Stainless Steel S31260-AW (As-welded deposit)
Heat-treated state
UNS S31260
Field-welded joints made with over-alloyed 25Cr filler; acceptable when heat input and interpass temperature are controlled, but toughness and pitting resistance are below the annealed base metal.
Values for the AW condition
Other S31260 tempers and conditions
S31260 is listed in 5 conditions; see the grade overview at S31260.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hot finished (hot rolled/hot formed) then solution annealed | Heavy plate, hot-rolled bar and hot-formed heads/fittings after re-solution treatment; same properties as SA but slightly coarser structure in thick sections. | 550 | 760 | 30 | 24 HRC | 2 % IACS |
forged, solution annealed and quenched (flanges, valve bodies) | Pressure-boundary forgings and fittings; requires full re-solution treatment after forging to restore phase balance. | 560 | 760 | 30 | 25 HRC | 2 % IACS |
SADefault Solution annealed | Standard supply condition for plate, sheet, seamless/welded pipe and fittings; best corrosion resistance and toughness. | 570 | 780 | 32 | 25 HRC | — |
AWThis page As-welded deposit | Field-welded joints made with over-alloyed 25Cr filler; acceptable when heat input and interpass temperature are controlled, but toughness and pitting resistance are below the annealed base metal. | 580 | 780 | 25 | 27 HRC | 2 % IACS |
Cold drawn bar, solution annealed then lightly drawn/straightened | Bar and shafting where higher strength, tighter tolerance and better surface finish are needed; slightly reduced ductility. | 680 | 860 | 22 | 29 HRC | 2 % IACS |
What is S31260-AW?
S31260-AW is S31260 heat treated to AW — field-welded joints made with over-alloyed 25Cr filler; acceptable when heat input and interpass temperature are controlled, but toughness and pitting resistance are below the annealed base metal. S31260-AW has a yield strength of 580 MPa (84.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 86% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi). S31260-AW has a density of 7.8 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), heavier than 50% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,370°C (2,498 °F). SA is the default condition FabDigit quotes; AW is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High strength — 580 MPa (84.1 ksi), better than 86% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 250°C (482 °F), worse than 99% of stainless steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 80 MPa·√m (72.8 ksi·√in), worse than 79% of stainless steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 2 % IACS, worse than 77% of stainless steel grades
S31260-AW properties
Typical room-temperature values for S31260-AW; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are S31260 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
S31260-AW has a density of 7.8 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), heavier than 50% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,370°C (2,498 °F).
Mechanical16
S31260-AW has a yield strength of 580 MPa (84.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 86% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
S31260-AW is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 14 W/m·K (8.09 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 80% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 13 µm/m·K (7.22 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
S31260-AW conducts electricity at 2 % IACS, worse than 77% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (70/100), better than 68% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of S31260-AW takes about 58 MJ of energy and emits 4.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 66% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability7
S31260-AW's machinability is poor (26/100, worse than 84% of stainless steel grades); weldability good (60/100); formability poor (30/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with S31260-AW
Is S31260 easy to machine?
Machine like 2205 but harder: rigid setup, positive-rake carbide, 15–25 % lower speeds than 316L, heavy constant feed to cut under the work-hardened layer, generous coolant.
Can S31260 be welded?
GTAW/GMAW/SMAW with 25Cr over-alloyed filler (E/ER2594 type) or Ni-base; heat input ~0.5–1.5 kJ/mm, interpass ≤150 °C, N2-backing, no preheat, no PWHT unless full re-solution anneal at 1050–1100 °C + water quench.
Can S31260 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form with ~2× the force of austenitic grades and allow for large springback; hot form 1000–1150 °C followed by full solution anneal and water quench — never finish-form in the 350–950 °C range.
What surface finishes work on S31260?
Pickle in HNO3-HF and passivate after welding or hot work to restore the passive film; electropolishing or fine mechanical polish is used for seawater and hygienic service; not anodizable.
S31260 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Si | ≤ 0.75 | 0.4 |
| Mn | ≤ 1 | 0.7 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Cr | 24 – 26 | 25 |
| Ni | 5.5 – 7.5 | 6.5 |
| Mo | 2.5 – 3.5 | 3 |
| Cu | 0.2 – 0.8 | 0.5 |
| Wtungsten addition characteristic of DP-3 | 0.1 – 0.5 | 0.3 |
| N | 0.1 – 0.3 | 0.18 |
| Fe | balance | — |
S31260-AW — frequently asked
What is S31260-AW used for?
S31260-AW is typically used for desalination plants, seawater piping and offshore equipment. In short: tungsten-alloyed 25Cr duplex; seawater-grade pitting resistance; below super-duplex cost.
What is the yield strength of S31260-AW?
S31260-AW has a typical yield strength of 580 MPa (84.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 86% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is S31260-AW easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (26/100, worse than 84% of stainless steel grades). Machine like 2205 but harder: rigid setup, positive-rake carbide, 15–25 % lower speeds than 316L, heavy constant feed to cut under the work-hardened layer, generous coolant.
Can S31260-AW be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (60/100). GTAW/GMAW/SMAW with 25Cr over-alloyed filler (E/ER2594 type) or Ni-base; heat input ~0.5–1.5 kJ/mm, interpass ≤150 °C, N2-backing, no preheat, no PWHT unless full re-solution anneal at 1050–1100 °C + water quench.
What surface finishes work on S31260-AW?
Pickle in HNO3-HF and passivate after welding or hot work to restore the passive film; electropolishing or fine mechanical polish is used for seawater and hygienic service; not anodizable.
Can S31260-AW be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form with ~2× the force of austenitic grades and allow for large springback; hot form 1000–1150 °C followed by full solution anneal and water quench — never finish-form in the 350–950 °C range.
What is the maximum service temperature of S31260-AW?
S31260-AW is rated for continuous use to about 250°C (482 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between S31260-SA and S31260 CD-SA?
SA is the default condition — standard supply condition for plate, sheet, seamless/welded pipe and fittings; best corrosion resistance and toughness. CD-SA: bar and shafting where higher strength, tighter tolerance and better surface finish are needed; slightly reduced ductility. Yield strength is 570 MPa in SA versus 680 MPa in CD-SA.
Sources
- ASTM A240/A240M — Chromium and Chromium-Nickel Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet, and Strip — ASTM International (2023)
- ASTM A790/A790M — Seamless and Welded Ferritic/Austenitic Stainless Steel Pipe — ASTM International (2023)
- ASTM A923 — Detecting Detrimental Intermetallic Phase in Duplex Stainless Steels — ASTM International (2022)
- DP-3 (S31260) duplex stainless steel data — Sumitomo Metal Industries / Nippon Steel (2015)
- Practical Guidelines for the Fabrication of Duplex Stainless Steels, 3rd ed. — IMOA (2014)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
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.