The 202 grades are among the austenitic stainless steel. It contains various elements such as manganese, nickel, and chromium. This material is popular for its precipitation hardening, toughness, weldability, and strength.
They have similar properties to 302 SS. However, the 202 stainless steel has minimum yield strength. It is cost-efficient like the 201SS. And can be machined in tempering conditions.
202 SS vs 304 SS
Grade 202 and 304 are both austenitic stainless steel. The difference between these two materials is their content, such as:
| Grade | Chromium Content | Nickel Content |
| 202 | Min. 16% | Min. 0.5% |
| 304 | Min. 18% | Min. 8% |
202 and 304 SS are both non-magnetic. They have a similar tensile strength at 515MPa. However, 202 SS has higher yield strength than 304 SS.
How to Determine 202 Stainless Steel
When not rusted, these materials look similar. These two materials can be visualized by spark testing. The sparks of SS 304 when ground can be fly longer. Due to its high content of nickel and higher density, 304 is more likely red in color. However, the spark test of grade 202 stainless steel does fly a higher distance and produces yellowish colors. When tested in sodium chloride, 202 also produces more rust than 304 material.
202 SS Weldability
1. Due to its high iron content 202 SS can be welded easily. It is not necessary to perform pre-heating. Only traditional welding techniques can be done such as TIG, MAG, MMA, MIG, RSW, SAW, or LBW. However, this material has high chromium carbide. Thus, it produces more intergranular particles resulting in localized corrosion.
- Grade 202 stainless steel has 50% of thermal expansion and minimum heat conductivity. This means it has maximum shrinkage stresses and larger deformation that may affect by welding.
- Overalloyed fillers must be used to ensure metal weld properties are equal to the parent metal. The suitable filler materials are 23 12 L, 18, 8 Mn, or 19 9 L.
SS 202 Standard Composition
| ELEMENT | CONTENT |
| Fe | 68% |
| Cr | 17% to 19% |
| Mn | 7.5% to 10% |
| Ni | 4% to 6% |
| Si | Less than or equal to 1% |
| N | Less than or equal to 0.25% |
| C | Less than or equal to 0.15% |
| P | Less than or equal to 0.060% |
| S | Less than or equal to 0.030% |
Mechanical Characteristics
| Characteristics | Imperial (PSI) | Metric (MPa) |
| Tensile Strength | 74694 | 515 |
| Yield Strength | 39900 | 275 |
| Elongation (%) | 40 | 40 |
| Ratio of Poisson | From 0.27 to 0.30 | From 0.27 to 0.30 |
| Elastic Modulus (KSI, GPA) | 30000 | 207 |
Equivalent Materials to SS 202
- ASTM A276
- ASTM A473
- FED STD-66
- ASTM A314
- ASTM A666
- SAE 30202
- ASTM A412
- FED QQ-S-763
- SAE J405
- ASTMA429
- FED QQ-S-766
Manufacturing Technique
Machining
The machinability of this grade creates long chips. The machining process can also be done in the tempering condition.
Heat Treatment
To perform heat treatment, the 202 stainless steel must soak for 30 minutes at 1038°C. Then cooled at a temperature below 16°C. After that, the materials will transform into full martensite.
Welding
The 202 SS can be welded by the common technique of resistance and fusion. The suitable welding method for stainless steel is AWS E/ER630.
Forging
The forging technique for 202 SS is performed by pre-soaking at 1177°C temperature for one hour. This process must be performed at a temperature above 1010°C.
Different Forms of 202 SS
- 202 SS Sheet
- 202 SS Coil
- 202 SS Plate
Wide Range of Applications
- Cooking Tools
- Restaurant Equipment
- Automotive Trim
- Sinks
- Trailers
- Railway Cars
- Architectural Uses (doors and windows)
- Hose Clamps
Corrosion Resistance
The 202 SS is popular for its better corrosion resistance. It can resist ample amounts of diluted mineral acids and various organic compounds.