17-4 stainless steel is a popular alloy, and for good reason: it offers excellent corrosion resistance, strength, and versatility. Whatever the application you need it for, our team can help ensure you have the right material for the job.
Ideal for high temperature applications
Superior formability and weldability
excellent corrosion resistance, toughness and strength
What Is 17-4 Stainless Steel?
17-4 stainless steel is a type of alloy that contains about 17% chromium and 4% nickel. This combination makes it ideal for use in high temperature applications – including within the gas, chemical, and aviation industries – because the alloy exhibits excellent corrosion resistance, mechanical properties, toughness, and strength even in temperatures up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit (316°C). It also has superior formability and weldability compared to other grades of stainless steel.
17-4 stainless steel, otherwise known as SAE Type 630, is frequently used with operations demanding high tensile strength and a middling level of corrosion resistance. 17-4 PH is the most-used grade of martensitic precipitation hardenable alloys and is regarded as the most broadly formed precipitation hardening grade. Its intense tensile strength keeps its ductility and hardness at high temperatures while still demonstrating exceptional corrosion resistance in all conditions.
17-4 Stainless Steel Properties
Physical Properties
| Condition | Tensile | Yield | Enlongation | Reduction of Area | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H900 | 190KSI | 170KSI | 10% | 35% | 35 HRC |
| H1025 | 155KSI | 145KSI | 12% | 45% | 40 HRC |
| H1075 | 145 | 125 | 13 | 45 | 33-39 HRC |
| H1150 | 135 | 105 | 16 | 50 | 28-37 HRC |
| H1150D | 125 | 105 | 16 | 50 | 25-33 HRC |
More physical and chemical properties here
Chemical Composition
| Carbon | 0.07% (Max) |
| Silicon | 1.00% (Max) |
| Manganese | 1.00% (Max) |
| Phosphorous | 0.040% (Max) |
| Sulfur | 0.030% (Max) |
| Chromium | 15%-17.5% |
| Molybdenum | 0.50% (Max) |
| Nickel | 3%-5% |
| Copper | 3%-5% |
Benefits of 17-4 Steel
17-4 alloy steel has many benefits in a number of industries, including manufacturing and chemical processing. Compared to some other types of stainless steel, 17-4 has superior strength, toughness, wear resistance, and fatigue strength.
Customizable
17-4 stainless steel is highly customizable, making it an ideal choice for a variety of applications from aerospace to food processing. Stainless steel 17 4 PH properties allow the alloy to be tailored to suit the specific requirements of any given task.
High Strength
17-4 steel is extremely strong, offering a very high yield strength of up to 1100-1300 MPa (160-190 ksi).
Great Formability and Weldability
The metal also offers good weldability when welded with processes like shielded fusion and resistance welding.
Withstands Corrosive Attack
Stainless steel alloy 17-4 PH is excellent at withstanding corrosive attacks, and it performs better than other standard hardenable stainless steels. Because of this, it is widely used in applications like food preparation equipment, aerospace components, oil and gas, and chemical processing.
Superior Resistance
17-4 PH stainless steel is known for providing superior toughness, and strength over a range of temperatures. With a low thermal expansion rate, 17-4 steel can develop a high magnetic permeability, with applications requiring higher levels including cores, efficient motor laminations, and more.
This material provides excellent protection in extreme environments, making it the perfect choice for applications that require high levels of durability.
Can Be Designed for Radioactive Storage
Since the metal is highly resistant to corrosion, it can be used for radioactive storage. With its unique strength and resistance properties, 17-4 stainless steel PH is an ideal material for buildings that store hazardous materials.
Features of 17-4 Stainless Steel
High-alloy steels like 17-4PH Stainless Steel offer many advantages over other metals for a variety of needs. Key features include:
17 4 PH Stainless Steel Density
The density of 17-4 stainless steel is 0.280 lb/in3 (7.8 g/cm3), which makes it an ideal material for many applications that require high strength and corrosion resistance.
17 4 PH Stainless Steel Hardness
One of the most important properties of 17-4 PH is that it offers superior hardness when heat treated, making it an ideal choice for applications that require high strength and wear resistance.
17 4 PH Stainless Steel Machinability
17-4 stainless steel is highly versatile due to its machinability. The metal alloy can be used for a wide variety of purposes and applications across industries.
17 4 PH Stainless Steel Heat Treatment
Also called precipitation hardening, age hardening uses existing particles or solid impurities to increase the strength of an alloy. 17-4 stainless steel is well-suited for this process.
To age harden 17-4 stainless steel PH, you would first use a solution treatment, then quenching and aging. The treatment needs to be performed at 1050 °C for 30 minutes. To complete precipitation hardening, the temperature ranges from 480 °C to 760 °C and usually takes two to four hours.
17-4 Stainless Steel Processing
Achieve superior hardness from welding after heat treatment. Machining conditions differ with the firmness of the element. Different levels of strength and hardness can be achieved depending on the temperature it is heat treated at. The ASTM designation is A564 and common conditions are H900, H1025, H1075, H1150, and H1150D.
17-4 stainless steel processing often includes the following:
Additive manufacturing
CNC machining
Swiss Turning
Laser Cutting
Wire EDM
Grinding
Stamping and Forming
What Is 17-4 Stainless Steel Used For?
17-4 stainless steel is known for its high strength, corrosion resistance, and toughness. Because of these traits, it is often used in the aerospace, medical, and food processing industries, as well as in construction, oil and gas, and transportation.
Additionally, 17-4 PH stainless steel is often used in the manufacturing of gears, valves, pumps, and fasteners, as well as in the production of molds and dies. The alloy’s high strength and corrosion resistance properties make it an ideal material for use in harsh and demanding environments.
Industries
Oil and Gas
17-4 stainless steel is a good choice for the oil and gas industry because of its ability to withstand harsh conditions and corrosive environments. The alloy is highly resistant to corrosion caused by saltwater and chemicals, making it well suited for use in offshore and coastal environments.
Additionally, 17-4 stainless steel has a high strength-to-weight ratio, which makes it ideal for use in the oil and gas industry where weight and size are often critical factors.
Petrochemical
316 stainless steel contains molybdenum, which increases its corrosion resistance and improves its mechanical properties. Suitable for marine or coastal environments, 316 steel resists chloride ion corrosion or saltwater corrosion.
For applications that require moderate corrosion resistance, 410 stainless steel is a cost-effective alternative to 316 that provides good overall performance. Like 304 stainless steel, 316 is suited for valves, dies, screws, and fasteners.
Aerospace
While 420 steel is more durable and stronger than 410 stainless steel, 410 is better suited for applications that require precision machining due to its ductility.
Food Processing
In the food processing industry, corrosion-resistant 17-4 stainless steel is often used in the production of food processing equipment, such as storage tanks, conveyors, and processing machinery. The alloy is magnetic, making it ideal for use in food environments where magnets are used to ensure contaminants are removed.
Additionally, the high strength and durability of 17-4 stainless steel make it well suited for use in applications that require frequent sanitation and cleaning processes.
Paper / Pulp
In the paper and pulp industry, 17-4 stainless steel is used when creating equipment that processes pulp such as tanks, pumps, valves, and heat exchangers. Because the parts may be exposed to high temperatures, it’s important to use a resilient alloy like 17-4.
Parts
No matter what your industry, this stainless steel alloy can be incorporated into parts that require hardness and corrosion resistance at temperatures below 600°F (316°C). Examples include:
Pump and Boat Shafts
Motor Shafts
Oil Patches
Ball Bearings
Bushings
Fasteners
Seals
Valves
Gears
How Does 17-4 Steel Stack Up Against Other Metals?
17-4 stainless steel might not be the only choice for the job. At Premium Alloys, we supply a number of suitable materials for your job. But how does stainless steel compare to your other options?
17-4 Stainless Steel vs 15 5
17-4 stainless steel and 15-5 stainless steel are both precipitation-hardened alloys that are known for their high strength, corrosion resistance, and toughness. 17-4 stainless steel contains 17% chromium and 4% nickel, while 15-5 stainless steel is composed of 15% chromium and 5% nickel.
17-4 Stainless Steel vs 304
Stainless steels in the 300 series have 18 to 30% chromium and 6 to 20% nickel. While the metal is also resilient and versatile, it can’t be heat treated to as high of a temperature as PH 17-4 can.
17-4 Stainless Steel vs 416
17-4 stainless steel is significantly stronger than 416. In fact, it has more than 4 times the resistance of 416 steel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Like all alloy steels, when 17-4 stainless steel is hardened, it becomes magnetic.
The alloy is considered to be highly resistant to rust, particularly in comparison to other types of stainless steel. However, 17-4 stainless steel can still rust in certain conditions if it is exposed to harsh environments for long periods of time and not properly maintained.
17-4 PH resists corrosion superior to any of the basic stainless steels that can be hardened. It is resistant to industries where the steel may be exposed to petroleum and most foods. Exceptional resistance to decay at roughly 1100°F. 17-4 stainless steel PH demonstrates great machinability.
The price will vary based on your project, so the best way to get accurate pricing is to reach out to us for a custom quote.
The tensile strength of 17 4 PH stainless steel varies on condition. However, this alloy has a minimum of 160,000 PSI (pounds per square inch) and can reach up to 210,000 PSI in the age-hardened condition.
We offer a wide range of OD sizes up to 18” OD.
We source our products globally, with a focus on domestic and Western European sources.
Premium Alloys
Your Choice for 17-4 Stainless Steel
17-4 stainless steel is a versatile and reliable alloy that can be used in many industries, from paper/pulp to food processing. It has superior corrosion resistance compared to other types of stainless steels, as well as excellent machinability and tensile strength.
This durable material is more cost-effective than comparable alloys like 718 and provides incredible value across a range of applications due to its high strength, corrosion resistance, and machinability.
