A brief history of duplex stainless steel

A brief history of duplex stainless steel

However, by the end of the 1960s, decarburization allowed metal foundries to create low-carbon steels with high chromium and nickel content while further balancing the ferrite and austenite structure.

This lead to a new generation of duplex alloys with better performance and fewer downsides.

These duplex stainless steels share many similarities with the modern alloys in production today -- in particular, Duplex 2205 (UNS S21803/32205).

Developed in the mid-1970s, this alloy is still popular today providing corrosion resistance superior to common austenitic stainless steel grades, such as 304 (UNS S30400), 316 (UNS S31600), and 317 (UNS S31700).

Though newer standards use different ranges of chromium, molybdenum and nickel, industries can thank the original grades pioneered in the 1970s for the range of duplex stainless steels in use today.

Duplex stainless steel is an alloy which makes use of both austenitic and ferritic steels. Combining these two steels, it's able to be affordable, strong, and resistant to corrosion.

However, this alloy hasn't always been what it is now. First conceived in the early 20th century, it has undergone a great deal of evolution.

Here is the history of duplex stainless steel.