What are the cons of austenitic stainless steel?

The disadvantages of austenitic stainless steel mainly include the following aspects:

High Processing Difficulty and Cost: Austenitic stainless steel has high heat resistance and hardness, which makes it more difficult to process, cut, and drill. This results in higher cutting forces and wear during processing, increasing production costs.

Oxidation and Corrosion Issues: Austenitic stainless steel contains a certain amount of chromium, and excessive oxidation can lead to the formation of a chromium oxide film on the surface, which may affect aesthetics and even cause corrosion. Although it has corrosion resistance, its performance is relatively low in acidic and alkaline environments.

Relatively High Price: Austenitic stainless steel has a relatively high production cost due to its material characteristics, leading to higher procurement costs and prices. This restricts its application in certain fields.

Despite these disadvantages, austenitic stainless steel is still widely used due to its excellent corrosion resistance, good ductility and strength, and non-magnetic properties. It is important to select the appropriate material based on specific application requirements and considerations of cost and processing difficulty.