Ferritic stainless steel Chromium stainless | Type 409; Type 430 | 409: approximately 10.5–11.75% Cr, titanium stabilized. 430: approximately 16–18% Cr, low carbon. | Lower-cost sheet and coil for moderate-temperature exhaust components, appliance parts, and heat shields, depending on grade and service conditions. | Generally magnetic; useful oxidation resistance for many moderate-heat applications; often lower nickel content than austenitic grades. | Not a substitute for high-nickel heat-resistant grades in severe thermal cycling or high-temperature service. Formability, weldability, and corrosion resistance differ by grade. |
Austenitic stainless steel General-purpose heat resistance | 304 / 304H; 321; 347 | Typically about 18% Cr and 8–12% Ni, with grade-specific additions. 321 is titanium stabilized; 347 is stabilized with niobium (columbium). | Coil for fabricated parts exposed to elevated temperatures, including ducts, furnace components, and equipment where oxidation resistance and fabrication are both important. | Good formability and weldability in many product forms. Stabilized grades can be preferred where sensitization after welding or elevated-temperature exposure is a concern. | Temperature capability depends on load, atmosphere, section thickness, and thermal cycling. Standard 304 is not equivalent to a dedicated high-chromium heat-resistant grade. |
High-chromium, nickel-bearing stainless steel Heat-resistant austenitic | 309S; 310S | 309S: approximately 22–24% Cr and 12–15% Ni. 310S: approximately 24–26% Cr and 19–22% Ni. | Common coil choices for furnace parts, radiant tubes, burner components, and other applications requiring improved oxidation resistance at elevated temperatures. | Higher chromium and nickel levels than common 300-series grades support resistance to scaling in many hot-air environments. | Actual service limits are atmosphere- and design-dependent. Sulfur-bearing gases, carburizing conditions, cyclic heating, and mechanical loading can change performance significantly. |
Nickel-chromium-iron alloy Nickel alloy | Alloy 600 | Nickel is typically at least 72%; chromium approximately 14–17%; iron commonly 6–10%. | Coil and strip for selected furnace, heat-treatment, and chemical-process components requiring heat and corrosion resistance. | Offers useful resistance in a range of oxidizing and some reducing environments, subject to the specific service chemistry. | Not universally resistant to every hot gas or molten environment. Evaluate temperature, atmosphere, stress, and corrosion mechanisms together. |
Aluminum-bearing nickel-chromium alloy High-temperature oxidation resistance | Alloy 601 | Nickel is the balance; chromium approximately 21–25%; aluminum approximately 1.0–1.7%. | Coil or strip for high-temperature equipment such as furnace fixtures and components exposed to demanding oxidizing conditions. | Aluminum addition supports formation of a protective oxide scale; selected grades are used where oxidation resistance is a priority. | Fabrication condition, surface finish, thermal cycling, and atmosphere affect performance. Confirm suitability against the relevant product specification and operating conditions. |
Nickel-chromium-molybdenum-niobium alloy Corrosion-focused nickel alloy | Alloy 625 | Nickel is at least 58%; chromium approximately 20–23%; molybdenum 8–10%; niobium plus tantalum approximately 3.15–4.15%. | Coil and strip for demanding corrosion-service components and selected elevated-temperature applications where strength and corrosion resistance are both important. | Provides strong resistance to many corrosive environments and good strength; its value is often greatest where corrosion performance is also required. | It is not automatically the best choice for every high-temperature oxidation application. Compare the specific environment, required mechanical properties, and cost. |
Electric-resistance heating alloys Heating-element strip | FeCrAl-family alloys; NiCr-family alloys | Composition varies by grade. FeCrAl grades are based on iron, chromium, and aluminum; NiCr grades are based mainly on nickel and chromium. | Thin strip or coil intended for electrical resistance heating elements, subject to the product’s electrical and thermal design requirements. | Designed for resistivity and oxidation behavior appropriate to heating-element service; available in forms suited to element manufacturing. | Choose by element temperature, electrical resistivity, atmosphere, geometry, and cycle life. Heating-element alloys are not interchangeable with ordinary stainless coil. |