How can I tell if my stainless steel is 1.4062 ?

1.4062 stainless steel, commonly known as 2304 or UNS S32304, is a lean duplex stainless steel that offers a cost-effective balance of high strength, good corrosion resistance, and excellent resistance to stress corrosion cracking. With its ferritic-austenitic microstructure, it provides approximately twice the yield strength of conventional austenitic grades like 304L and 316L, while requiring lower nickel and molybdenum content. This makes it an economical alternative for applications where the higher alloy content of standard duplex 2205 is not necessary.

 

Equivalent Grades of 1.4062 stainless steel

Standard	Grade
EN European	1.4062 / X2CrNiN22‑2
ASTM / UNS	S32202
Common Name	Lean Duplex 2304

Available forms: coils, sheets, plates, bars, welded tubes, profiles.

 

Chemical Composition (mass fraction %, EN 10088‑1) of 1.4062 stainless steel

Element	C	Si	Mn	P	S	Cr	Ni	Mo	N
Content	≤0.030	≤1.00	≤2.00	≤0.040	≤0.010	21.5‑23.5	1.0‑3.0	0.2‑0.8	0.14‑0.24

PREN ≈25‑28. Ultra‑low carbon reduces intergranular‑corrosion risk after welding. Balanced austenite‑ferrite microstructure delivers good strength and moderate chloride‑corrosion resistance.

 

Mechanical Properties of 1.4062 stainless steel

Property	Value
Tensile Strength Rm	620‑820 MPa
0.2% Offset Yield Strength Rp0.2	≥450 MPa
Elongation A	≥25 %
Brinell Hardness HBW	≤290

What strength advantages does 1.4062 stainless steel have?

1.4062 delivers significantly higher mechanical strength. Its yield strength reaches 400 MPa, nearly double that of 304L and 316L austenitic stainless steels at 200 MPa. This superior strength allows thinner wall designs and greatly reduces overall weight for structural and piping applications.

 

How is 1.4062 corrosion resistance performance?

1.4062 provides balanced corrosion resistance between 304L and 316L, with a typical PREN value of 24–26. It exhibits excellent resistance to stress corrosion cracking under chloride-containing service conditions.

 

What is 1.4062 cost advantage compared with standard duplex steel?

This grade features outstanding cost-effectiveness. With lower nickel and molybdenum composition, it is more economical than standard 2205 duplex steel, while providing better overall performance than conventional austenitic stainless steels.

 

Does 1.4062 support easy field welding?

Yes,1.4062 has reliable weldability. It can be welded with conventional welding techniques using suitable filler metals. The weld zone retains stable mechanical and corrosion properties, and no post-weld heat treatment is required.

 

1.Water treatment & potable‑water systems

Drinking‑water piping, municipal wastewater pipelines, storage tanks, domestic water heater tanks, auxiliary pipelines for desalination plants for moderately saline media. Thinner‑wall design helps reduce project costs.

2.Architectural & structural engineering

Footbridges, crash barriers, architectural load‑bearing components, leveraging high strength for lightweight construction.

3.Pulp, paper & food‑beverage industry

Paper‑machine claddings, process tanks, juice and food‑grade storage vessels for food‑contact service. ‑ 4.Coastal‑marine auxiliary facilities: Off‑coastal structural components and auxiliary piping for coastal salt‑fog environments (not for heavy‑chloride main seawater process lines). ‑

5.Pressure vessels & storage tanks

Medium‑low‑pressure tanks and oil‑storage vessels complying with PED requirements for mildly corrosive service. 

6.Automotive & general industry

Automotive structural parts and welded assemblies under moderate‑corrosion conditions, no post‑weld heat treatment required.

How does 2304 (1.4062) compare to 304L (1.4307) and 316L (1.4404)?
2304 offers approximately twice the yield strength of both 304L and 316L (400 MPa vs. 200 MPa), enabling significant weight savings in structural designs and allowing for thinner material sections. Its corrosion resistance lies between 304L and 316L, with PREN 24-26 offering better pitting resistance than 304L (PREN 18-20) but slightly less than 316L (PREN 24-26 depending on composition). It provides superior resistance to chloride stress corrosion cracking compared to both austenitic grades. 2304 is typically more cost-effective than 316L and price-stable due to lower nickel content. However, 304L and 316L offer better formability for complex shapes and higher toughness at very low temperatures. 2304 is often chosen as a higher-strength alternative to 304L, or as a more economical alternative to 316L where its corrosion resistance is sufficient.

 

What are the welding considerations for 2304 (1.4062) duplex stainless steel?
Welding 2304 requires maintaining the balanced ferrite-austenite microstructure for optimal properties. Recommended practices include using matching or slightly over-alloyed filler metals (typically 2209 type), controlling heat input (0.5-2.5 kJ/mm), and maintaining interpass temperature below 150°C. Shielding gas with nitrogen addition (typically Ar + 2-3% N2) helps maintain nitrogen content and promote austenite formation in the weld metal. Preheating is generally not required, and post-weld heat treatment is not necessary. The lower alloy content makes 2304 more forgiving to weld than higher-alloyed duplex grades, with a wider processing window and reduced risk of detrimental phase formation. For optimum corrosion resistance in severe environments, over-alloyed filler metals may be considered to compensate for any nitrogen loss during welding.