317L Powder

Overview of 317L Powder

317L powder is an austenitic stainless steel powder containing 18% chromium, 3% molybdenum, and 0.08% carbon. It offers an excellent combination of corrosion resistance, strength, weldability and cost.

Key properties and advantages of 317L powder include:

317L Powder Properties and Characteristics

Properties	Details
Composition	Fe-18Cr-3Mo-0.08C alloy
Density	8.0 g/cc
Particle shape	Irregular, angular
Size range	10-150 microns
Apparent density	Up to 50% of true density
Flowability	Moderate
Corrosion resistance	Excellent in many environments
Strengthening	Cold working and solid solution strengthening

317L powder is widely used in chemical processing, marine applications, pulp and paper industry, nuclear power generation, and architectural features needing weathering resistance.

317L Powder Composition

Typical composition of 317L stainless steel powder:

317L Powder Composition

Element	Weight %
Iron (Fe)	Balance
Chromium (Cr)	17-19%
Nickel (Ni)	11-15%
Molybdenum (Mo)	2.5-3.5%
Manganese (Mn)	<2%
Carbon (C)	0.08% max
Silicon (Si)	1% max
Nitrogen (N)	0.10% max
Sulfur (S)	0.03% max

• Iron provides the ferritic matrix and ductility
• Chromium enhances corrosion and oxidation resistance
• Nickel stabilizes the austenitic structure
• Molybdenum further improves pitting resistance
• Carbon, nitrogen and sulfur controlled as tramp elements

The composition provides an excellent balance of corrosion resistance, formability, weldability and cost.

317L Powder Physical Properties

317L Powder Physical Properties

Property	Values
Density	8.0 g/cc
Melting point	1370-1400°C
Electrical resistivity	0.8 μΩ-m
Thermal conductivity	16 W/mK
Thermal expansion	16 x 10^-6 /K
Maximum service temperature	900°C

• High density compared to ferritic stainless steels
• Maintains strength and corrosion resistance at elevated temperatures
• Resistivity higher than pure iron or carbon steels
• Lower thermal conductivity than carbon steel
• Can withstand continuous service up to 900°C

The physical properties make 317L suitable for high temperature applications requiring corrosion resistance.

317L Powder Mechanical Properties

317L Powder Mechanical Properties

Property	Values
Tensile strength	515-620 MPa
Yield strength	205-275 MPa
Elongation	40-50%
Hardness	88-95 HRB
Impact strength	100-150 J
Modulus of elasticity	190-210 GPa

• Excellent combination of strength and ductility
• Can be work hardened significantly to increase strength
• Very high toughness and impact strength
• Strength can be further improved through cold working
• Hardness is relatively low in annealed condition

The properties provide an excellent balance of strength, ductility and toughness required for many corrosive environments.

317L Powder Applications

Typical applications of 317L stainless steel powder include:

317L Powder Applications

Industry	Example Uses
Chemical	Tanks, valves, pipes, pumps
Petrochemical	Process equipment, tubing, valves
Marine	Propeller shafts, fasteners, deck hardware
Nuclear	Reactor vessels, fuel element cladding
Architectural	Railings, wall panels, roofing

Some specific product uses:

• Pollution control equipment handling hot acids
• Nuclear reactor internal structures
• Marine propeller shafts, deck fittings
• Pulp and paper industry piping, valves
• Architectural paneling, roofing, cladding

Its excellent corrosion resistance combined with good manufacturability make 317L widely used across demanding industries.

317L Powder Specifications

Relevant specifications and standards:

317L Powder Standards

Standard	Description
ASTM A276	Standard for stainless steel bars and shapes
ASTM A479	Standard for stainless steel tubing
AMS 5524	Annealed stainless steel bar, wire, forgings
ASME SA-276	Specification for stainless steel bars and shapes
AISI 630	Standard for 17Cr-4Ni precipitation hardening stainless steel

These standards define:

• Chemical composition limits of 317L 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 for the intended applications.

317L Powder Particle Sizes

317L 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.

317L Powder Apparent Density

317L 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 powder
• High apparent density improves press filling efficiency

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

317L Powder Production Method

317L 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.

317L Powder Pricing

317L Powder Pricing

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

Indicative Pricing

• Irregular 317L powder: $6-10 per kg
• Spherical 317L powder: $10-15 per kg
• Large volume pricing can be 30-50% lower

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

317L Powder Suppliers

317L Powder Suppliers

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

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

317L Powder Handling and Storage

317L 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 317L powder is flammable, ignition and explosion risks should be controlled during handling and storage. Otherwise it is relatively safe with proper precautions.

317L Powder Inspection and Testing

317L 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.

317L Powder Pros and Cons

Advantages of 317L Powder

• Excellent corrosion resistance in many environments
• High temperature strength and oxidation resistance
• Good ductility, toughness and weldability
• More cost-effective than high nickel austenitic grades
• Readily formable using conventional techniques
• Can be work hardened through cold/warm working

Disadvantages of 317L Powder

• Lower high temperature creep strength than some ferritic grades
• Lower hardness and wear resistance than martensitic grades
• Susceptible to chloride stress corrosion cracking
• Requires post weld annealing to prevent sensitization
• Limited cold heading and forming capability
• Surface discoloration over time in outdoor exposure

Comparison With 316L Powder

317L vs 316L Stainless Steel Powder

Parameter	317L	316L
Density	8.0 g/cc	8.0 g/cc
Strength	515-620 MPa	485-550 MPa
Corrosion resistance	Excellent	Outstanding
Pitting resistance	Very good	Excellent
Cost	Low	High
Uses	Process industry, marine	Chemical, pharmaceutical

• 317L provides higher strength at lower cost
• 316L offers better pitting corrosion resistance
• 317L has good chloride stress corrosion resistance
• 316L preferred for ultra-corrosive environments
• 317L suited for marine applications and nuclear industry

317L Powder FAQs

Q: What are the main applications of 317L stainless steel powder?

A: Main applications include chemical processing, petrochemical, marine, nuclear, pulp & paper, and architectural. It is used for equipment like tanks, valves, pipes, pumps, shafts, and cladding.

Q: What precautions should be taken when handling 317L powder?

A: Recommended precautions include ventilation, grounding, avoiding ignition sources, using non-sparking tools, protective gear, safe storage, and controlling dust exposure.

Q: How does molybdenum improve the corrosion resistance of 317L?

A: Molybdenum enhances pitting and crevice corrosion resistance in chloride environments. It stabilizes the passive film protecting the surface.

Q: What is the main difference between 304L and 317L stainless steel powder?

A: 317L contains 3% molybdenum giving it significantly better corrosion resistance compared to 304L, especially in marine and other chloride environments.