We love stainless steel for being suitable for almost every environment. We know exactly which alloy fits best in a dry, damp or very hot setting. Your passion for stainless steel is probably nowhere near as great as ours - and yet you are interested in stainless steel 1.4462.
With this article we want to give you an overview of this material. What distinguishes 1.4462? What should you use it for? Of course, you will also learn how it can be processed, and we will reveal how you can order made-to-measure parts of duplex steel 1.4462 from us.
The composition of 1.4462
To understand the material properties of 1.4462, let us first look at the composition of this alloy. It is an austenitic-ferritic duplex steel based on chromium, nickel and molybdenum. The most important constituent is chromium, with a share of between 21% and 23%. The nickel content, by contrast, is comparatively low, ranging from 4.5% to 6.5%. Molybdenum is present at 2.5% to 3.5%.
Further minor constituents of 1.4462 are manganese (up to 2%), silicon (up to 1%), up to 0.22% nitrogen, plus carbon, phosphorus and sulphur in low concentrations. The reduced nickel content makes this alloy economically attractive compared with other austenitic steels.
What distinguishes duplex steel 1.4462?
Its outstanding property is its resistance to corrosion, pitting and surface corrosion. Its seawater resistance is also a result of the composition of 1.4462. The material has a high yield strength thanks to the addition of molybdenum and the low nickel content. The fact that 1.4462 is magnetic is something you can turn to your advantage when using the alloy.
The material is particularly resistant to stress corrosion, which is generally regarded as a strength. Combined with its very good chemical resistance and good mechanical properties, there are a great many uses for stainless steel 1.4462.
Examples of applications for stainless steel 1.4462
Apparatus and vessels made of duplex steel 1.4462 are used in many industries - including the chemical industry and the food industry, for which the ability to clean all 1.4462 surfaces plays a particularly important role. The petroleum industry relies more on the material's corrosion resistance.
The fact that it is a seawater-resistant material is ideal for shipbuilding, offshore installations and seawater desalination plants, where 1.4462 is used in large quantities. Mechanical engineering and the construction industry also frequently rely on this dependable material.
How the material can be processed
The popularity of 1.4462 is of course also due to the variety of processing options. We want to cover the most important processes, which may also be of interest to you. Here is an overview:
| Process | Rating |
| Forging | Medium |
| Heat treatment | Medium |
| Machining | Poor |
| Welding | Difficult |
The material can be forged in the temperature range between 900 and 1,200 degrees Celsius. As it is sensitive to thermal shock, heating must be slow, while cooling in air or water should be rapid.
For hot forming, the material must be heated slowly to a temperature between 600 and 900 degrees Celsius. This reduces its toughness, but also its corrosion resistance - which is why rapid cooling after forming is particularly important.
Due to its composition, in particular its two-phase microstructure, 1.4462 is only moderately machinable. It is important to use either cermet or coated carbide inserts.
Welding is one of the most popular methods in metal construction. Unfortunately, welding 1.4462 proves rather difficult. An increased energy input during welding is important in order to achieve a better distribution of the phases in the weld zone.
Care must also be taken when hardening 1.4462, as heat treatment in most cases causes the material to lose its corrosion and hardness properties.
A material not only for professionals
Its versatility, above all its corrosion resistance, makes 1.4462 as popular a material as stainless steel 1.4301 or 1.4571. Unfortunately, all these stainless grades have one thing in common: they are not merchandise you can buy in every DIY store.
Quite the opposite: because precise cutting is only possible with special tools, you must turn to a specialist company if you want to use 1.4462 for your project.
There are certainly metalworking companies near you that can produce sheets to size. However, they are probably more interested in larger and regular orders - quite unlike us. We welcome every order.
Order directly from the experts
We have built our company so that we can handle small and large orders quickly and efficiently. That is why we can also do without a high minimum order value. When we considered how best to offer our services around stainless steel sheet, we recognised that there is great demand from private individuals.
It was therefore particularly important to us to be able to produce sheets to your specifications for your hobby or your home - without you having to order 10 pieces or goods worth 1,000 euros. The numerous orders from private individuals and small businesses have shown that we got this exactly right.
Everyone receives comprehensive advice from us
It was also important to us not to become an anonymous online retailer. We want to bridge the gap between an online offering and the advice of a local specialist company. That is why every order with us is taken personally by one of our sales staff. This puts us in a position to advise you on the choice of alloy with a few targeted questions.
The easiest and quickest way to reach us is by telephone. We can then also quote you a price immediately, calculated individually for each order. And we can inform you about the various processing options, such as surface treatment.
Stainless steel 1.4462: fast and secure delivery guaranteed
When we rebuilt our production facility, we naturally also made sure that we can produce particularly quickly. Almost all orders are dispatched within 48 hours of receipt. This speed has no effect on quality - we always work to millimetre precision.
Each of our products made of 1.4462 and other alloys is securely packaged and reaches our customers within a few days. We can produce the right sheet for your project on our professional machines. Simply give us a call without obligation and have a free quotation prepared for you.
+49 3921 72-0