Specification Sheet: Alloy 904L

(UNS N08904) W. Nr. 1.4539

A Superaustenitic Stainless Steel Designed for Corrosion and Pitting
Resistance in a Wide Range of Process Environments
Alloy 904L (UNS N08904) is a Standards
superaustenitic stainless steel that is
ASTM................ A 240, B 625
designed for moderate to high
corrosion resistance in a wide range ASME................ SA 240, SB 625
of process environments. The
combination of high chromium and
nickel content, coupled with
Chemical Analysis
additions of molybdenum and
copper, assure good to excellent Weight % (all values are maximum unless a range is otherwise indicated)
corrosion resistance.
With its highly alloyed
Nickel 23.0 min.28.0 max. Silicon 1.00
chemistry25% nickel and 4.5%
molybdenum, 904L provides good Chromium 19.0 min.23.0 max. Phosphorus 0.045
chloride stress corrosion cracking
resistance, pitting and general Molybdenum 4.0 min.5.0 max. Sulfur 0.035
corrosion resistance superior to 316L
and 317L molybdenum enhanced Copper 1.02.0 max. Iron Balance
stainless steels.
Manganese 2.00
Alloy 904L was originally
developed to withstand
environments containing dilute
sulfuric acid. It also offers good
resistance to other inorganic acids Physical Properties
such as hot phosphoric acid as well Density Specific Heat
as most organic acids. 0.287 lbs/in3 0.11 BTU/lb-F (32212F)
Alloy 904L is easily welded and 7.95 g/cm3 450 J/kg-K (0100C)
processed by standard shop
fabrication practices. Electrical Resistivity Modulus of Elasticity
33.5 Microhm-in at 68F 28.0 x 106 psi
95.2 Microhm-cm at 20C 190 GPa
Applications
Air Pollution Control scrubbers Melting Range Thermal Conductivity 212F (100C)
for coal-fired power plants 23722534F 6.8 BTU/Ft-hr-F
13001390C 12.9 W/m-K
Chemical Processingprocess
equipment for the production
Mean Coefficient of Thermal Expansion
of sulfuric, phosphoric,
inorganic and organic acids Temperature Range
and the production of F C in/in/F cm/cm/C
phosphate-based fertilizers
68212 20100 8.5 x 10-6 15.3 x 10-6
Metallurgical Processing
pickling equipment using
sulfuric acid
Oil and Gas Production
offshore process equipment Mechanical Properties
Pharmaceutical Industry Typical Values at 68F (20C) (minimum values, unless specified)
process equipment
Yield Strength Ultimate Tensile Elongation
Pulp and Paperprocessing 0.2% Offset Strength
Hardness
in 2 in.
equipment
psi (MPa) psi (MPa) %
Seawater and Brackish Water
condensers, heat exchangers 31,000 220 71,000 490 36 7090 Rockwell B
and piping systems

S A N D M E Y E R S T E E L C O M PA N Y
O N E S A N D M E Y E R L A N E P H I L A D E L P H I A , PA 1 9 1 1 6 - 3 5 9 8
8 0 0 - 5 2 3 - 3 6 6 3 + 1 - 2 1 5 - 4 6 4 - 7 1 0 0 FA X + 1 - 2 1 5 - 6 7 7 - 1 4 3 0

Alloy 904L 08/2014 www.SandmeyerSteel.com

Providing Solutions, With Materials and
Value Added Products, for Process Industries
Corrosion Resistance
The high content of alloying elements in 904L gives the alloy exceptionally
good resistance to uniform corrosion.
904L was originally developed to withstand environments containing dilute
sulfuric acid, and is one of the few stainless steels that, at temperatures up to
95F (35C), provides full resistance in such environments within the entire
concentration range of 0 to 100%. 904L also offers good resistance to a
number of other inorganic acids, such as phosphoric acid and most organic
acids. However, acids and acid solutions containing halide ions can be very
aggressive, and the corrosion resistance of 317L, 317LMN and 904L may be
insufficient.
Fractional distillation of tall oil often needs better material than 316L or even
the more frequently used 317LMN. In these hot concentrated caustic
solutions, the corrosion resistance is mainly determined by the nickel content
of the material. With a nickel content of 25%, 904L has proven to be a good
alternative to most conventional stainless steels.
Conventional stainless steels such as 304L and 316L are susceptible to
chloride stress corrosion cracking (SSC) under certain conditions. Resistance
to SSC increases with the increased content of nickel and molybdenum.
Therefore, the higher performance austenitic stainless steels such as 904L
have very good resistance to SSC. The table in the upper right corner
shows resistance to SSC in a chloride solution under evaporative conditions.
High performance austenitic steels and duplex stainless steels clearly
outperform 316L.

Fabrication Data Uniform corrosion in pickling acid* at

Alloy 904L can be easily welded and processed by standard shop 25C
fabrication practices. Steel Grade Corrosion Rate, mm/year

Hot forming 316L >6

Working temperatures of 15622102F (8501150C) are recommended for 904L 0.47
hot working processes. Normally hot working should be followed by a solution 254 SMO 0.27
anneal and quench, but for 904L, if hot forming is discontinued at a
654 SMO 0.06
temperature above 2012F (1100C) and the material is quenched directly
thereafter, the material may be used without subsequent heat treatment. It is *Composition: 20% HNO3 + 4% HF.
important that the entire workpiece be quenched from temperatures above
2012F (1100C). In the event of partial heating or cooling below 2012F Uniform corrosion in wet process
(1100C), or if the cooling has been too slow, hot working should always be phosphoric acid at 60C
followed by a solution anneal and quenching. 904L should be solution Steel Grade Corrosion Rate, mm/year
annealed at 19402084F (10601140C). 316L >5
904L 1.2
Cold forming
904L is quite ductile and forms easily. The addition of molybdenum and 254 SMO 0.05
nitrogen implies more powerful processing equipment may be necessary when Composition: 54% P2O5, 0.06% HCl, 1.1% HF, 4.0%
compared with the standard 304/304L grades. H2SO4, 0.27% Fe2O3, 0.17% Al2O3, 0.10% SiO2,
0.20% CaO and 0.70% MgO.
Welding
Alloy 904L can be readily welded by most standard processes. Austenitic Corrosion rates in a fatty acid column
plate materials have a homogeneous austenitic structure with an even for the distillation of tall oil at 253C
distribution of alloying elements. Solidification after welding causes the Steel Grade Corrosion Rate, mm/year
redistribution of certain elements such as molybdenum, chromium and nickel. 316L 0.88
These segregations remain in the cast structure of the weld and can impair the
317LMN 0.29
corrosion resistance in certain environments. Segregation is less evident in
904L, and this material is normally welded using a filler metal of the same 904L 0.06
composition as the base metal and can even be welded without filler metal. 254 SMO 0.01
The welding consumables for 904L are 20 25 CuL covered electrode and
20 25 CuL wire.

Machining
The cold work hardening rate of Alloy 904L makes it less machinable than
410 and 304 stainless steels.

The information and data in this product data sheet are accurate to the best of our knowledge and
belief, but are intended for informational purposes only, and may be revised at any time without notice.
Applications suggested for the materials are described only to help readers make their own evaluations
and decisions, and are neither guarantees nor to be construed as express or implied warranties of SANDMEYER
suitability for these or other applications. S T E E L C O M PA N Y