PROCESSING OF STAINLESS STEEL SHEET - 3

HEAT TREATMENT
Solution Annealing - Heat to 815-845°C, hold for ½ hour per 25mm of thickness, slow furnace cool to 600°C and then quickly air cool. Slow cooling from 540-400°C will cause embrittlement.
Sub-Critical anneal - Heat to 760-815°C and then air cool or water quench.
This grade is not hardenable by thermal treatment.
WELDING
Pre-heat at 150-200°C if welding is necessary.
Embrittlement in the weld metal and heat affected zone can be relieved by a post-weld anneal at 790-815°C
Grain refinement will not occur.
MACHINING
Easier to machine than the standard austenitic grades such as 304.
Still a tendency for galling and pick-up on the cutting tool.
Bars that have been lightly drawn are easier to machine than those in the annealed condition.
Grade 430F, the free machining version of 430, is very much easier to machine.
FABRICATION
Lower work hardening rate makes bending and forming somewhat easier than for grade 304
Lower ductility restricts very severe operations.
Severe bends should be made with the bend axis at right angles to the rolling direction.
Severe cold heading of 430 wire is possible.