Ferritic Stainless Steel Bellows Composition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ferritic stainless steel sheets used for bellows pipes face challenges in formability and high-temperature properties, particularly in automotive exhaust systems where high-temperature salt corrosion resistance and fatigue properties are inadequate compared to austenitic stainless steel sheets.

Innovation Solution

A ferritic stainless steel sheet composition with specific ranges of C, Si, Mn, P, S, Cr, N, Al, Mo, Nb, B, and other elements, optimized for improved formability and high-temperature properties, including a thickness of 0.5 mm or less and surface roughness of 0.4 µm or less, is developed to enhance bellows formability and high-temperature performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If austenitic stainless steel sheets are used for bellows, then bellows formability is improved, but high-temperature salt corrosion resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebellows formabilityVSAvoidhigh-temperature salt corrosion resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the material parameters by using ferritic stainless steel with specific composition ranges (Cr: 12-20%, Mo: 1.5-3.0%, Nb: 0.05-0.5%, B: 0.0005-0.005%) instead of conventional austenitic stainless steel, achieving both good formability and high-temperature corrosion resistance through controlled alloying elements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite material system by combining multiple alloying elements (Cr, Mo, Nb, B) in specific proportions within the ferritic stainless steel matrix, where each element contributes specific properties: Cr for corrosion resistance, Mo for high-temperature strength, Nb for grain refinement, and B for boundary strengthening

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If ferritic stainless steel sheets are used for bellows, then high-temperature salt corrosion resistance is improved, but bellows formability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehigh-temperature salt corrosion resistanceVSAvoidbellows formability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the chemical composition parameters of ferritic stainless steel, specifically controlling Cr content at 12-20%, Mo at 1.5-3.0%, and adding small amounts of Nb (0.05-0.5%) and B (0.0005-0.005%), which transforms the material properties to achieve both corrosion resistance and formability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies local quality enhancement by adding trace amounts of specific elements (B: 0.0005-0.005%, Nb: 0.05-0.5%) that locally strengthen grain boundaries and precipitates, improving overall material performance without significantly affecting formability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If ferritic stainless steel sheets are used for bellows, then uniform elongation is improved, but high-temperature fatigue properties deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniform elongationVSAvoidhigh-temperature fatigue properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the material parameters by adding Nb (0.05-0.5%) and Mo (1.5-3.0%) to the ferritic stainless steel composition, which refines the grain structure and improves uniform elongation while the high Cr content (12-20%) maintains high-temperature fatigue resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a multi-element composite system where Nb and Mo work synergistically: Nb provides grain refinement for improved elongation, while Mo contributes to high-temperature strength and fatigue resistance, balanced with Cr for corrosion protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP1889938B1Ferrite stainless steel sheet for bellows stock pipe
Publication Date: 2018.03.07 JFE STEEL CORP
  • EP1889938B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1889938B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP1889938B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention provides a ferritic stainless steel sheet for forming a raw material pipe for bellows pipe, in which both excellent formability and excellent high-temperature properties (high-temperature salt corrosion resistance and high-temperature fatigue properties) are obtained. Specifically, the ferritic stainless steel sheet for forming a raw material pipe for bellows pipe contains 0.015% by mass or less of C, 1.0% by mass or less of Si, 1.0% by mass or less of Mn, 0.04% by mass or less of P, 0.010% by mass or less of S, 11% to 19% by mass of Cr, 0.015% by mass or less of N, 0.15% by mass or less of Al, 1.25% to 2.5% by mass of Mo, 0.3% to 0.7% by mass of Nb, 0.0003% to 0.003% by mass of B, and the balance being Fe and incidental impurities. In the ferritic stainless steel sheet for forming a raw material pipe for bellows pipe, preferably, the average crystal grain diameter D of the steel sheet is 35 µm or less, and alternatively, the surface roughness Ra of the steel sheet is 0.40 µm or less.