Properties at Cryogenic Temperatures of Stainless Steel Tubes

The austenitic stainless steel tubes remain tough and ductile to very low temperatures. Metals such as iron and constructional steel undergo a marked decrease in ductility at lower temperature.

Common Cryogenic Temperatures:

Environment	Degrees C	Degrees F
Boiling Helium	– 268.6	– 454
Boiling Hydrogen	– 252.5	– 418
Freezing Nitrogen	– 209.9	– 346
Boiling Nitrogen	– 195.8	– 319
Boiling Methane	– 164.0	– 265
Solid Carbon Dioxide	– 78.5	– 108
Boiling Freon 12	– 29.8	– 22
Water as ice	0.0	32

Effect of Temperature on Modulus of Elasticity:

Stainless Steel	Room Temp. Tensile – ksi	Degrees C	Degrees F
		Room Temp.	At -196øC
301 Stainless Steel	106	25.4 x 10-6	28.6 x 10-6
302 Stainless Steel	88	26.2	27.2
304 Stainless Steel	87	24.4	26.2
347 Stainless Steel	95	23.3	27.6

Mechanical Properties at Cryogenic Temperatures:

	Strength by Alloy Listed in ksi
Material Grade	301	302	304	304L	310S	316	321	347
0øC
Yield	42	42	38	28	35	40	40	40
Tensile	160	120	115	98	88	90	100	100
Elong.	60%	50%	60%	58%	50%	68%	58%	60%
Charpy keyhole notch in ft. lb.	39	34	37	–	38	35	32	29
	301	302	304	304L	3105	316	321	347
-40øC
Yield	44	43	40	30	40	45	45	45
Tensile	180	135	135	115	94	105	120	115
Elong.	40%	58%	55%	55%	70%	67%	55%	58%
Charpy keyhole notch in ft. lb.	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
	301	302	304	304L	3105	316	321	347
-78øC
Yield	50	58	45	35	48	57	50	50
Tensile	162	164	165	138	110	120	138	136
Elong.	52%	52%	48%	50%	78%	65%	53%	52%
Charpy keyhole notch in ft. lb.	21	27	26	–	30	26	25	23
	301	302	304	304L	3105	316	321	347
-168øC
Yield	62	62	55	40	62	73	58	50
Tensile	210	210	208	175	140	160	185	180
Elong.	44%	43%	42%	44%	90%	61%	47%	45%
Charpy keyhole notch in ft. lb.	5.5	9.5	21	16	24	19	22	19
	301	302	304	304L	3105	316	321	347
-196øC
Yield	55	62	57	45	75	80	60	52
Tensile	275	225	225	192	151	180	211	195
Elong.	30%	40%	38%	42%	93%	19%	22%	19%
Charpy keyhole notch in ft. lb.	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
	301	302	304	304L	3105	316	321	347
-253øC
Yield	–	62	69	50	96	93	68	65
Tensile	–	258	250	220	180	230	248	230
Elong.	–	38%	27%	41%	71%	55%	34%	–
Charpy keyhole notch in ft. lb.	–	–	–	19	–	–	–	–

Source: wilsonpipeline Pipe Industry Co., Limited (www.wilsonpipeline.com)

Categories: News