As experts in stainless steel, we deal every day with stainless steels belonging to the group of austenitic steels. We want to take this as an opportunity to tell you everything essential about the corrosion-resistant steel of this material group.
We summarise the characteristics for you and also reveal how you can tell whether a steel is austenitic. Of course, we also cover the specific hardness of austenitic steel. We will tell you what it is used for and where you can order made-to-measure workpieces - for spring manufacturing or other projects.
What is austenitic steel and what makes it so special?
Austenitic steel has one outstanding property: it is highly corrosion-resistant. That is why around 70% of the stainless steel used worldwide is austenitic steel. The name austenite goes back to Sir William Chandler Roberts-Austen, a distinguished metallurgist of the 19th century. In his honour, the gamma mixed crystals of iron were named austenite.
Characteristic of the composition - and thus also the hardness - of austenitic steel is a nickel content of at least 8%. Its crystal structure is also special: it is face-centred cubic. It is thanks to this particular crystal structure that austenitic steel exhibits good mechanical properties combined with high corrosion resistance.
Which properties distinguish austenitic steels?
Due to its microstructure, stainless steel of the austenitic group has excellent toughness and good formability - even at lower service temperatures. Austenitic steel has the following properties:
- It is largely non-magnetic.
- Its corrosion stability is higher than that of low-nickel steel.
- It has a high thermal expansion coefficient.
- High tensile strength (700-1,300 N/mm²) with a low yield strength.
- It cannot be hardened by conventional heat treatment processes.
- Generally readily weldable.
What is austenitic steel used for?
Thanks to its material properties, austenitic steel is used wherever particularly high corrosion resistance is required. Products and plants made of stainless steel are used across various sectors. It is frequently used in the chemical industry and in the food sector. Shipbuilding and medical technology also cannot do without austenitic steel.
Spring manufacturing is a special case. Here, austenitic chromium-nickel spring wire is used, because springs are exposed to high stresses - both mechanical and from latent corrosion risk. In spring manufacturing, stainless steel is simply indispensable.
Because austenitic steel welds well, transport containers and industrial production plants can be made from it with ease. Alongside corrosion resistance, easy cleaning after use also plays a major role in the decision for this material.
Material numbers and alloys
Let us now look at some well-known representatives among the austenitic steels - common alloys that we also stock at ESC Burg.
Stainless steel 1.4541
In addition to nickel and chromium, this alloy contains titanium as a stabiliser. Stainless steel 1.4541 is also known under AISI code 321 and is distinguished by its resistance in environments with low acid concentrations.
Stainless steel 1.4571
If a stainless steel is to be used at high temperatures, stainless steel 1.4571 is a good choice. It is not only stable at high temperatures but is also characterised by high corrosion resistance in almost all natural waters. This applies only to fresh water, however - this steel should not be used in salt water.
Stainless steel 1.4301
This designation covers the most widely used stainless steel alloy, which is why one could speak of the standard stainless steel. Stainless steel 1.4301 is also an austenitic steel and is produced worldwide in large quantities. It is one of our customers' favourite alloys.
Where can you buy austenitic steel?
Because there are no standard dimensions and most people do not trust themselves to work metal, very few DIY stores stock stainless steel. And even if you are lucky locally, you would still need the right tools to produce a workpiece in the dimensions you need.
You can turn to metalworking companies. They should have both the right metals in stock and the necessary machines for cutting, forming and surface treatment. However, such companies' offerings are primarily aimed at bulk buyers rather than private individuals who only place an occasional order. Your order will probably not be prioritised, so you may have to wait quite a while for the product you need.
Why ESC Burg is the best partner even for unusual material requests
If you are looking for a fast and reliable partner for sheets of austenitic steel, you have come to the right place. We stock various alloys and can cut and process them to your specifications.
At ESC Burg we have specialised in various services around stainless steel sheets and offer them to both business and private customers. Thanks to efficient, lean processes, we can dispatch almost every order within 48 hours. If you commission us, you will receive an individually produced workpiece within a few days with which you can advance your project.
Get advice without obligation
Austenitic steel is a highly complex product. That is why we do not sell it without personal advice - which is of course free of charge and completely non-binding. This way we can guarantee that we sell you the right alloy for your project.
In a short consultation, our experienced sales staff will determine which requirements your sheet-metal workpiece must meet. They can then tell you immediately not only whether austenitic steel is the right choice, but also what the workpiece will cost you, including shipping. All our prices are calculated individually, because we produce exclusively to customer order.
We always work to customer specification
Thanks to our high-quality machines, we can also cut out complex shapes. In forming, we can offer you individual angles and bends to your wishes. In addition to our employees' experience, we rely on computer support to guarantee cutting accurate to the millimetre.
Before you attempt to cut a sheet to the right dimensions yourself, you should leave this challenge to the professionals. To complete your project, you can in the meantime think about how to install our delivery safely - and if you are unsure here, we can help you with that too.
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