Alleima Develops Sanicro 35 Stainless Steel for Harsh Applications
Strategic Research Institute
Published on :
13 Feb, 2023, 4:48 am
World’s leading supplier of steel for challenging applications Alleima, formerly Sandvik Materials Technology, which already has a large portfolio of super specialty steels, has developed super-austenitic corrosion-resistant grade stainless steel alloy Sanicro® 35 as a response to requirements from the market for a stainless steel alloy that would be able to combine high corrosion properties with high mechanical strength. Alleima embarked on the research project in 2012 and in 2020 Sanicro® 35 was launched globally. This super-austenitic stainless steel, which combines high yield strength, resistance in severe acidic conditions, excellent pitting and crevice corrosion resistance, bridges the properties gap between super austenitic steel grades and nickel alloys. It provides a new, high performance alternative to conventional materials to support more cost effective and efficient operations. Sanicro® 35 has received two awards to date, the Sandvik Innovation Prize in 2019 and MP Corrosion Innovation of the Year Awards 2021.
Alleima’s Lead Scientist Mr Rohit Ojha in an exclusive interaction with SteelGuru shared “The biggest challenge we faced in the process of developing Sanicro® 35 was to translate the market requirements of stainless steels and nickel alloys, into an alloy composition that has excellent corrosion resistance. The second challenge was the use of a method to test the localized corrosion properties that also allowed ranking of the different alloys. Traditionally, different test methods have been used for stainless steels and nickel alloys. For Sanicro® 35, we had to enhance the standard ASTM G150 test to achieve an optimal critical pitting temperature. It took years of testing and full production using recycled steel and melting done in a furnace powered by 100% fossil-free electricity to develop Sanicro® 35. Recycled-based stainless steel production has a substantially smaller CO2 footprint compared to a traditional iron ore-based steel production.”
While answering to “Which properties differentiate it with grades offering similar solutions” Mr Ojha said “Sanicro® 35 was developed using the right combination of Cr, Mo, Ni and N, which enables it to combine two things: mechanical properties comparable to duplex grades, and corrosion resistance comparable to nickel alloys. These differentiate our new product from existing 6Mo super-austenitic grades.”
Mr Ojha added “Sanicro® 35 is designed for extremely corrosive environments (i.e., acidic environments) and seawater applications, where it can be used for either cooling or heating. It is an ideal material for heat exchangers and hydraulic and instrumentation tubing applications in maritime and oil & gas industries.”
While answering to “How is Alleima addressing increasing focus on tougher environment in downstream” Mr Ojha underlined “Alleima is committed to being a technology leader and a progressive customer partner. Our technical marketing and sales teams pay attention to challenges and opportunities faced by customers and help them select the best grades for their applications based on years of knowledge and experience. We are not just a provider; we take the time to understand our customers and work with them to solve their downstream challenges. We are also constantly innovating our products and services to meet new and evolved issues in the market. Sanicro® 35 is a proof of that. And with the expansion of our Mehsana Mill in India, we will continue to be there for our customers through thick and thin.”
Alleima, formerly Sandvik Materials Technology, is a global manufacturer of high value-added products in advanced stainless steels for the most demanding applications and industries and special alloys as well as solutions for industrial heating. Alleima’s business concept is to be the world’s leading provider of advanced stainless steels and special alloys, as well as products of industrial heating, without compromising Alleima’s goals in sustainability.
We are committed to meeting the challenge, as our high value-added products are made with higher quality materials, and we ensure our developed innovative solutions are designed for our customer’s success, while reducing their carbon footprint.