Stainless Steel HE
UNS J93403
HE (J93403, ASTM A297/A743) is a high-chromium, low-nickel heat-resistant cast steel with a high-carbon duplex structure, used where oxidation resistance is needed at moderate cost and nickel content must be minimized.
Reference datasheet — HE is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the F condition
HE tempers and conditions
HE is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. F is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solution annealed | Occasionally specified to dissolve grain-boundary carbides and relieve casting stresses before machining or for improved as-installed ductility. | 300 | 620 | 24 | 185 HB | 2 % IACS |
FDefault As fabricated | Standard supply condition for HE furnace hardware; best as-manufactured ductility, no post-cast heat treatment needed for oxidation service. | 310 | 655 | 20 | 14 HRC | 2 % IACS |
Centrifugally cast | Choose for radiant tubes, rolls and sleeves where the denser, directionally solidified wall gives better soundness and slightly higher strength than static castings. | 330 | 690 | 18 | 210 HB | 2 % IACS |
Thermally aged / service-exposed | Represents properties after prolonged high-temperature service — use these numbers for repair, restart and shutdown-load design, not the as-cast values. | 380 | 620 | 10 | 27 HRC | 2.1 % IACS |
What is HE?
HE (J93403, ASTM A297/A743) is a high-chromium, low-nickel heat-resistant cast steel with a high-carbon duplex structure, used where oxidation resistance is needed at moderate cost and nickel content must be minimized. It is supplied as-cast (F), solution annealed, aged or centrifugally cast, with 310 MPa yield, 655 MPa tensile, 20 % elongation, 200 HB and service to 1095 °C. Ductility and machinability are low (machinability score 30), the alloy is prone to carbide and sigma-phase embrittlement, and welding needs preheat, so HF is the alternative where more ductility is required. HE has a density of 7.6 g/cm³ (0.275 lb/in³), lighter than 98% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,370°C (2,498 °F). HE has a yield strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) and a tensile strength of 655 MPa (95 ksi) — weaker than 63% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 195 GPa (28.3 Msi).
What is HE used for?
- furnace fixtures
- burner parts
- heat-treat furnace components
Advantages
- High service temperature — 1,095°C (2,003 °F), better than 94% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 40/100, worse than 99% of stainless steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 40 MPa·√m (36.4 ksi·√in), worse than 97% of stainless steel grades
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 95% of stainless steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 40/100, worse than 83% of stainless steel grades
- Limited ductility — 20%, worse than 79% of stainless steel grades
HE properties
Typical room-temperature values for HE-F; bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
HE has a density of 7.6 g/cm³ (0.275 lb/in³), lighter than 98% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,370°C (2,498 °F).
Mechanical17
HE has a yield strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) and a tensile strength of 655 MPa (95 ksi) — weaker than 63% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 195 GPa (28.3 Msi).
Thermal6
HE is rated for continuous service to 1,095°C (2,003 °F). It conducts heat at 15 W/m·K (8.67 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 59% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 14.5 µm/m·K (8.06 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
HE conducts electricity at 2 % IACS, worse than 77% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (60/100), worse than 58% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of HE takes about 50 MJ of energy and emits 4.2 kg of CO₂ — less than 80% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 80%.
Manufacturability8
HE's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 70% of stainless steel grades); weldability fair (40/100); formability not recommended (10/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the stainless steel family
Yield strength against density for every stainless steel grade FabDigit runs. HE is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with HE
Is HE easy to machine?
Machine with rigid setups, positive-rake carbide (or ceramic for skin cuts), low speed and heavy feed to get under the work-hardened, sand-scaled surface; avoid dwelling.
Can HE be welded?
Weldable by SMAW/GTAW with matching HE or AWS E312/ER312 duplex filler; preheat 150–300 °C, low heat input, and slow-cool or post-weld anneal to limit carbide/σ cracking.
Can HE be formed, bent or molded?
Sand, investment or centrifugal casting only — the high-carbon duplex structure has essentially no cold formability; design generous fillets and uniform sections to avoid hot tears.
HE chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Chigh C for creep strength; source of carbide embrittlement | 0.2 – 0.5 | 0.35 |
| Mn | ≤ 2 | 1 |
| Siaids oxidation resistance | ≤ 2 | 1.3 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | |
| S | ≤ 0.04 | |
| Cr | 26 – 30 | 28 |
| Ni | 8 – 11 | 9.5 |
| Moresidual, unless otherwise specified | ≤ 0.5 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on HE?
Shot blast and pickle/passivate after casting; for extreme oxidizing or carburizing duty apply aluminizing or a high-temperature ceramic coating rather than plating or paint.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on stainless steel parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Passivation
Organic Coating
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Stainless Steel HE in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- J93403
How much does HE cost?
HE is a premium-cost stainless steel ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
HE — frequently asked
What is HE used for?
HE is typically used for furnace fixtures, burner parts and heat-treat furnace components. In short: low-nickel heat-resistant casting; oxidation resistance to 1095 °C; lower cost than 25-20 grades.
What is the yield strength of HE?
HE has a typical yield strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) and a tensile strength of 655 MPa (95 ksi) — weaker than 63% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is HE easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 70% of stainless steel grades). Machine with rigid setups, positive-rake carbide (or ceramic for skin cuts), low speed and heavy feed to get under the work-hardened, sand-scaled surface; avoid dwelling.
Can HE be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (40/100). Weldable by SMAW/GTAW with matching HE or AWS E312/ER312 duplex filler; preheat 150–300 °C, low heat input, and slow-cool or post-weld anneal to limit carbide/σ cracking.
What surface finishes work on HE?
Shot blast and pickle/passivate after casting; for extreme oxidizing or carburizing duty apply aluminizing or a high-temperature ceramic coating rather than plating or paint.
Can HE be formed, bent or molded?
Sand, investment or centrifugal casting only — the high-carbon duplex structure has essentially no cold formability; design generous fillets and uniform sections to avoid hot tears.
What is the maximum service temperature of HE?
HE is rated for continuous use to about 1,095°C (2,003 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between HE-F and HE Aged?
F is the default condition — standard supply condition for HE furnace hardware; best as-manufactured ductility, no post-cast heat treatment needed for oxidation service. Aged: represents properties after prolonged high-temperature service — use these numbers for repair, restart and shutdown-load design, not the as-cast values. Yield strength is 310 MPa in F versus 380 MPa in Aged.
How much does HE cost?
HE is a premium-cost stainless steel ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASTM A297/A297M — Steel Castings, Iron-Chromium and Iron-Chromium-Nickel, Heat Resistant, for General Application — ASTM International (2019)
- ASTM A743/A743M — Castings, Iron-Chromium, Iron-Chromium-Nickel, Corrosion Resistant, for General Application — ASTM International (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (Heat-Resistant Castings) — ASM International (1990)
- Steel Castings Handbook, High Alloy Data Sheets — Heat Series — Steel Founders' Society of America (2004)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.