High Copper 304L
High Copper 304L
(OP)
Hi all,
Looking at some 304L sheet at the moment with a high copper content of 1.5 wt% which was a suprise!, anyone think of good reasons chemistry may be at this level (everything else within AISI 30L spec) apart from poor scrap availability at the supplier?
Looking at some 304L sheet at the moment with a high copper content of 1.5 wt% which was a suprise!, anyone think of good reasons chemistry may be at this level (everything else within AISI 30L spec) apart from poor scrap availability at the supplier?





RE: High Copper 304L
copper helps with cold forming. it is common in stainless wire.
RE: High Copper 304L
RE: High Copper 304L
In this case high deliberate levels of an unspecified element is not harmful, but I wouldn't trust every producing mill to know what's best for your situation.
Ever wonder what they analyze for and don't report? I think steel purchasers would find that very interesting. By the way, normal residual Cu levels in 304 are 0.3%
RE: High Copper 304L
RE: High Copper 304L
I have helped many people do this and generate savings of $millions with no adverse effect.
RE: High Copper 304L
RE: High Copper 304L
RE: High Copper 304L
As for substituting Cu for Ni, I wholeheartedly agree that this practice is unscrupulous. Most mills will run expensive alloys toward the lower end of the spec, as long as the steel still meets required properties. But with the rising price of alloys the mills are passing this cost on to the customer in the form of surcharges, so intentionally substituting alloys with similar effect doesn't make much sense. Unless they're trying to surcharge you for nickel and giving you copper, in which case they'll probably be in litigation soon.