Duplex Stainless Steel vs Austenitic Stainless Steel

There are two main types of stainless steel: duplex stainless steel and austenitic stainless steel. But what are the differences between austenitic and duplex stainless steel? We will explain the differences between these two categories of stainless steel from three aspects in this passage.

- Chemical Composition

The most obvious difference between duplex and austenitic stainless steel is their chemical composition. General speaking, duplex steel is composed of 22% chromium and 5% nickel approximately, while austenitic steel contain around 18% chromium and 8% nickel . 

- Welding Process

Another major difference between duplex and austenitic stainless steel is their welding process. During welding process of duplex steel, special welding methods are needed to avoid cracking or other damage due to its high carbon content.  However, the lower carbon level in austenitic steel make it much easier to weld with than its counterpart.

- Application

Duplex stainless steel is usually used in applications where high strength and corrosion resistance are required, such as oil and gas industry.

Austenitic stainless steel is typically used in applications where ductility and weldability are required, such as food and beverage industry.

Austenitic and duplex stainless steels are used in versatile engineering applications due to their processed features. Ultimately, deciding which type of stainless steel you should choose depends on the specific application needs at hand.