Stainless Steel HE CENT
Other
UNS J93403
CENT = 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.
Values for the CENT condition
Other HE tempers and conditions
HE is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at HE.
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 |
CENTThis page 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 CENT?
HE CENT is HE in the CENT condition — choose for radiant tubes, rolls and sleeves where the denser, directionally solidified wall gives better soundness and slightly higher strength than static castings. HE CENT has a yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — weaker than 57% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 195 GPa (28.3 Msi). HE CENT 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). F is the default condition FabDigit quotes; CENT is available on request or by drawing note.
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
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 95% of stainless steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 55 MPa·√m (50.1 ksi·√in), worse than 91% of stainless steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 38/100, worse than 84% of stainless steel grades
- Limited ductility — 18%, worse than 83% of stainless steel grades
HE CENT properties
Typical room-temperature values for HE CENT; 23 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are HE reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
HE CENT 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 CENT has a yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — weaker than 57% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 195 GPa (28.3 Msi).
Thermal6
HE CENT 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 CENT conducts electricity at 2 % IACS, worse than 77% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (62/100), worse than 52% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of HE CENT 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 CENT's machinability is poor (28/100, worse than 79% of stainless steel grades); weldability fair (38/100); formability not recommended (10/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with HE CENT
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.
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.
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 | — |
HE CENT — frequently asked
What is HE CENT used for?
HE CENT 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 CENT?
HE CENT has a typical yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — weaker than 57% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is HE CENT easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (28/100, worse than 79% 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 CENT be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (38/100). 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 CENT?
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 CENT 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 CENT?
HE CENT 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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.