?
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd., an integrated steel melting works and open-die forging factory at No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China, operating since 1997. Enquiries go to sales@steelforgepieces.com or +86 189 2135 9659. Customer audits and third-party witness inspections are welcome by prior arrangement.
The manufacturer
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. is an integrated steel melting works and open-die forging factory in Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China, operating since 1997. The plant melts its own steel and does not purchase billet. An electric arc furnace, ladle furnaces and vacuum oxygen decarburisation handle carbon, alloy, stainless and duplex grades including 1.4449, while vacuum induction, vacuum arc and electroslag remelting cover clean and superalloy grades. Steel then moves through the presses, the ring mill, fourteen heat-treatment furnaces and the machine shop without leaving the site, so traceability runs from the melt number to the shipped part. 460 people work here, including 9 senior engineers, 32 intermediate engineers and 140 technicians. The works holds CCS, BV, DNV, LR and NK approvals and exports to North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
- Company
- Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd.
- Business
- Integrated melting works and open-die forging factory
- Established
- 1997
- Address
- No.1 Chengxiqiao Road
Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City
Jiangsu Province, China - Telephone
- +86 189 2135 9659
- Approvals
- CCS · BV · DNV · LR · NK
- Hours
- Mon to Sat, 08:00 to 17:30 China Standard Time
Citation
Please use the following form when quoting or citing this data sheet.
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. (2026). 1.4449 (X3CrNiMo18-12-3) Material Data Sheet for Open-Die Forgings. Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China. https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/1.4449.html
Data sources
Property values on this page are consolidated from the published specifications and material listings for W.Nr. 1.4449 / X3CrNiMo18-12-3, namely EN 10222-5 for steel forgings for pressure purposes, EN 10088-3 and EN 10272 for bar, EN 10250-4 for open-die forgings, ASTM A182 for the F317 forging grade, EN 10204 for certification, and EN 10228-3, SEP 1921 and ASTM A388 for ultrasonic examination. Composition limits and the solution-treatment range are taken from EN 10222-5, which is this grade's only home standard. Density and specific heat follow the EN 10088-1 convention for molybdenum-bearing austenitic steels. Room-temperature mechanical figures in the 1.4449 column are published typical values for solution-annealed material, not standard-guaranteed minima. PREN figures are calculated by Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. from the mid-point of each grade's own composition window using PREN = %Cr + 3.3 x %Mo + 16 x %N, so that every grade on this page is compared on the same basis. Where a customer nominates a specific standard and revision, that document governs over the figures shown here and Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. certifies to it.
Last technical review . This page describes material properties generally and is not a design authority. Take allowable design stresses from the applicable pressure code.