×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

testing for 303 ss

testing for 303 ss

testing for 303 ss

(OP)
I am looking for a quick test for 303 SS.
I know about sulphuric acid and photo paper.
 I wondered if there was anything more convenient than that.
I bought a piece of "304" round  bar. I am just getting a little suspicious ( or paranoid.) because of the way it is turning on the lathe.
B.E.

RE: testing for 303 ss

A lab test we used for many years was to immerse the suspected piece in warm HCl for a few minutes. If the material was 303 it would be coated with a heavy black smut while a known piece of 304 would not be covered with smut. You will also get whiff of rotten eggs.
Do not try to smell the container the HCl is in.

I'm trying to remember whether the HCl was concentrated or a 50/50 mixture with water. We should get some help from some others on this.

This has to done in fume hood or outside.

There are some materials like Project 70 that machine very well in a lathe. Even though 303 is listed the other materials machine quite well.

http://www.cartech.com/machining_zone/index.html

RE: testing for 303 ss

(OP)
unclesyd (Materials)
I will try the HCI test on Monday when I go back to work.
The thing that is driving my suspicion, is that this material is turning a lot better than I thought 304 or 304L should.
B.E.

RE: testing for 303 ss

If you've finish machined the part, use 25-45 vol% nitric acid (passivation Type VI per QQ-P-35C; Nitric 2 per ASTM A967).  This won't etch 304 as HCl will, and on 303 will produce bubbles & H2S smell.
Be sure to degrease the SS before putting into nitric.

RE: testing for 303 ss

(OP)
kenvlach (Materials)
I have not finish turned the part yet. I took a roughing cut, and as I mentioned to Unclesyd It was turning far better than I am used to seeing on 304.
 I do not have Nitric in house. I have Phosphoric, Hydrochloric and Sulphuric.
 The other thing that is driving this paranoia is that the finished part has to be welded to another 304 part.
 

RE: testing for 303 ss

Does anyone know if the Te or Se versions of 303 will respond to the sulfur print test? If not, you could come to an erroneous conclusion about 303 vs 304. If this is a critical application, I think I would just pay the $50 or $60 and get a spectro run.

RE: testing for 303 ss

Swall it is tested for 4$ in India. I can be in very good business if I could get this price.

I was actually wondering if berkshire has 202 in his hands for a long time. Hence I posted a general discussion on 200 series stainless steel.

RE: testing for 303 ss

Berkshire, There is also the Outokumpu Prodec.  This material meets standard chemistries and machines very well.  You might have just gotten some good material.
If it were me, I would check chemistry also.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Rust never sleeps
Neither should your protection
http://www.trent-tube.com/contact/Tech_Assist.cfm

RE: testing for 303 ss

(OP)
Thanks for the help guys,
I will do a sulphur check today, I guess the other thing I can do is take a sample and weld it and see if I get hot shortening.
If I  do not get a clear answer I will go back and buy more material with certs The first piece came without certs.
B.E.

RE: testing for 303 ss

(OP)
Well guys,
I did unclesyd's Acid test today, no smutting, no rotten egg smell. The only unusual thing I noticed was that the Hcl turned pale green. I also did the Sulphuric acid/ photo paper test, no indication of sulphur.
 I also cut off a small piece and welded it to a piece of 304L then folded the piece 90 degrees one way then back to straight with no cracking at the weld joint.
 Whatever this is I like it. Again thank you for the help.
 
Arunmrao
Isn't type 202 17-4 type stainless?
B.E.

RE: testing for 303 ss

202 or 17/4 PH are certainly stainless steels. But today we observe a lot of mixing (deliberate) by traders dealing in 304 .

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources