310 Powder

Overview of 310 Powder

310 powder is an austenitic stainless steel powder containing high levels of chromium, nickel and nitrogen for enhanced mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. It offers an excellent combination of strength, hardness, toughness and wear resistance.

Key properties and advantages of 310 powder include:

310 Powder Properties and Characteristics

Properties	Details
Composition	Fe-25Cr-20Ni-0.25N alloy
Density	8.1 g/cc
Particle shape	Irregular, angular
Size range	10-150 microns
Apparent density	Up to 50% of true density
Flowability	Moderate
Strength	Very high for a 300 series powder
Wear resistance	Excellent due to work hardening

310 powder is widely used in applications requiring hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance like valve parts, shafts, bearing cages, fasteners, surgical instruments etc.

310 Powder Composition

Typical composition of 310 stainless steel powder:

310 Powder Composition

Element	Weight %
Iron (Fe)	Balance
Chromium (Cr)	24-26%
Nickel (Ni)	19-22%
Nitrogen (N)	0.2-0.4%
Carbon (C)	0.25% max
Silicon (Si)	1.5% max
Manganese (Mn)	2% max
Sulfur (S)	0.03% max
Phosphorus (P)	0.045% max

• Iron provides the ferritic matrix and ductility
• Chromium and nickel enhance corrosion resistance
• Nitrogen provides solid solution strengthening
• Carbon, silicon, manganese controlled as tramp elements

The optimized composition provides an excellent combination of strength, hardness, corrosion resistance, and cost.

310 Powder Physical Properties

310 Powder Physical Properties

Property	Values
Density	8.1 g/cc
Melting point	1370-1400°C
Electrical resistivity	0.8 μΩ-m
Thermal conductivity	12 W/mK
Thermal expansion	11 x 10^-6 /K
Maximum service temperature	1150°C

• High density compared to ferritic stainless steels
• Maintains excellent strength at elevated temperatures
• Resistivity higher than pure iron or carbon steels
• Lower thermal conductivity than carbon steel
• Can withstand continuous service up to 1150°C

The physical properties make 310 suitable for high temperature applications requiring hardness, strength and corrosion resistance.

310 Powder Mechanical Properties

310 Powder Mechanical Properties

Property	Values
Tensile strength	760-900 MPa
Yield strength	450-550 MPa
Elongation	35-40%
Hardness	32-38 HRC
Impact strength	50-100 J
Modulus of elasticity	190-210 GPa

• Very high strength for 300 series stainless steel
• Excellent hardness and wear resistance
• High toughness and impact strength
• Strength can be further increased through cold working
• Cold working also significantly enhances hardness

The properties provide an excellent combination of strength, hardness and toughness required in many wear resistant applications.

310 Powder Applications

Typical applications of 310 stainless steel powder include:

310 Powder Applications

Industry	Example Uses
Petrochemical	Valves, pumps, shafts
Food processing	Extruder screws, blades
Automotive	Gears, shafts, fasteners
Manufacturing	Press tooling, bearing cages
Medical	Surgical instruments, implants

Some specific product uses:

• High strength fasteners, bolts, nuts
• Pump and valve components like seals, shafts
• Food processing extruder screws and blades
• High hardness press tooling and molds
• Mixing equipment, impellers requiring wear resistance

Its excellent combination of properties make 310 widely used for specialized applications across industries.

310 Powder Specifications

Relevant specifications and standards:

310 Powder Standards

Standard	Description
ASTM A276	Standard specification for stainless steel bars and shapes
ASTM A314	Standard for stainless steel bent pipe and tubing
ASME SA-479	Specification for stainless steel tubing
AMS 5517	Annealed corrosion resistant steel bar, wire, forgings
AMS 5903	Precipitation hardening stainless steel bar, wire, forgings

These standards define:

• Chemical composition limits of 310 alloy
• Permissible impurity levels like S, P
• Required mechanical properties
• Approved production methods
• Compliance testing protocols
• Proper packaging, labeling and documentation

Meeting certification requirements ensures suitability of the powder.

310 Powder Particle Sizes

310 Powder Particle Size Distribution

Particle Size	Characteristics
10-45 microns	Ultrafine grade for high density and surface finish
45-150 microns	Coarse grade provides good flowability
15-150 microns	Standard grade for pressing and sintering

• Finer particles allow greater densification during sintering
• Coarser powder flows better and fills die cavities uniformly
• Size range is tailored based on final part properties needed
• Both gas and water atomized powders are available

Controlling particle size distribution allows optimizing processing behavior and final part performance.

310 Powder Apparent Density

310 Powder Apparent Density

Apparent Density	Details
Up to 50% of true density	For irregular powder morphology
4.5-5.5 g/cc typical	Improves with greater packing density

• Higher apparent density improves powder flow and compressibility
• Irregular morphology limits maximum packing density
• Values up to 60% are possible with spherical powders
• High apparent density improves press filling efficiency

Higher apparent density leads to better manufacturing productivity and part quality.

310 Powder Production Method

310 Powder Production

Method	Details
Gas atomization	High pressure inert gas breaks molten metal stream into fine droplets
Water atomization	High pressure water jet breaks metal into fine particles
Vacuum induction melting	High purity input materials melted under vacuum
Multiple remelting	Improves chemical homogenization
Sieving	Classifies powder into different particle size ranges

• Gas atomization provides clean, spherical powder morphology
• Water atomization is a lower cost process with irregular particles
• Vacuum melting and remelting minimizes gaseous impurities
• Post-processing allows customization of particle sizes

Automated production and stringent quality control result in consistent powder suitable for critical applications.

310 Powder Pricing

310 Powder Pricing

Factor	Impact on Price
Purity level	Higher purity increases cost
Powder morphology	Spherical powder costs more
Particle size	Ultrafine powder more expensive
Order volume	Larger quantities have lower per unit pricing
Additional services	Customization adds cost

Indicative Pricing

• Irregular 310 powder: $8-12 per kg
• Spherical 310 powder: $12-18 per kg
• Large volume pricing can be 30-50% lower

Pricing depends on purity, particle characteristics, order volume, and customization needs.

310 Powder Suppliers

310 Powder Suppliers

Company	Location
Höganäs	Sweden
Sandvik	Germany
Daido Steel	Japan
CNPC Powder	China
Carpenter Powder Products	USA
Erasteel	France

Key supplier selection factors:

• Powder grades offered
• Production capacity
• Particle morphology and size ranges
• Batch analysis reports
• Pricing and minimum order quantity
• Customization services
• Delivery times and reliability

310 Powder Handling and Storage

310 Powder Handling

Recommendation	Reason
Use PPE and ventilation	Avoid exposure to fine metallic particles
Ensure proper grounding	Prevent static discharge while handling
Avoid ignition sources	Powder can combust in oxygen atmosphere
Use non-sparking tools	Prevent possibility of ignition
Follow safety protocols	Reduce risk of burns, inhalation, ingestion
Store in stable containers	Prevent contamination or oxidation

As 310 powder is flammable, ignition and explosion risks should be controlled during handling and storage. Otherwise it is relatively safe with proper precautions.

310 Powder Inspection and Testing

310 Powder Testing

Test	Details
Chemical analysis	ICP and XRF verify composition
Particle size distribution	Laser diffraction determines size distribution
Apparent density	Hall flowmeter test per ASTM B212 standard
Powder morphology	SEM imaging shows particle shape
Flow rate analysis	Gravity flow rate through specified nozzle
Loss on ignition	Determines residual moisture content

Stringent testing ensures the powder meets the required chemical purity, particle characteristics, density, morphology, and flowability per applicable specifications.

310 Powder Pros and Cons

Advantages of 310 Powder

• Excellent strength and hardness for stainless steel powder
• High temperature strength and corrosion resistance
• Good ductility, toughness and weldability
• Excellent wear and abrasion resistance
• Readily work hardens significantly
• More cost-effective than high nickel or exotic alloys

Disadvantages of 310 Powder

• Lower ductility than austenitic grades in annealed state
• Lower pitting corrosion resistance than 316 grade
• Requires care during welding to avoid sensitization
• Limited cold heading and forming capability
• Susceptible to sigma phase embrittlement at high temperatures
• Surface discoloration over time in some environments

Comparison With 316L Powder

310 vs 316L Stainless Steel Powder

Parameter	310	316L
Density	8.1 g/cc	8.0 g/cc
Strength	760-900 MPa	485-550 MPa
Hardness	32-38 HRC	79-95 HRB
Corrosion resistance	Very good	Excellent
Cost	Low	High
Uses	Wear parts, tools	Chemical plants, marine

• 310 has far higher strength and hardness
• 316L provides better overall corrosion resistance
• 310 is more cost-effective than 316L
• 310 suited for applications needing hardness and wear resistance
• 316L preferred where corrosion is the primary concern

310 Powder FAQs

Q: What are the main applications of 310 stainless steel powder?

A: Main applications include high-strength fasteners, pump and valve components, extruder screws, press tooling, bearing cages, shafts, and surgical instruments requiring hardness, strength and wear resistance.

Q: What is nitrogen’s role in 310 stainless steel?

A: Nitrogen provides substantial solid solution strengthening which significantly increases the strength and hardness of 310 stainless steel.

Q: What precautions are needed when working with 310 powder?

A: Recommended precautions include ventilation, inert atmosphere, grounding, avoiding ignition sources, protective gear, using non-sparking tools, and safe storage in stable containers.

Q: How does 310 stainless steel differ from 304 and 316 grades?

A: 310 has much higher strength and hardness than 304 or 316 due to its high nitrogen content. It offers better wear resistance but lower corrosion resistance than 316.