Alloy 330 is an austenitic iron–nickel–chromium high-silicon heat-resistant alloy offering an exceptional combination of strength and resistance to carburisation, oxidation and thermal shock. This datasheet presents the material within the American (ASTM / ASME / SAE-AMS / UNS) standard system.
Carburisation and oxidation resistance to 1148 °C (2100 °F) are enhanced by a nominal 1.25% silicon addition. The alloy is designed to withstand the thermal shock of liquid quenching, and finds wide application in high-temperature industrial environments where good resistance to the combined effects of carburisation and thermal cycling is a prime requisite. It remains fully austenitic at all temperatures and is not subject to embrittlement from sigma-phase formation. The high nickel content also gives good resistance to chloride-ion stress-corrosion cracking.
It is worked by forming and machining procedures similar to those used for austenitic stainless steels or nickel-chromium alloys. Heat treatment is not necessary after most forming or welding operations. Alloy 330 is the workhorse of the heat-resistant alloys, used extensively in the heat-treatment, furnace and process industries.
Typical values, annealed condition.
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 7.94 | g/cm³ |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion (RT–540 °C) | ~16.2 | µm/m·°C |
| Maximum service temperature (oxidation/carburisation) | ~1148 | °C |
| Structure | Fully austenitic (FCC), stable at all temperatures | — |
| Sigma-phase embrittlement | None | — |
| Magnetic response | Non-magnetic (austenitic) | — |
Limiting composition per ASTM B536 (UNS N08330).
| Element | Symbol | Min % | Max % | Role in Alloy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | Fe | Balance | — | Base element; austenitic matrix |
| Nickel | Ni | 34.0 | 37.0 | Austenite stability; carburisation + chloride-SCC resistance |
| Chromium | Cr | 18.0 | 20.0 | Oxidation resistance; protective Cr₂O₃ scale |
| Silicon | Si | 1.0 | 1.5 | Key addition (nominal 1.25%); oxidation + carburisation resistance |
| Manganese | Mn | — | 2.0 | Deoxidiser |
| Copper | Cu | — | 1.0 | Residual |
| Carbon | C | 0.04 | 0.08 | High-temperature strength |
| Phosphorus | P | — | 0.03 | Residual impurity |
| Sulphur | S | — | 0.03 | Residual impurity |
Typical room-temperature properties, annealed condition.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ultimate tensile strength | ~550–620 MPa | Annealed |
| 0.2% proof strength (yield) | ~230–310 MPa | Annealed |
| Elongation at break | ~30–40 % | Annealed |
| Hardness | ~70–85 HRB | Annealed |
| Maximum service temperature | ~1148 °C | Oxidation/carburisation resistance |
The alloy retains good strength at elevated temperature and is metallurgically stable. It is not age-hardenable. Values are typical; confirm against the mill test certificate for each delivery.
| Environment | Performance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Oxidation | Outstanding | Resistant to 1148 °C (2100 °F); Cr + Si form protective scale |
| Carburisation | Outstanding | High Ni + Si; key advantage over 309/310 stainless |
| Nitriding | Excellent | Resistant in nitriding atmospheres |
| Thermal shock / cycling | Outstanding | Designed to withstand liquid-quench thermal shock |
| Sigma-phase embrittlement | Immune | Remains fully austenitic at all temperatures |
| Chloride stress-corrosion cracking | Good | High nickel content |
| Reducing / oxidising atmospheres | Very Good | Ni resists reducing, Cr resists oxidising conditions |
The alloy is austenitic and not age-hardenable. Heat treatment is for annealing only; it is not required after most forming or welding operations.
Full Anneal (when required) Temperature: 1040–1120 °C (1900–2050 °F) Cooling: Rapid air cool or water quench
Forming at room temperature is suggested whenever possible. The alloy remains fully austenitic at all temperatures with no sigma-phase embrittlement.
Readily welded. Heat treatment is not necessary after most welding operations.
| Welding Process | Applicability | Filler / Consumable |
|---|---|---|
| GTAW / TIG | Excellent | RA330-04 weld filler (matching composition) |
| GMAW / MIG | Good | RA330-04 weld filler (matching composition) |
| SMAW / stick | Good | RA330-04 electrode |
Practice: keep interpass temperatures low, do not preheat, and use reinforced stringer beads. Do NOT use AWS ER330; RA330-04 has increased manganese to avoid hot cracking.
Machining Guidelines
| Parameter | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Machinability rating | ~20–25% of B1112 free-machining steel |
| Tooling | Sharp, rigid setup (austenitic-stainless practice) |
| Work hardening | Moderate-to-high; positive rake, ample feed |
| Coolant | Flood coolant recommended |
Forming Processes
| Process | Notes |
|---|---|
| Cold forming | Worked like austenitic stainless / Ni-Cr alloys; room-temperature forming preferred |
| Hot forming | Standard practice; heat treatment usually not required afterwards |
| Annealing (if needed) | 1040–1120 °C, rapid cool |
| Industry | Typical Components | Key Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Heat treatment | Furnace containers (carburising, carbonitriding, annealing), heat-treating baskets, quenching fixtures | Carburisation + thermal-shock resistance |
| Furnace / industrial | Muffles, retorts, radiant tubes, furnace fans and shafts | Oxidation resistance to 1148 °C |
| Process / chemical | Salt pots (neutral and cyanide), conveyors, tube hangers | Metallurgical stability; high-temperature strength |
| Metal processing | Hot-pressing platens, bar-frame baskets | Thermal cycling resistance |
| Petrochemical / power | High-temperature process hardware | Oxidation + carburisation resistance |
| Product Form | ASTM Standard | ASME Code | AMS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bar and shapes | ASTM B511 | ASME SB-511 | AMS 5592 / 5716 |
| Plate, sheet and strip | ASTM B536 | ASME SB-536 | AMS 5592 |
| Seamless pipe and tube | ASTM B535 | ASME SB-535 | — |
| Welded pipe | ASTM B710 | ASME SB-710 | — |
| Welded tube | ASTM B739 | — | — |
| Wire / other | ASTM B512 | — | — |
| Fittings / fusion-welded pipe | ASTM B546 | — | — |
| Welding consumables | RA330-04 weld filler (matching) — do NOT use AWS ER330 | — | — |
Designations: UNS N08330. Nickel-iron-chromium-silicon heat-resistant alloy.
| Alloy | Ni % | Cr % | Other | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alloy 330 | 34–37 | 18–20 | Si 1.0–1.5 | Furnace/heat-treat; carburisation + thermal shock to 1148°C |
| Alloy 602CA | bal | 24–26 | Al 1.8–2.4 | Extreme oxidation + creep to 1200°C |
| Alloy 600 | ≥72 | 14–17 | — | General high-temp to 1095°C; carburisation/nitriding |
| 309S Stainless | 12–15 | 22–24 | — | Economy heat-resistant to ~1000°C |
| 310S Stainless | 19–22 | 24–26 | — | Economy heat-resistant to ~1050°C; less carburisation resistance |




