Stainless steel has long been used successfully in a variety of industries. Aside from traditional and marine constructions, household appliances have also gained popularity. 300 Series stainless steels are classified as austenitic (non-magnetic) and are hardenable only by cold working methods. Today, we will learn more about the 317L variant of Stainless Steel.
What is 317L Stainless Steel
‘317L’ refers to the grade of the stainless steel. SS is an alloy of chromium and iron. While stainless steel must contain at least 10.5 percent chromium, the precise components and ratios vary depending on the grade of the steel and also its intended use. The ‘’L’’ behind the number indicates it’s LOW carbon grade. These properties make SS 317L Pipe and Tubes applicable in certain industries with unique requirements.
What is the difference between SS 317L Pipe and SS 317L Tubes
The words pipe and tube are most often used interchangeably. There are, however, major differences between them
| SS 317L Pipe is a hollow section with round cross section. | SS 317L Tube refers to round, square, rectangular, and oval hollow sections. |
| A Stainless steel pipe’s thickness is denoted by a “Schedule” value. | Stainless steel tube wall thickness is assessed in inches or millimetres. |
| The most common End Connections of SS 317L pipe are beveled, plain, or screwed. | End Connections of SS 317L tubes are available in Threaded or grooved. |
Chemical Composition
317L pipes and tubes contain 18-20% of chromium, 11-15% of Nickel among other elements. The austenitic structure of 300 series stainless steels is achieved primarily through nickel addition. Generally, in Stainless Steel the Carbon element can be present up to 2%, most welded steels have less than 0.5% of it. Comparatively, the pipes and tubes made from this variant have only 0.03% of carbon component as it is a Low carbon grade steel.
Features of 317L Pipes and Tubes
- Superior corrosion-resistant properties
- Non-magnetic properties
- Scratch resistant
- Improved formability
- Improved weldability
- Up to 1148.889°C (2100°F) oxidation resistance
- Carburization resistance
- Nitriding resistace
- Increased creep strength (ability to resist distortion over long term exposure to a high temperature)
Applications of 317L Pipes and Tubes
The Pipes and Tubes of Grade 317L Stainless Steel is widely used in the following applications:
- Condensers in fossil fuel power generation stations
- Pulp & paper manufacturing
- Nuclear power stations
- Chemical & petrochemical process equipment
- Flue gas desulfurization systems
- Desalting, high-pressure RO equipment
- Firefighting equipment
Stainless Steel 317L is popularly used to manage sulphur, pulp liquor, acid dyestuffs, acetylating and nitrating mixtures, bleaching solutions, severe coal and oil, and a wide range of chemical substances. Due to their high corrosion resistance and top quality, stainless steel 317L pipes and tubes are widely used by many industries.
