X3CrNiMoN27-5-2 is a nitrogen-bearing ferritic-austenitic (duplex) stainless steel with a microstructure of roughly equal ferrite and austenite. This datasheet presents the material within the European standard system.
With about 27% chromium, 5.5% nickel, 1.7% molybdenum and a controlled nitrogen addition (0.05-0.20%), X3CrNiMoN27-5-2 offers roughly twice the proof strength of standard austenitic grades, with good resistance to chloride pitting, crevice corrosion and chloride stress-corrosion cracking. It has better machinability than the standard duplex 1.4462, with slightly lower corrosion resistance. The current EN 10088-3 designation X3CrNiMoN27-5-2 reflects the modern low-carbon, nitrogen-bearing chemistry; the comparable SEW 400 grade is X4CrNiMoN27-5-2.
Typical applications include pumps, pump shafts, stirrers, heat exchangers, valves, chlorine-bearing housings and tanks for the chemical, cryogenic, pulp-and-paper and power industries.
Values for the solution-annealed condition, per EN reference data.
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 7.8 | g/cm³ |
| Melting range | 1400-1450 | °C |
| Young's modulus (20 °C) | 200 | GPa |
| Thermal conductivity (20 °C) | 16 | W/m·K |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion (20-100 °C) | 10.9 | µm/m·°C |
| Specific heat (20 °C) | 460 | J/kg·K |
| Magnetic response | Ferromagnetic (duplex) | — |
Composition per EN 10088-3 (W.Nr. 1.4460, X3CrNiMoN27-5-2).
| Element | Symbol | Min % | Max % | Role in Alloy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | Fe | Balance | — | Base element |
| Chromium | Cr | 25.0 | 28.0 | Ferrite former; corrosion resistance |
| Nickel | Ni | 4.5 | 6.5 | Austenite former; phase balance |
| Molybdenum | Mo | 1.3 | 2.0 | Pitting + crevice resistance |
| Nitrogen | N | 0.05 | 0.20 | Austenite former; strength; pitting |
| Manganese | Mn | — | 2.0 | Deoxidiser |
| Silicon | Si | — | 1.0 | Deoxidiser |
| Carbon | C | — | 0.05 | Low (intergranular resistance) |
| Phosphorus | P | — | 0.035 | Residual impurity |
| Sulphur | S | — | 0.030 | Residual impurity |
Nominal: 27Cr-5.5Ni-1.7Mo-N duplex. The EN chromium band is higher and the nitrogen lower-bounded differently than the comparable US duplex chemistry.
Solution-annealed (+AT) condition, per EN 10088-3 for W.Nr. 1.4460.
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength (Rm) | 620-880 | MPa |
| 0.2% proof strength (Rp0.2) | >=460 | MPa |
| Elongation at fracture | >=20 | % |
| Impact energy (KV, +20 °C) | >=85 | J |
| Brinell hardness | <=260 | HB |
Values per EN 10088-3 (resistant to intergranular corrosion in delivery and welded condition). Confirm against the inspection certificate (EN 10204).
| Environment | Performance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chloride SCC | Excellent | Key duplex advantage over austenitics |
| Chloride pitting | Good | Cr + Mo + N |
| Crevice corrosion | Good | Better than 1.4404 |
| General (oxidizing) | Very good | High chromium |
| Intergranular (welded) | Resistant | Low carbon |
Corrosion resistance is better than fully austenitic 1.4404, slightly below the standard duplex 1.4462.
Not hardenable by heat treatment; properties are set by solution annealing and phase balance.
Solution Anneal approximately 1020-1100 °C, hold ~30 min, followed by rapid water quench to retain the balanced ferrite-austenite structure. Optional stress relief at 550-600 °C. Avoid prolonged exposure in the 300-900 °C range (sigma-phase / 475 °C embrittlement).
Good weldability; welded like austenitic material but without preheat and with low heat input (small beads) to maintain phase balance.
| Process | Applicability | Filler / Consumable |
|---|---|---|
| GTAW / TIG | Good | Duplex (e.g. 22 9 3 type) or Ni-base |
| GMAW / MIG | Good | Duplex filler |
| SMAW / stick | Good | Matching duplex electrode |
No preheat; minimal heat input; resistant to intergranular corrosion in the as-welded condition owing to the low carbon.
Machining Guidelines
| Parameter | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Machinability | Better than 1.4462; rigid setup, sharp tooling, moderate speeds |
| Work hardening | Significant; positive feeds, avoid dwelling |
| Coolant | Ample flood coolant |
Forming Processes
| Process | Notes |
|---|---|
| Hot forming | ~1200-950 °C; solution anneal + quench afterward |
| Cold forming | Higher forces than austenitics (high duplex strength) |
| Industry | Typical Components | Key Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical processing | Pumps, pump shafts, stirrers, valves | Chloride SCC + pitting resistance |
| Pulp & paper | Heat exchangers, tanks | Chloride + caustic resistance |
| Power engineering | Heat exchangers, radiators | Chloride SCC resistance |
| Marine / seawater | Seawater-loaded machine parts | Pitting + SCC resistance |
| Product Form | Standard | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plate, sheet and strip | EN 10088-2 · W.Nr. 1.4460 | X3CrNiMoN27-5-2 |
| Bar, rod, wire and sections | EN 10088-3 · W.Nr. 1.4460 | — |
| Forgings | EN 10250-4 · W.Nr. 1.4460 | — |
| Comparable spec | SEW 400 · X4CrNiMoN27-5-2 | — |
| Sour service | ISO 15156-3 | Acid-gas applications |
Nitrogen-bearing ferritic-austenitic (duplex) stainless steel. W.Nr. 1.4460 (X3CrNiMoN27-5-2); EN 10088-3.
| EN Symbol | Cr % | Ni % | Mo % | N % | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X3CrNiMoN27-5-2 | 25-28 | 4.5-6.5 | 1.3-2.0 | 0.05-0.20 | Machinable duplex; chloride-SCC service |
| X2CrNiMoN22-5-3 | 21-23 | 4.5-6.5 | 2.5-3.5 | 0.10-0.22 | Standard duplex (higher PREN) |
| X2CrNiN23-4 | 22-24 | 3.5-5.5 | 0.1-0.6 | 0.05-0.20 | Lean duplex |
| X2CrNiMoN25-7-4 | 24-26 | 6.0-8.0 | 3.0-4.5 | 0.24-0.35 | Super duplex |
| X2CrNiMo17-12-2 | 16.5-18.5 | 10-13 | 2.0-2.5 | — | Austenitic general service |




