SANDVIK 254 SMO (ESR)
BILLETS
DATASHEET
Sandvik 254 SMO* (ESR) is a high-alloy austenitic stainless steel developed for use in seawater and other
aggressive chloride-bearing media. The steel is electroslag remelted which gives a cleaner material free from
segregations. The grade is characterized by:
– Excellent resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion
– High resistance to general corrosion
– High resistance to stress corrosion cracking
– Higher strength than conventional austenitic stainless steels
– Good weldability
STANDARDS
– UNS: S31254
– EN Number: 1.4547
– SS: 2378
Product standards
EN 10088-3
Suitable for production of flanges etc. according to ASTM A182 Grade F44.
Certificates
Datasheet updated 11/21/2019 11:42:37 AM (supersedes all previous editions)
Status according to EN 10 204 3.1
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
C Si Mn P S Cr Ni Mo N Cu
≤0.020 ≤0.80 ≤1.00 ≤0.030 ≤0.010 20 18 6.1 0.20 0.7
APPLICATIONS
Sandvik 254 SMO is used in the following applications:
– Equipment for handling seawater - for example, heat exchangers, cooling water systems, ballast water
systems, firefighting systems etc.
– Equipment in pulp bleaching plants.
– Components in gas cleaning systems.
Industrial categories Typical applications
Chemical industry Flanges
1 SANDVIK 254 SMO (ESR)
Industrial categories Typical applications
Petrochemical industry Valves
Pulp and paper industry Fittings
Oil and gas industry Couplings
Rings
Seals
Bolts and nuts
Shafts
Forgings
Discs
* 254 SMO is a trademark owned by Outokumpu OY.
CORROSION RESISTANCE
Stress corrosion cracking (SCC)
Ordinary austenitic steels of the AISI 304 and 316 types are prone to stress corrosion cracking in chloride-
containing solutions at temperatures exceeding about 60°C (140°F). For austenitic steels, resistance to SCC
increases with increasing nickel and molybdenum contents. The tables below give the results of two accelerated
tests, showing that Sandvik 254 SMO has very good resistance to SCC.
Stress corrosion cracking tests in boiling 25% NaCL solution, pH=1.5. U-bend specimens.
Steel Time to failure Remark
AISI 316 <150 h Pitting
904L No failure (1000 h) Crevice corrosion
254 SMO No failure (1000 h) No attack
Intergranular corrosion
Sandvik 254 SMO/ESR has a very low carbon content. This means that there is very little risk of carbide
precipitation during heating, for example, when welding. The steel passes the Strauss test (ASTM A262, practice
E) even after sensitizing for one hour at 600-1000°C (1110-1830°F).
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However, due to the high alloying content of the steel, intermetallic phases can precipitate at the grain
boundaries in the temperature range at 600-1000°C (1110-1830°F). These precipitations do not involve any risk
of intergranular corrosion in the environments in which the steel is intended to be used. Thus, welding can be
carried out without any risk of intergranular corrosion.
Pitting corrosion
The high chromium content and particularly the molybdenum content give Sandvik 254 SMO/ESR excellent
resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion.
The high nitrogen content also improves pitting resistance. The results of laboratory determination of the critical
pitting temperature (CPT) in 3 % NaCl shows that Sandvik 254 SMO/ESR has a far greater CPT than 904L and it
possesses very good resistance in water containing chlorides. Sandvik 254 SMO/ESR is, therefore, a suitable
material for use in, for example, seawater.
Crevice corrosion
The weak point of conventional stainless steels is their limited resistance to crevice corrosion. In seawater, for
example, there is a considerably greater risk of crevice corrosion under gaskets, deposits or fouling. Tests in
natural seawater at 60°C (140°F) have shown that Sandvik 254 SMO/ESR can be exposed for prolonged periods,
without suffering crevice corrosion.
2 SANDVIK 254 SMO (ESR)
For further information regarding corrosion resistance of Sandvik 254 SMO, please see the data sheet Seamless
tube and pipe - Sandvik 254 SMO. The data should be considered in the knowledge that it may not be applicable
for thick sections, such as forgings.
FORMS OF SUPPLY
Sizes and tolerances
Round-cornered square, as well as round billets, are produced in a wide range of sizes according to the following
tables. Larger sizes offered on request.
Surface conditions
Square billets
Unground, spot ground or fully ground condition.
Round billets
Peel turned or black condition.
Square billets
Size Tolerance Length
mm mm m
80 +/-2 4 - 6.3
100, 114, 126, 140, 150 +/-3 4 - 6.3
160, 180, 195, 200 +/-4 4 - 6.3
>200 - 350 +/-5 3 - 5.3
Sizes and tolerances apply to the rolled/forged condition.
Peel turned round billets
Size Tolerance Length
mm mm m
75 - 200 (5 mm interval) +/-1 max 10
>200 - 450 +/-3 3-8
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Unground round billets
Size Tolerance Length
mm mm m
77 - 112 (5 mm interval) +/-2 max 10
124, 134 +/-2 max 10
127, 147, 157 +/-2 max 10
142, 152, 163 +/-2 max 10
168, 178, 188 +/-2 max 10
183, 193 +/-2 max 10
Other products
Mostly supplied in non-ESR condition
– Welded tube and pipe
3 SANDVIK 254 SMO (ESR)
– Seamless tube and pipe
– Fittings and flanges
HEAT TREATMENT
Billets are delivered in the hot worked condition. The following heat treatment is recommended.
Solution annealing
1150-1200°C (2100-2190°F), followed by quenching in water.
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
For billets testing is performed on separately solution annealed and quenched test pieces.
The following figures apply to material in the solution annealed condition.
At 20°C (68°F)
Metric units
Proof strength Tensile strength Elong Hardness
R p0.2a R p1.0a Rm Ab Brinell
MPa MPa MPa %
≥310 ≥340 675-850 ≥35 ≤260
Imperial units
Proof strength Tensile strength Elong. Hardness
R p0.2a R p1.0a Rm Ab Brinell
ksi ksi ksi %
≥45 ≥49 98-123 ≥35 ≤260
1 MPa = 1 N/mm2
a) Rp0.2 and Rp1.0 correspond to 0.2% offset and 1.0% offset yield strength, respectively.
b) Based on L0 = 5.65 √S0 where L0 is the original gauge length and S0 the original cross-section area.
Impact strength
Due to its austenitic microstructure, Sandvik 254 SMO/ESR has very good impact strength both at room
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temperature and at cryogenic temperatures.
Tests have demonstrated that the steel fulfils the requirements (60 J (44 ft-lb) at -196 oC (-320 oF)) according to
the European standards EN 13445-2 (UFPV-2) and EN 10216-5.
At high temperatures
Intermetallic phases are precipitated within the temperature range of 600-1000°C (1110-1830°F). The steel
should therefore not be exposed to these temperatures for prolonged periods. Minimum proof strength
properties at high temperatures are based on datasheets seamless tubes and pipe. Since the tubes have thin
walls the values should only be used as indicative values for billets.
Metric units
Temperature Proof strength
°C R p0.2 R p1.0
MPa MPa
min. min.
100 230 270
4 SANDVIK 254 SMO (ESR)
Metric units
Temperature Proof strength
°C R p0.2 R p1.0
MPa MPa
min. min.
200 190 225
300 170 200
400 160 190
Imperial units
Temperature Proof strength
°F R p0.2 R p1.0
ksi ksi
min. min.
200 34 40
400 27 32
600 24 29
700 24 28
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Density: 8.0 g/cm3, 0.29 lb/in3
Thermal conductivity
Temperature, oC W/m oC Temperature, oF Btu/ft h oF
20 10 68 6
100 12 200 7
200 14 400 8
300 16 600 9.5
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400 18 800 10.5
500 20 1000 11.5
600 21 1200 12.5
700 23 1300 13
Specific heat capacity
Temperature, °C J/kg °C Temperature, °F Btu/ft h °F
20 485 68 0.12
100 510 200 0.12
200 535 400 0.13
300 565 600 0.14
400 585 800 0.14
500 600 1000 0.14
600 615 1200 0.15
5 SANDVIK 254 SMO (ESR)
Specific heat capacity
Temperature, °C J/kg °C Temperature, °F Btu/ft h °F
700 625 1400 0.15
Thermal expansion 1)
Temperature, °C Per °C Temperature, °F Per °F
30-100 16 86-200 9
30-200 16 86-400 9
30-300 16.5 86-600 9
30-400 16.5 86-800 9.5
30-500 17 86-1000 9.5
30-600 17 86-1200 9.5
30-700 17.5 86-1300 10
1) mean values in temperature ranges (x106)
Modulus of elasticity 1)
Temperature, °C MPa Temperature, °F ksi
20 195 68 28.3
100 190 200 27.6
200 182 400 27.5
300 174 600 25.1
400 166 800 23.8
500 158 1000 22.5
1) (x103)
HOT WORKING
Hot working should be carried out at a material temperature of 950-1200°C (1740-2190°F). Hot working of
Sandvik 254 SMO/ESR should be followed by rapid cooling in air or water. Subsequent heat treatment should be
carried out in accordance with the recommendations given for heat treatment.
Datasheet updated 11/21/2019 11:42:37 AM (supersedes all previous editions)
WELDING
The weldability of Sandvik 254 SMO/ESR is good. Suitable methods of fusion welding are manual metal-arc
welding (MMA/SMAW) and gas-shielded arc welding, with the TIG/GTAW method as first choice. Preheating and
post-weld heat treatment are normally not recommended.
In common with all fully austenitic stainless steels, Sandvik 254 SMO/ESR has low thermal conductivity and high
thermal expansion. Welding plans should therefore be carefully selected in advance, so that distortions of the
welded joint are minimized. If residual stresses are a concern, solution annealing can be performed after welding.
For Sandvik 254 SMO/ESR, heat-input of <1.0 kJ/mm and interpass temperature of <100°C (210°F) are
recommended. A string bead welding technique should be used.
Nickel alloys with high molybdenum and chromium must be used as filler metals to have good corrosion
resistance in as welded condition.
Recommended filler metals
TIG/GTAW or MIG/GMAW welding
6 SANDVIK 254 SMO (ESR)
ISO 18274 S Ni 6625/AWS A5.14 ERNiCrMo-3 (e.g. Exaton Sanicro 60)
ISO 18274 S Ni 6059/AWS A5.14 ERNiCrMo-13 (e.g. Exaton Sanicro 59)
MMA/SMAW welding
ISO 14172 E Ni 6625/AWS A5.11 ENiCrMo-3 (e.g. Exaton Sanicro 60)
ISO 14172 E Ni 6059/AWS A5.11 ENiCrMo-13 (e.g. Exaton Sanicro 59)
MACHINING
Machining Sandvik 254 SMO/ESR, as with other stainless steels, requires an adjustment to tooling data and
machining method, in order to achieve satisfactory results. Compared to Sanmac 316/316L, the cutting speed
must be reduced by approximately 55-60% when turning Sandvik 254 SMO/ESR with coated, cemented carbide
tools. Much the same applies to other operations. Feeds should only be reduced slightly and with care.
Detailed recommendations for the choice of tools and cutting data are provided in the data sheet for Sanmac
316/316L.
Disclaimer: Recommendations are for guidance only, and the suitability of a material for a specific application can be confirmed
only when we know the actual service conditions. Continuous development may necessitate changes in technical data without
notice. This datasheet is only valid for Sandvik materials.
Datasheet updated 11/21/2019 11:42:37 AM (supersedes all previous editions)
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