Stainless Steel OP431 Powder

Overview of Stainless Steel OP431 Powder

OP431 stainless steel belongs to the ferritic grade steels which contain chromium as the principal alloying element. The addition of aluminum enhances oxidation and corrosion resistance at high temperatures.

Key characteristics of OP431 powder include:

• Excellent oxidation and corrosion resistance up to 1150¡«C
• Good creep resistance and thermal fatigue strength
• Excellent thermo-mechanical stability
• High thermal conductivity and low thermal expansion
• Cost-effective compared to austenitic stainless steels
• доступны в различных распределениях размеров частиц

OP431 powder is ideal for applications requiring oxidation resistance, thermal stability and moderate strength at elevated temperatures.

Chemical Composition of OP431 Powder

OP431 powder has the following nominal composition:

Элемент	Весовые %
Железо (Fe)	Баланс
Хром (Cr)	16-18%
Алюминий (Al)	3-5%
Yttrium (Y)	0.2-0.5%
Углерод (C)	не более 0,03%
Кремний (Si)	макс. 1%
Марганец (Mn)	макс. 1%

Chromium provides corrosion resistance while aluminum enables excellent oxidation resistance through formation of a protective alumina layer at high temperatures. Yttrium refines the grain size for additional strength.

Properties of OP431 Powder

Key properties of OP431 powder include:

Имущество	Ценность
Плотность	7.3 g/cm3
Температура плавления	1400-1450 годы — «С
Теплопроводность	29 W/mK
Удельное электрическое сопротивление	0.6 Ã×´Î.cm
Модуль Юнга	200 ГПа
Коэффициент Пуассона	0.27-0.30
Прочность на растяжение	450-650 МПа
Предел текучести	280-480 MPa
Удлинение	15-20%
Коррозийная устойчивость	Превосходный к 1150 ¡«C

 

The properties like high temperature strength, oxidation resistance, and thermal stability make OP431 suitable for demanding applications.

Production Method for OP431 Powder

OP431 powder can be produced via:

• Газовая атомизация?- High pressure inert gas used to atomize the molten alloy resulting in fine spherical powder ideal for AM.
• Распыл воды?- High velocity water jet breaks up the molten stream producing irregular powder particles. Lower cost but higher oxygen pickup.
• Механический легирования?- Шаровое помол смесях элементарных порошков с последующим спеканием и вторичным распылением.

Gas atomization allows excellent control over particle size distribution, morphology, oxygen pickup and microstructure.

Applications of OP431 Powder

Typical applications of OP431 powder include:

• аддитивное производство?- Selective laser melting to produce complex parts needing high temperature oxidation resistance.
• Покрытия методом термического напыления.?- Applied via arc spraying to provide protective coatings on components operating at over 1000¡«C.
• Браzing остатки?- For joining ferritic stainless steel parts in high temperature applications.
• Твердотопливные розжиги?- Powder metallurgy igniter plugs used in industrial furnaces and turbines.
• Обработка расплавленного металла?- Powder metallurgy conveyor rolls, tundishes and ladles used in molten metal handling.

Specifications of OP431 Powder

OP431 powder is available under various size ranges, shapes and grades:

• Размер частиц:?От 15 до 45 мкм для методов аддитивного производства, до 150 мкм для процессов термического напыления.
• Морфология:?Spherical, irregular and blended shapes. Spherical powder has excellent flowability.
• Чистота:?From commercial to high purity grades based on application requirements.
• Содержание кислорода:Уровень ниже 2000 ppm для большинства применений.
• Скорость потока:?Powder can be customized for flow rates above 25 s/50 g.

Global Suppliers of OP431 Powder

Some of the major global suppliers of OP431 powder include:

• Sandvik Osprey (Великобритания)
• Хуганес (Швеция)
• Carpenter Powder Products (США)
• Praxair Surface Technologies (USA)
• Группа предприятий Пудре CNPC (Китай)

These companies produce various grades of OP431 powder tailored for additive manufacturing, thermal spray, powder metallurgy and other high temperature applications.

Pricing of OP431 Powder

OP431 powder is priced higher than austenitic grades but lower than exotic alloys:

• Количество?- $50-100 per kg for bulk orders above 500 kg. Smaller quantities are priced significantly higher.
• Качество?- High purity, spherical powder with controlled characteristics demands premium pricing.
• Поставщик?- Large global suppliers offer competitive pricing owing to higher volumes.
• География?- Prices vary between regions with Europe and North America being higher priced markets.

For critical applications, buyers should focus on quality rather than lowest cost while procuring OP431 powder.

Storage and Handling of OP431 Powder

OP431 powder requires the following storage and handling:

• Хранить в герметичных контейнерах под инертным газом для предотвращения окисления
• Avoid accumulation of fine powder to minimize dust explosion risks
• Use proper PPE, ventilation, grounding and safety practices during handling
• Предотвратить контакт порошка и несовместимых материалов
• Follow safety guidelines provided by supplier SDS

Proper protective measures must be taken when handling this reactive alloy powder.

Inspection and Testing of OP431 Powder

Key quality control tests performed on OP431 powder include:

• Химический анализ с использованием OES или XRF для обеспечения того, что состав находится в определенных пределах
• Распределение размеров частиц согласно стандарту ASTM B822
• Анализ морфологии с помощью СЭМ
• Powder flow rate measured as per ASTM B213 standard
• Oxygen and nitrogen content testing by inert gas fusion
• Density determined by helium pycnometry
• Microstructure characterization by XRD

Thorough testing ensures the powder meets the required chemical, physical and microstructural characteristics for the intended application.

Comparison Between OP431 and 316L Stainless Steel Powders

OP431 and 316L stainless steel powders are compared:

Параметр	OP431	316L
Тип	Ferritic	Austenitic
Cr-содержание	16-18%	16-18%
Ni content	–	10-14%
Высокотемпературная прочность	Выше	Низкий
Коррозионная стойкость	Умеренный	Отличный
Цена	Низкий	Выше
ПРИМЕНЕНИЯ	Thermal spray, igniters	Автомобилестроение, строительство
Свариваемость	Бедный	Отличный

 

OP431 offers much better high temperature strength whereas 316L provides excellent fabrication characteristics and corrosion resistance.

OP431 Powder FAQs

Q: How is OP431 powder produced?

A: OP431 powder is commercially produced using gas atomization, water atomization, and mechanical alloying followed by sintering. Gas atomization provides the best control of powder characteristics.

Q: What are the main applications of OP431 powder?

A: Key applications include thermal spray coatings, additive manufacturing, brazing filler, powder metallurgy igniter plugs, and high temperature molten metal handling components where oxidation resistance is needed.

Q: What is the typical OP431 powder size range used in metal AM?

A: For most metal AM processes, the ideal OP431 powder size range is 15-45 microns with spherical morphology and good powder flow characteristics.

Q: Does OP431 powder require any special handling precautions?

A: Yes, it is recommended to handle this reactive powder carefully under inert atmosphere using proper ventilation, grounding, and PPE.

Q: Where can I purchase OP431 powder suitable for thermal spray coatings?

A: For thermal spray applications requiring high temperature oxidation resistance, OP431 powder can be purchased from leading manufacturers including Sandvik Osprey, Hoganas, Praxair Surface Technologies, and CNPC Powder Group.