ACI-ASTM CF3 (SCS19, SCS19A, J92500) Cast Stainless Steel
ACI-ASTM CF3 steel is an austenitic stainless steel formulated for casting. Cited properties are appropriate for the heat treated (HT) condition. CF3 is the designation in both the ACI and ASTM systems for this material. J92500 is the UNS number.
It has the highest ductility among cast austenitic stainless steels. In addition, it has a fairly low base cost and a moderately high thermal conductivity.
The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare ACI-ASTM CF3 steel to: cast austenitic stainless steels (top), all iron alloys (middle), and the entire database (bottom). A full bar means this is the highest value in the relevant set. A half-full bar means it's 50% of the highest, and so on.
Mechanical Properties
Brinell Hardness
140
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
200 GPa 29 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
60 %
Fatigue Strength
270 MPa 39 x 103 psi
Poisson's Ratio
0.28
Shear Modulus
77 GPa 11 x 106 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
510 MPa 73 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
250 MPa 36 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
300 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Corrosion
420 °C 790 °F
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
960 °C 1770 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
1420 °C 2590 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
1450 °C 2640 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
480 J/kg-K 0.11 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
16 W/m-K 9.3 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
16 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
2.0 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
2.3 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
16 % relative
Density
7.8 g/cm3 490 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
3.2 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
45 MJ/kg 19 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
150 L/kg 18 gal/lb
Common Calculations
PREN (Pitting Resistance)
20
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
250 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
160 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
14 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
25 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
18 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
18 points
Thermal Diffusivity
4.3 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
11 points
Alloy Composition
Among cast stainless steels, the composition of ACI-ASTM CF3 steel is notable for containing comparatively high amounts of nickel (Ni) and chromium (Cr). Nickel is primarily used to achieve a specific microstructure. In addition, it has a beneficial effect on mechanical properties and certain types of corrosion. Chromium is the defining alloying element of stainless steel. Higher chromium content imparts additional corrosion resistance.
| Fe | 62.9 to 75 | |
| Cr | 17 to 21 | |
| Ni | 8.0 to 12 | |
| Si | 0 to 2.0 | |
| Mn | 0 to 1.5 | |
| Mo | 0 to 0.5 | |
| P | 0 to 0.040 | |
| S | 0 to 0.040 | |
| C | 0 to 0.030 |
All values are % weight. Ranges represent what is permitted under applicable standards.
Followup Questions
Similar Alloys
Further Reading
ASTM A743: Standard Specification for Castings, Iron-Chromium, Iron-Chromium-Nickel, Corrosion Resistant, for General Application
Welding Metallurgy of Stainless Steels, Erich Folkhard et al., 2012
Corrosion of Austenitic Stainless Steels: Mechanism, Mitigation and Monitoring, H. S. Khatak and B. Raj (editors), 2002
Austenitic Stainless Steels: Microstructure and Mechanical Properties, P. Marshall, 1984
Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High Performance Alloys, ASM Handbook vol. 1, ASM International, 1993
ASM Specialty Handbook: Stainless Steels, J. R. Davis (editor), 1994
Advances in Stainless Steels, Baldev Raj et al. (editors), 2010