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Austral Wright Metals, part of the Crane group of companies, is the result of a merger between two long established and respected Australian metal trading companies. Austral Bronze Crane Copper Ltd and Wright and Company Pty Ltd.
In most cases, 404GP™ steel can be used instead of 304 stainless steel. The corrosion resistance of grade 404GP™ is at least as good as grade 304 and usually even better: it does not suffer from hot water stress corrosion cracking and does not increase welding sensitivity.
The 404GP™ grade is a next generation ferritic stainless steel produced by premium Japanese steel mills using the most advanced new generation ultra low carbon steel technology.
The 404GP™ grade can be machined with all the methods used with 304. It is hardened just like carbon steel, so it doesn’t cause all the usual annoyances for workers using 304.
The 404GP™ grade has a very high chromium content (21%) which is far superior in corrosion resistance to the regular 430 ferritic grade. So don’t worry about the 404GP™ grade being magnetic like all duplex stainless steels such as like 2205.
For most applications, you can use 404GP™ as a general purpose stainless steel instead of the old workhorse 304. 404GP™ is easier to cut, fold, bend and weld than 304. It makes the job look better: crisp edges and curves, flatter panels, more accurate design.
As a ferritic stainless steel, 404GP™ has a higher yield strength than 304, similar hardness, and lower tensile strength and tensile elongation. It is much less hardened, which makes it easier to work with and behaves like carbon steel during production.
The 404GP™ costs 20% less than the 304. It’s lighter, with 3.5% more square meters per kilogram. Better machinability reduces labor, tooling and maintenance costs.
404GP™ is now available from stock at Austral Wright Metals in 0.55, 0.7, 0.9, 1.2, 1.5 and 2.0mm thicknesses in coils and sheets.
Finished at number 4 and 2B. 2B finish on Grade 404GP™ steel is brighter than 304. Do not use 2B where appearance is important – gloss may vary with width.
Grade 404GP™ is solderable. You can use TIG, MIG, spot and seam welding. See Austral Wright Metals recommendations “Next Generation Ferritic Stainless Steel Welding”.
Rice. 1. 430, 304, and 404GP stainless steel samples spray tested for corrosion after four months of exposure to 5% salt spray at 35ºC
Figure 2. Atmospheric corrosion of 430, 304, and 404GP stainless steels after one year of actual exposure off Tokyo Bay.
404GP™ grade is a new generation ferritic stainless steel manufactured by JFE Steel Corporation under the brand name 443CT. This variety is new, but the factory has many years of experience in producing similar high quality varieties, and you can be sure that it will not let you down.
As with all ferritic stainless steels, 404GP™ grade should only be used between 0ºC and 400°C and should not be used in pressure vessels or designs that are not fully certified.
This information has been verified and adapted from materials provided by Austral Wright Metals – Black, Non-Ferrous and High Performance Alloys.
For more information about this source, visit the Austral Wright Metals – Black, Non-Ferrous and Performance Alloys website.
Austral Wright Metals – Ferrous, non-ferrous and high performance alloys. (June 10, 2020). 404GP stainless steel is the ideal alternative to 304 stainless steel – features and benefits of 404GP. AZOM. Retrieved September 14, 2022 from https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=4243.
Austral Wright Metals – Ferrous, non-ferrous and high performance alloys. “404GP Stainless Steel is the Ideal Alternative to 304 Stainless Steel – Features and Benefits of 404GP.” AZOM. September 14, 2022 . September 14, 2022 .
Austral Wright Metals – Ferrous, non-ferrous and high performance alloys. “404GP Stainless Steel is the Ideal Alternative to 304 Stainless Steel – Features and Benefits of 404GP.” AZOM. https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=4243. (As of September 14, 2022).
Austral Wright Metals – Ferrous, non-ferrous and high performance alloys. 2020. 404GP Stainless Steel – The Ideal Alternative to 304 Stainless Steel – Features and Benefits of 404GP. AZoM, accessed 14 September 2022, https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=4243.
We are looking for a lightweight replacement for SS202/304. The 404GP is ideal, but it needs to be at least 25% lighter than the SS304. Can this composite/alloy be used.Ganesha
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of AZoM.com.
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