310

310 (UNS S31000) is a high-chromium-nickel austenitic stainless steel, distinguished by its higher carbon content compared to 310S. It is renowned for excellent high-temperature strength, outstanding oxidation resistance, and good corrosion resistance. It maintains stable mechanical properties during long-term service at high temperatures (up to 1200 °C) and has strong thermal load-bearing capacity, making it a preferred material for high-temperature structural components under moderate corrosion conditions.​.

Behaviour that matters in service

• High-Temperature Strength & Oxidation Resistance. — Excels in oxidation resistance in air at temperatures up to 1200 °C (higher than 310S’s typical 1150 °C). The higher carbon content enhances high-temperature tensile strength and creep resistance, while the dense chromium oxide film on the surface prevents further oxidation—suitable for load-bearing high-temperature components.​.
• Corrosion Resistance — Demonstrates strong resistance to oxidizing acids (e.g., nitric acid) and high-temperature gases. However, due to higher carbon content, its resistance to intergranular corrosion is inferior to 310S; post-weld annealing is recommended for applications in corrosive high-temperature environments.​.
• Thermal Stability — Retains excellent mechanical properties under long-term high-temperature exposure (1000 – 1200 °C) and resists thermal fatigue deformation, ensuring structural stability of heavy-duty high-temperature parts.​.
• Formability & Processability — Can be processed via cold working (e.g., rolling, stamping) and hot working (e.g., forging, extrusion). Hot working performance is superior due to higher carbon content, facilitating fabrication of thick-walled or heavy structural components.​.
• Weldability — Compatible with common welding methods (e.g., TIG welding, MIG welding). To avoid intergranular corrosion, low-carbon filler metals (e.g., ER310L) are recommended, and post-weld heat treatment (solution annealing at 1050 – 1150 °C) is advised for corrosive service.​.

Typical applications

• Thermal Processing Industry — Widely used in heavy-duty industrial furnace components (e.g., load-bearing furnace frames, thick-walled furnace tubes, high-temperature furnace doors) and heat treatment baskets for heavy workpieces—withstands high temperatures and mechanical loads simultaneously.​.
• Power Generation Industry — Applied to high-temperature load-bearing parts of thermal power plants (e.g., large boiler header tubes, heavy-duty superheater supports) and waste incineration power plant high-temperature flue gas ducts—resists high-temperature flue gas erosion and creep deformation.​.
• Metallurgical Industry — Employed in molten metal handling equipment (e.g., thick-walled stainless steel casting molds, high-temperature molten steel launders) and high-temperature annealing furnace structural beams—resists molten metal erosion and long-term high-temperature oxidation.​.
• Chemical Industry — Used for high-temperature, low-corrosion load-bearing equipment (e.g., thick-walled high-temperature reaction kettle supports, non-corrosive high-temperature pipeline flanges)—avoid direct contact with strong reducing acids to prevent intergranular corrosion.​.
• Other Fields — Used in high-temperature structural parts of industrial boilers (e.g., heavy-duty fire tubes) and large-scale high-temperature exhaust system supports for ships/heavy machinery. In aerospace, it is applied to non-corrosive high-temperature auxiliary components of ground test equipment.