Description
The Workhorse of High-Performance Alloys
We’ve seen countless stainless steel grades come and go in our 15+ years, but 17-4 PH round bar remains a staple in our inventory for good reason. This isn’t just another corrosion-resistant alloy – it’s the solution when you need both strength and durability in environments where regular 304 or 316 simply won’t cut it. We’ve watched it perform flawlessly in offshore drilling equipment, survive years of salt spray testing in marine applications, and hold tight tolerances in aerospace components.
What makes it special? The magic lies in the precipitation hardening process. Unlike standard stainless steels, we can fine-tune its mechanical properties through heat treatment. The H900 condition gives you that impressive 190 ksi tensile strength, but we often recommend H1025 (155 ksi tensile) for applications where you need a better balance of strength and toughness. Many customers ask about corrosion resistance – it matches 304 in most environments, but we’ve seen it outperform 316 in chloride-rich conditions due to its superior pitting resistance.
Real-World Performance You Can Count On
- We stock diameters from 3mm up to 300mm, but our sweet spot is 25-150mm where most industrial applications live. The larger bars (150mm+) undergo strict ultrasonic testing per ASTM A564
- Machining? It’s best in Condition A (solution annealed), but we’ve developed tooling recommendations for post-aging machining that reduce tool wear by 40%
- Temperature performance is solid from cryogenic (-200°C) up to 315°C, though we suggest reviewing your specific aging condition for the upper end
- The Nb/Cu precipitation gives it excellent stress-corrosion cracking resistance – critical for oil & gas applications where H2S exposure is a concern
Our ISO 9001-certified facility maintains tight control on the Nb/Ta ratio (0.15-0.45%) – this small detail makes a big difference in final mechanical properties. We’ve had customers switch to us after experiencing inconsistent hardness from suppliers who overlooked this.
As a Chinese steel mill with direct control over production, we offer what many can’t: full lot traceability, custom aging treatments (including duplex hardening), and the ability to modify chemistry within ASTM specs for specific applications. Need 2000 pieces of 80mm H1075 bars with 12m lengths? We’ve done it. Want polished surfaces with Ra <1.6μm for medical applications? Our grinding lines can deliver.
We’re happy to share mill test reports and discuss your specific requirements. Our engineers have seen most applications before – chances are we can recommend the right condition and finish for your project. Just ask.
