Stainless 431

Annealing Procedure

1200-1250 F (650-677 C), furnace or air cool.

Applications

431 has been successfully used in a variety of aircraft and general industrial applications. These include fasteners, bolts, valve components and chemical equipment.

Cold Workability

This alloy is easily drawn, spun, headed, sheared and bent compared with other stainless steels.

Hardening Procedure

1800-1950 F (982-1066 C), oil quench or ail cool for maximum properties.

Hot Workability

Heat to 2100-2200 F (1149-1204 C) for best results. Do not work material below 1650 F (900 C).

Machinability

In the fully annealed condition, 431 will gall and build up on the tools. Good surface finishes are not easily obtained.

Principle Design Features

431 is a martensitic stainless combining excellent impact strength at high hardness levels with the best corrosion resistance of any martensitic stainless steels.

Tempering Procedure

Temper for desired properties. Temperatures between 700-1050 F (371-565 C) will adversely affect impact strength and corrosion properties.

Weldability

Most electric welding procedures have proven successful with 431 stainless. Filler metal should be AWS E/ER410.To avoid cracking, pre-heat the workpiece to 400-600 F (204-316 C). After air cooling, treat at 1200 F (649 C) to reattain maximum properties.