ASTM A240 AISI439 SUS439 Thickness 1.2 mm 1.4510 Stainless Steel Strip Coil For Exhaust System

439 stainless steel is a titanium stabilized ferritic stainless steel grade with, 18 percent chromium alloy, it is designed to resist corrosion in a variety of oxidizing environments from freshwater to boiling acids, and its corrosion resistance is similar to that of 304/304L stainless steel. Type 439 may also be used in many oxidizing environments where Type 304 is considered adequate in terms of general corrosion resistance but is subject to chloride stress corrosion cracking. This variation does not require annealing after welding to restore ductility or to provide intergranular corrosion resistance. Type 439 also has superior formability capabilities and is heavily used in the automotive industry; it can be work-hardened slightly to increase tensile strength.

Excellent resistance to stress corrosion cracking, good weldability, high thermal conductivity and low thermal expansion characteristics make Type 439 stainless steel an ideal consideration for many applications, typical applications include tubular manifolds and exhaust system components.

439 Stainless Steel Features

Stainless steel grade 439 has good weldability, brightness, and pitting corrosion resistance. It polishes well and is good for deep drawing.

• Excellent resistance to chloride stress corrosion cracking
• Good general corrosion resistance, especially in fresh waters and mildly oxidizing environments
• Weldability
• Long-term cost advantages
• High thermal conductivity coefficient
• Low thermal expansion coefficient
• Good continuous and cyclic oxidation resistance.
• Typical applications in automotive exhaust system and heat exchanger system

439 Stainless Steel Chemical Composition

439 Stainless Steel Mechanical Properties

439 Stainless Steel Physical Properties

Equivalent Grades Of 439 Stainless Steel

Corrosion Resistance:

439 stainless steel is resistant to attack by potable water and many mildly or moderately corrosive chemical environments that are oxidizing in nature. In various chloride solutions, studies have shown the pitting resistance of Type 439 to be superior to that of Type 304. In addition, Type 439 is not subject to stress corrosion cracking which may cause premature failure of austenitic steels in chloride-bearing environments such as hot waters used in heat exchangers.

Welding

439 stainless steel is weldable by the usual stainless steel methods including spot welding, TIG, MIG, laser and high-frequency tube welding. Conventional gas shielding is used with the tungsten or metal arc process. If filler wire is added to the weld deposit, a stabilized stainless steel or a nickel base alloy should be considered to maintain corrosion resistance in the weld metal. For elevated temperature applications such as automotive exhaust systems, type439 and type 444 alloys would be preferred to maintain thermal expansion compatibility. Properly welded, grade 439 alloy retains the corrosion resistance and almost all of the mechanical properties of the base metal in the weld fusion and heat-affected zones. Due to the titanium content, the weld metal will be free of the martensite normally associated with the ferritic stainless welds. Further, due to this titanium content, the heat-affected zone is resistant to intergranular corrosive attack in environments in which the base metal is satisfactorily used. Welding this alloy even with adequate gas protection may cause some heat tint or oxidation that should be removed to ensure maximum corrosion resistance.

Heat Treatment

Stainless steel 439 alloy should be annealed between 1450 and 1600°F (790 and 871°C) and quickly cooled. Cooling rates affect impact transition with slow cooling producing higher, less desirable impact transition. Ferritic stainless steels containing more than about 12% chromium have a susceptibility to a phenomenon known as 885°F (475°C) embrittlement. This embrittlement is observed as a degradation of impact properties at room temperature resulting from very long exposures in the temperature range of 700 to 1000°F (371 to 537°C). If service temperatures are cycling through this range, exposure above about 1050°F (565°C) restores the room temperature toughness properties. When there have been long dwell times near 885°F (475°C), service temperatures that cycle above about 1050°F (565°C) are beneficial rather than detrimental.

Applications

The unique blend of properties of 439 stainless steel makes it a desirable choice for many applications. It has been used with 25 years of documented service in hot water tank applications requiring good overall corrosion resistance, resistance to stress corrosion cracking and good weldability. The alloy’s oxidation resistance permits its use in residential furnaces and automotive exhaust system components. 439 alloy corrosion resistance, fabricability and reflective color compatibility have resulted in its use as a small-diameter tube to replace solid wire spokes in automotive wheel cover applications. The alloy has replaced carbon steel heat exchanger tubes without expansion joints because of its low coefficient of thermal expansion. 439 alloy higher thermal conductivity, compared to conventional stainless steel, has resulted in its choice over Type 304 in a number of feedwater heater applications. The successful application of any alloy is dependent upon many variables. It is important to consider these carefully before selecting any material, including 439 stainless steel.

Stainless steel grade 439 is capable of being made into complex shapes such as tubular manifolds and exhaust system components, where temperatures tend to go beyond the oxidation limit of grade 409 steel. 439 stainless steel is preferred where wet corrosion resistance especially to chlorides is needed.