Nitronic 60 Stainless Steel - UNS S21800

Nitronic 60 （UNS S21800） is a highly alloyed austenitic stainless steel providing good mechanical strength (approaching twice that of Type 316 stainless steel) and corrosion resistance combined with excellent resistance to galling and wear at ambient and elevated temperatures. Other valuable characteristics of this alloy include good lower temperature impact properties and retention of strength at elevated temperatures, high shear strength, excellent cavitation erosion resistance and good high-temperature oxidation resistance (similar to Type 309).  

Nitronic 60 is a high strength UNS S21800 stainless steel which offers superior resistance to general corrosion compared to Type 304, yet not as high as Type 316 stainless steel. When cooled in the annealed condition, Nitronic 60 provides ideal bolting and shafting--however, when cooled in a high strength cold-worked condition, there is a small decrease in corrosion resistance in some environments.

The corrosion resistance of Armco NITRONIC 60 Stainless Steel falls between that of types 304 and 316. However, experience shows that in a wear system, a galling or siezure failure occurs first, followed by dimensional loss due to wear, and finally corrosion. Galling and wear must be the first concerns of the design engineer. Although the general corrosion resistance of NITRONIC 60 is not quite as good as Type 316, it does offer better chloride pitting resistance, stress corrosion cracking resistance and crevice corrosion resistance than Type 316 in laboratory conditions. Corrosion tests are not normally performed with NITRONIC 60 High Strength.

Nitronic 60's uniform corrosion resistance is better than 304 stainless in most environments. The yield strength of Nitronic 60 is nearly twice that of 304 and 316 stainless steels. Chloride pitting resistance is superior to that of type 316 stainless; Nitronic 60 provides excellent high temperature oxidation resistance and low temperature impact.

Applications using Nitronic 60 are valve stems, seats, and trim, fastening systems, screening, pins, bushings and roller bearings, pump shafts and rings. Other uses include wear plates, rails guides, and bridge pins.

This alloy provides a significant lower cost way to fight wear and galling compared to Nickel or Cobalt based alloys.

Corrosion resistance and chloride pitting is superior to that of standard stainless grades. Nitronic 60 also provides outstanding oxidation resistance while having a yield strength of almost double 316 stainless steel. It resists wear, tearing and freeze of both the primary and contact materials over a wide range of service temperatures.

Annealed involved the heating of stainless at ~900°F and allowing it to cool slowly, to soften the steel and remove internal tension.