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MALLEABLE STAINLESS STEEL

I am looking for a stainless steel that can be worked by hand.... thickness of a foil product.... any help?

Michael Falk
microturbines - Stuart, Florida, USA
2005

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Worked by hand is subject to a lot of interpretations. One is get a bigger hammer.
Typical would be a 410 or similar SS that has been annealed and then hardened after final forming.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2005

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2005

I suggest bright annealed 304 SS at or slightly thicker than the desired final thickness. 304 SS foil is available in thicknesses down to 0.006 mm (0.0000236 inch).

Consider 316L & 317L for better corrosion resistance, or 309 for high temperature.

SS alloys available in foil, ranked by malleability (from elongation data for annealed sheet*):
301 [60% elongation] > 205 > 304, 304L, 317L > 302, 305, 316, 316L [50%] > 309, 310, 317, 321, 347 > 201, 202 [40%] > 430 [25%] > 442 [20%].
*Ductility is somewhat lower for foil than sheet.

Ken Vlach [deceased]
- Goleta, California
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