# 1.4435 (X2CrNiMo18-14-3 / UNS S31603) open-die forgings

Plain-text version of https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/1.4435.html
Published by Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd., Jiangyin, Jiangsu Province, China.
Last reviewed: 23 September 2026.

1.4435 (X2CrNiMo18-14-3, UNS S31603) is a low-carbon austenitic chromium-nickel-molybdenum
stainless steel standardised in EN 10088-3. Of the two European 316L grades it is the higher
alloyed: 12.5-15.0 % nickel and a 2.50 % molybdenum minimum, against 10.0-13.0 % and 2.00 %
for 1.4404. The added nickel keeps the structure austenitic with very little delta ferrite, and
the added molybdenum raises pitting resistance. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. melts this
grade, forges it and finishes it at one plant in Jiangyin, Jiangsu Province, China.

## Designations

| System | Designation |
| --- | --- |
| Europe, EN | X2CrNiMo18-14-3, material number 1.4435 |
| USA, UNS | S31603 |
| USA, AISI / ASTM | 316L, also written 316LMo; ASTM A182 F316L, A276, A479 |
| Germany, DIN | X2CrNiMo18-14-3 (formerly DIN 17440) |
| Japan, JIS | SUS316L |
| France, AFNOR | Z3CND18-14-03 |
| UK, BS | 316S13 |
| Sweden, SS | 2353 |
| China, GB | 022Cr17Ni14Mo2 (00Cr17Ni14Mo2) |
| Product standards | EN 10088-3, EN 10272, EN 10250-4, EN 10222-5, ASTM A182/A182M, NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156-3 |

## Key facts

| Item | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Type | Austenitic Cr-Ni-Mo stainless, low carbon |
| Carbon | 0.030 % max |
| Molybdenum | 2.50-3.00 % (EN 10088-3) |
| PREN | approximately 27 (range 25-31) |
| Delivery condition | Solution annealed (+AT) |
| Seamless rolled ring OD | 50-6,000 mm |
| Maximum single forged piece | 30,000 kg |
| Minimum order | 10 kg |
| Lead time | 20-60 days from order confirmation |
| Certification | EN 10204 3.1 standard, 3.2 witnessed on request |

## Chemical composition

European and American limits for this steel are not the same, and mixing the two up is a common
cause of rejected material. EN 10088-3 sets a narrow, nickel-rich window. ASTM A182 grade F316L,
the specification usually quoted for forged piping components, is wider. Material sitting at the
bottom of the F316L nickel and molybdenum ranges will not pass as 1.4435.

Cast analysis, mass %.

| Element | 1.4435 (EN 10088-3) | F316L / S31603 (ASTM A182) | Effect |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C | 0.030 max | 0.030 max | Low carbon prevents grain-boundary carbide precipitation, so the steel resists intergranular attack as welded |
| Si | 1.00 max | 1.00 max | Deoxidiser |
| Mn | 2.00 max | 2.00 max | Austenite stabiliser, sulphur control |
| P | 0.045 max | 0.045 max | Residual |
| S | 0.015 max (note 1) | 0.030 max | Low sulphur improves polishability and hot workability |
| Cr | 17.0-19.0 | 16.0-18.0 | Forms the passive film; the EN window sits a full point higher |
| Mo | 2.50-3.00 | 2.00-3.00 | Pitting and crevice resistance in chlorides; the EN minimum is half a point higher |
| Ni | 12.5-15.0 | 10.0-15.0 | Stabilises austenite and suppresses delta ferrite; the main difference from 1.4404 |
| N | 0.11 max | 0.10 max | Strengthens and stabilises austenite |
| Fe | Balance | Balance | |

Note 1: EN 10088-1 permits a controlled sulphur content of 0.015-0.030 % where machinability
governs. State it on the enquiry if you need it, because it is not compatible with the highest
polished surface finishes.

Pitting resistance equivalent: PREN = %Cr + 3.3 x %Mo + 16 x %N. Across the EN composition window
1.4435 falls between about 25 and 31, typically near 27. For comparison, 1.4404 sits at about 24
and 2205 duplex at about 35.

## Mechanical properties

Forgings in this grade are delivered solution annealed, and the values below are for that
condition at room temperature. The steel cannot be hardened by heat treatment; strength above
these levels comes from cold work only.

EN 10088-3, solution annealed (+AT), longitudinal, room temperature:

| Property | d 160 mm and below | d over 160 up to 250 mm |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 0.2 % proof strength Rp0.2 | 200 MPa min (29 ksi) | 200 MPa min (29 ksi) |
| 1.0 % proof strength Rp1.0 | 235 MPa min (34 ksi) | 235 MPa min (34 ksi) |
| Tensile strength Rm | 500-700 MPa (73-102 ksi) | 500-700 MPa (73-102 ksi) |
| Elongation A | 40 % min | 30 % min (transverse) |
| Reduction of area Z | 50 % min | 50 % min |
| Impact energy KV, Charpy-V | 100 J min | 60 J min (transverse) |
| Hardness | 215 HB max | 215 HB max |

ASTM minima for the same steel under its American designations:

| Property | ASTM A182 F316L (forgings) | ASTM A276 / A479 316L (bar) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tensile strength, min | 485 MPa / 70 ksi | 485 MPa / 70 ksi |
| Yield strength 0.2 %, min | 170 MPa / 25 ksi | 170 MPa / 25 ksi |
| Elongation, min | 30 % | 30 % |
| Reduction of area, min | 50 % | 40 % |
| Hardness, max | Not specified in A182 Table 2 | 217 HBW / 95 HRB |

The two sets are not interchangeable. EN 10088-3 caps tensile strength at 700 MPa and calls for a
minimum 40 % elongation and 100 J impact energy; ASTM A182 sets only lower bounds on strength and
a 30 % elongation. A test certificate reporting 485 MPa and 30 % satisfies F316L and fails 1.4435.

Behaviour at temperature: the structure stays austenitic from cryogenic temperatures up to about
450 degrees C in continuous service. There is no ductile-to-brittle transition, so the grade is
used for liquefied-gas and cryogenic parts; EN 10272 calls for 60 J minimum at -196 degrees C on
bar in this composition family. Sustained exposure above roughly 500 degrees C risks carbide and
sigma-phase precipitation, so it is not a long-term high-temperature grade.

## Physical properties

At 20 degrees C, solution-annealed condition.

| Property | Value | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Density | 8.0 kg/dm3 | 0.289 lb/in3 |
| Modulus of elasticity | 200 GPa | 29 x 10^6 psi |
| Thermal conductivity | 15 W/(m K) | About a third of carbon steel |
| Specific heat capacity | 500 J/(kg K) | |
| Electrical resistivity | 0.75 ohm mm2/m | 750 nano-ohm m |
| Relative magnetic permeability | below 1.01 | Non-magnetic in the solution-annealed condition |
| Melting range | approximately 1,400-1,450 degrees C | |

Austenitic stainless expands roughly 50 % more than carbon steel for the same temperature rise and
conducts heat about a third as well. Allow for both when machining a 1.4435 ring to close tolerance
or welding one into a carbon steel assembly.

## Comparison with neighbouring grades

| Grade | Cr % | Ni % | Mo % | PREN approx. |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1.4404 / X2CrNiMo17-12-2 / 316L | 16.5-18.5 | 10.0-13.0 | 2.00-2.50 | 24 |
| 1.4435 / X2CrNiMo18-14-3 | 17.0-19.0 | 12.5-15.0 | 2.50-3.00 | 27 |
| 1.4436 / X3CrNiMo17-13-3 | 16.5-18.5 | 10.5-13.0 | 2.50-3.00 | 26 |
| 904L / 1.4539 | 19.0-21.0 | 24.0-26.0 | 4.0-5.0 | 35 |
| 2205 duplex / 1.4462 | 21.0-23.0 | 4.5-6.5 | 2.5-3.5 | 35 |

## Forging and heat treatment

| Step | Temperature |
| --- | --- |
| Soak before forging | 1,150-1,180 degrees C, heated slowly and evenly |
| Forging range | 1,180 down to about 950 degrees C |
| Solution anneal (+AT) | 1,020-1,120 degrees C, quenched in water or air |

Heat slowly to 1,150-1,180 degrees C. Austenitic steel conducts heat poorly, and a fast ramp puts
the surface well ahead of the core. Forging runs from 1,180 degrees C down to a finish temperature
of about 950 degrees C. The grade work-hardens quickly, so finishing below that invites cracking.
Slow cooling through the 800-500 degrees C band lets carbides and intermetallic phases form at the
grain boundaries, so the piece goes from the press straight into air or water cooling.

Every forging is supplied solution annealed. EN 10088-3 gives 1,020-1,120 degrees C followed by a
water or air quench. Section thickness decides the quench medium; heavy rings and tube sheets go
into water so the core also clears the sensitisation band quickly.

Stress relief: 1.4435 is not hardenable by heat treatment, and post-weld heat treatment is not
needed to keep its resistance to intergranular corrosion. Stress relief at 450-600 degrees C is
sometimes used to control distortion, but it carries a precipitation risk. If corrosion performance
governs, re-solution anneal and quench instead.

Welding: matching consumables are ISO 14343 S 19 12 3 L / AWS A5.9 ER316L for wire and
ISO 3581 E 19 12 3 L R / AWS A5.4 E316L-17 for electrodes. Keep heat input below about 2.0 kJ/mm
and interpass temperature below 150 degrees C.

## Corrosion behaviour and delta ferrite

1.4435 resists general corrosion in natural waters, urban and marine atmospheres and in media with
moderate chloride content. Its molybdenum content gives resistance to pitting and crevice attack,
and to reducing organic and inorganic acids such as sulphuric, phosphoric, acetic and formic. It is
resistant to intergranular corrosion both as delivered and as welded, verifiable to ASTM A262
Practice E or EN ISO 3651-2. Like all austenitic stainless steels it remains susceptible to
chloride stress-corrosion cracking above roughly 60 degrees C in chloride-bearing service.

Basler Norm 2 (BN2) narrows the EN analysis limits and requires a delta-ferrite content below
0.5 %, checked through the chromium and nickel equivalents. Its publishers withdrew it in 2012, but
it remains in everyday use for pharmaceutical, high-purity water and urea plant equipment. Since
the steel is melted here, a BN2 order is aimed at the required chromium-to-nickel balance in the
ladle. State the requirement on the enquiry rather than after the heat is cast.

## What Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal forges in 1.4435

Product forms: seamless rolled rings and contoured rings, forged rings, gear ring blanks, seat
rings, flanges to ASME B16.5, B16.47 and API 6A, shafts, spindles, stems, pins, round, flat and
square bars, blocks, billets, discs, tube sheets, covers, valve and wellhead parts, hollow
cylinders, sleeves and bushings bored from solid.

Delivery conditions: as-forged with machining allowance, rough or proof-machined for volumetric
inspection, finish-machined to drawing, solution annealed as standard, pickled and passivated on
request, polished or electropolished on request.

Size envelope:

| Product | Limit | Set by |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Seamless rolled rings | OD 50-6,000 mm | 6 m, 3 m and 1 m radial-axial ring mills |
| Single-piece weight | up to 30,000 kg | 60 t maximum heat size; 6,300 t press |
| Shafts | up to 14,000 mm turned length | C61160 horizontal lathe; 15 m well furnace |
| Discs, tube sheets, blocks | up to 5,000 mm diameter machined | 5,000 mm vertical turning lathe |
| Bored cylinders, hollow shafts | up to 1,600 x 10,000 mm | CNC deep-hole drilling machine |

Melt route: holding carbon at or below 0.030 % while keeping nickel at 12.5-15.0 % and molybdenum
at 2.50-3.00 % is a refining problem rather than a forging one. The route here is electric arc
furnace, ladle refining, then vacuum oxygen decarburisation; the 30 t and 60 t VOD units take
carbon down without burning out chromium. Electroslag remelting is available where an order calls
for a remelted quality. Because the steel is melted on site, the certificate traces the part to its
melt number instead of stopping at a purchased billet.

## Testing, inspection and certification

Use EN 10228-4, not EN 10228-3. Part 3 of EN 10228 covers ferritic and martensitic forgings.
Austenitic grades such as 1.4435 fall under EN 10228-4. The American equivalent is ASTM A745/A745M
for austenitic steel forgings; ASTM A388/A388M is the general practice normally applied to ferritic
forgings. Magnetic particle inspection does not work on this grade, because austenitic steel is
non-magnetic; specify liquid penetrant examination to ASTM E165 in place of MT.

In-house: optical emission spectrometry to ASTM E415, infrared carbon and sulphur analysis to
ASTM E1019, positive material identification, tensile testing to ASTM A370 / ISO 6892 on 600 kN and
300 kN machines, Charpy V-notch impact to -60 degrees C, ultrasonic examination to EN 10228-4 /
ASTM A745, liquid penetrant examination, metallography and grain size to ASTM E112, hardness and
dimensional inspection.

Placed with accredited third-party laboratories: intergranular corrosion testing to ASTM A262
Practice E or EN ISO 3651-2, ASTM G28, pitting resistance to ASTM G48, delta-ferrite determination
for BN2 orders, magnetic permeability measurement, impact testing below -60 degrees C including
-196 degrees C, bench Brinell or Rockwell hardness.

Documentation: EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate as standard; EN 10204 3.2 witnessed by BV, DNV,
LR, SGS, TUV or the customer's own inspector on request. Classification society approvals held are
CCS, BV, DNV, LR and NK. Traceability runs from melt number through forging, heat treatment and
machining to shipment.

## Applications

Pharmaceutical and high-purity: vessel flanges, valve bodies, fittings and covers for
water-for-injection and clean steam systems, where BN2 delta-ferrite limits and electropolished
surfaces are specified.

Chemical and petrochemical: pressure-vessel flanges, tube sheets, pump and valve parts for urea,
acetic and phosphoric acid service and for halide-bearing process streams.

Food, beverage and textile: shafts, rings and fittings where polishability and cleanability govern.

Offshore and marine: flanges, bushings, sleeves and instrument parts for topside and subsea
equipment, supported by CCS, BV, DNV, LR and NK approvals.

Cryogenic and liquefied gas: flanges, discs and valve components staying tough down to
liquid-nitrogen temperature.

Non-magnetic components: instrument housings, electronic and magnetic-resonance equipment parts
calling for a relative permeability below 1.01.

## Requesting a quotation

Send the following six items to sales@steelforgepieces.com. A quotation is normally returned within
two working days. Minimum order 10 kg with no minimum piece count; lead time 20-60 days.

1. Grade and specification, for example 1.4435 to EN 10272 dual certified to ASTM A182 F316L
2. Dimensions or a drawing (PDF, DWG, DXF, STEP)
3. Quantity and expected repeat volume
4. Delivery condition: as-forged, proof-machined or finish-machined
5. Heat treatment and testing requirements, including any BN2, ferrite, ASTM A262 or UT requirement
6. Certification and destination port

## Questions about 1.4435

### What is 1.4435 stainless steel?

1.4435 is the EN material number for X2CrNiMo18-14-3, a low-carbon austenitic
chromium-nickel-molybdenum stainless steel standardised in EN 10088-3. It contains a maximum of
0.030 % carbon, 17.0-19.0 % chromium, 12.5-15.0 % nickel and 2.50-3.00 % molybdenum. The low carbon
level makes it resistant to intergranular corrosion in the as-welded condition, and the high nickel
and molybdenum give a stable austenitic structure with very little delta ferrite and good
resistance to pitting, crevice corrosion and reducing acids. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd.
melts and open-die forges this grade at its works in Jiangyin, Jiangsu Province, China.

### Is 1.4435 the same as 316L?

Not exactly. Both 1.4435 and 1.4404 are covered by the American designation 316L / UNS S31603, so a
1.4435 forging can normally be certified as 316L, but the reverse is not true. ASTM A182 F316L
allows 16.0-18.0 % chromium, 10.0-15.0 % nickel and 2.00-3.00 % molybdenum, while EN 10088-3
requires 1.4435 to hold 17.0-19.0 % chromium, 12.5-15.0 % nickel and 2.50-3.00 % molybdenum. A
steel ordered simply as 316L may sit at the bottom of the nickel and molybdenum ranges and fail a
1.4435 order. Order to the EN number, and state dual certification to ASTM A182 F316L separately if
it is needed.

### What is the difference between 1.4435 and 1.4404?

1.4435 is the higher-alloyed of the two. EN 10088-3 gives 1.4404 (X2CrNiMo17-12-2) 16.5-18.5 %
chromium, 10.0-13.0 % nickel and 2.00-2.50 % molybdenum, while 1.4435 (X2CrNiMo18-14-3) carries
17.0-19.0 % chromium, 12.5-15.0 % nickel and 2.50-3.00 % molybdenum. The extra nickel suppresses
delta ferrite, so 1.4435 stays non-magnetic and is the grade specified where a low ferrite level
matters, such as pharmaceutical and high-purity water systems. The extra molybdenum raises the
pitting resistance equivalent number from roughly 24 to roughly 27. Mechanical properties in the
solution-annealed condition are practically identical; 1.4404 machines slightly more easily.

### What is the forging temperature for 1.4435?

1.4435 is heated slowly to about 1,150-1,180 degrees C and forged between 1,180 degrees C and a
finishing temperature of about 950 degrees C, then cooled rapidly in air or water. Finishing below
roughly 950 degrees C risks cracking because the grade work-hardens quickly, and slow cooling
through 800-500 degrees C risks carbide and intermetallic precipitation that reduces corrosion
resistance. At Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal the forging is carried out on 6,300 t, 4,000 t and 2,000 t
hydraulic open-die presses or on radial-axial ring rolling mills, followed by solution annealing in
one of the site's 14 heat-treatment furnaces.

### Does 1.4435 need solution annealing after forging?

Yes. 1.4435 forgings are supplied in the solution-annealed condition (+AT). EN 10088-3 gives a
solution annealing range of 1,020-1,120 degrees C followed by quenching in water or air. The
treatment dissolves any carbides and intermetallic phases formed during forging and restores both
the mechanical properties and the full corrosion resistance. The grade cannot be hardened by heat
treatment; strength is raised only by cold work.

### What does 1.4435 BN2 mean?

BN2 refers to Basler Norm 2, a works standard of the Basel chemical industry that narrows the
EN 10088 analysis limits for 1.4435 and requires a delta-ferrite content below 0.5 %, verified
through the chromium and nickel equivalents. The standard was formally withdrawn by its publishers
in 2012, but it remains in wide use and most steel producers keep a 1.4435 BN2 quality in their
range for pharmaceutical, high-purity water and urea plant equipment, where residual ferrite can
initiate rouging. If your order requires BN2, state it on the enquiry so the melt chemistry is
aimed at it at the furnace rather than checked after the event.

### Which ultrasonic testing standard applies to 1.4435 forgings?

For austenitic grades such as 1.4435 the correct European standard is EN 10228-4, which covers
ultrasonic testing of austenitic and austenitic-ferritic stainless steel forgings. EN 10228-3
applies to ferritic and martensitic forgings and should not be quoted for 1.4435. The corresponding
American practice is ASTM A745/A745M for austenitic steel forgings; ASTM A388/A388M is the general
practice more often applied to ferritic forgings. The coarse, anisotropic grain structure of a
solution-annealed austenitic forging attenuates and scatters the beam, so probe frequency,
acceptance level and examination surface must be agreed before the forging is proof-machined.

### Is 1.4435 magnetic?

No. In the solution-annealed condition 1.4435 is non-magnetic, with a relative permeability below
about 1.01. The high nickel content leaves almost no delta ferrite in the structure, so the grade
is chosen for non-magnetic components and for instrument and electronic work. Heavy cold working
can induce some deformation martensite and raise the permeability; where a guaranteed permeability
is required, state the limit on the enquiry so it can be measured after the final solution anneal.

### What sizes of 1.4435 forgings can Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal supply?

Seamless rolled rings in 1.4435 are produced from OD 50 mm up to OD 6,000 mm on 6 m, 3 m and 1 m
radial-axial ring rolling mills, and single forged pieces up to 30,000 kg are worked on 6,300 t,
4,000 t and 2,000 t hydraulic presses fed by heats of up to 60 tonnes. Shafts are turned up to
14,000 mm in length, discs, tube sheets and blocks are machined up to 5,000 mm diameter, and hollow
cylinders are bored up to 1,600 mm diameter by 10,000 mm long. The minimum order is 10 kg with no
minimum piece count.

### How do I request a quotation for 1.4435 forgings?

Email sales@steelforgepieces.com or call +86 189 2135 9659 with six items: the grade and
specification, for example 1.4435 to EN 10272 with dual certification to ASTM A182 F316L; the
dimensions or a drawing in PDF, DWG, DXF or STEP; the quantity and expected repeat volume; the
delivery condition, as-forged, proof-machined or finish-machined; the heat treatment, testing and
certification requirements, including any BN2, ferrite, ASTM A262 or ultrasonic requirement; and
the destination port. A quotation is normally returned within two working days.

## Manufacturer

| Field | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Legal name | Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. |
| Business | Integrated melting works, open-die forge and ring rolling mill |
| Established | 1997 |
| Employees | 460, including 9 senior engineers, 32 intermediate engineers and 140 technicians |
| Plant address | No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China |
| Coordinates | 31.8330, 120.3510 |
| Melting | EF, LF, VOD, VIM, VAR, ESR; 60 t maximum heat |
| Forging | 6,300 t press, 6 m ring mill, 30 t maximum piece |
| Approvals | CCS, BV, DNV, LR, NK |
| Telephone | +86 189 2135 9659 |
| Email | sales@steelforgepieces.com |
| Website | https://www.steelforgepieces.com/ |
| Business hours | Monday to Saturday, 08:00-17:30 China Standard Time (UTC+8) |

Customer audits, pre-shipment inspections and third-party witness testing are welcome. Wuxi
Shuofang International Airport is 30 km from the plant and Shanghai's airports are 160 km; the
nearest export ports are Zhangjiagang and Shanghai.

## Citation

Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. "1.4435 (X2CrNiMo18-14-3 / UNS S31603) open-die forgings."
steelforgepieces.com, reviewed 23 September 2026.
https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/1.4435.html

Composition and property values are quoted from EN 10088-3, EN 10272, EN 10228-4, ASTM A182/A182M,
ASTM A276/A479 and ASTM A745/A745M. Production capability figures describe the equipment installed
at the Jiangyin works. Data is given in good faith for design guidance and is not a warranty of
properties; order-specific values are confirmed on the EN 10204 certificate.

## Related grades forged at the same works

- UNS S31603 / 316L: https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/UNS-S31603.html
- AISI 316: https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/UNS-S31600.html
- AISI 316N: https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/AISI-316N.html
- AISI 321: https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/UNS-S32100.html
- AISI 347: https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/UNS-S34700.html
- 904L: https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/904L.html
- 254 SMO: https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/254SMO.html
- AL-6XN: https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/AL-6XN.html
- SAF 2205: https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/SAF-2205.html
- SAF 2507: https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/SAF-2507.html
- 1.4462: https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/1.4462.html
- ASTM A182 F44: https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/A182-F44.html
- All stainless grades: https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/