TELLURIUM MICROALLOYING OF AUSTENITE STAINLESS STEEL X8CrNiS18-9

Abstract

More recently modified stainless steels have been used to produce various structural elements that work in complex operating conditions. Stainless steel X8CrNiS18-9 (standard EN 10088-3) is the most commonly used from the group of austenitic stainless steel in terms of machinability. This steel has high mechanical and working properties thanks to a complex alloying, primarily with elements such as chromium and nickel. The content of sulphur present in the steel from 0.15 to 0.35% improves machinability. However, sulphur at the same time decreases the mechanical properties, particularly toughness. In steel, tellurium stabilizes carbides and reduces the microporosity of the structure. Also, tellurium is now recognized as a powerful sulphur modifier as well as a machinability additive when used in combination with lead and sulphur. This work aims to determine the influence of tellurium on the machinability, corrosion resistance and mechanical properties of the mentioned steel.

Keywords

• nonmetallic inclusions
• tellurium
• machinability
• corrosion resistance
• mechanical properties