Alloy 2507 is a super duplex stainless steel with 25% chromium, 4% molybdenum, and 7% nickel designed for demanding applications which require exceptional strength and corrosion resistance, such as chemical process, petrochemical, and seawater equipment. The steel has excellent resistance to chloride stress corrosion cracking, high thermal conductivity and a low coefficient of thermal expansion. The high chromium, molybdenum, and nitrogen levels provide excellent resistance to pitting, crevice, and general corrosion.

The impact strength is also high. Alloy 2507 is not recommended for applications which require long exposures to temperatures above 570°F because of the risk of a reduction in toughness.

2507 combines high tensile and impact strength with a low coefficient of thermal expansion and high thermal conductivity. These properties are suitable for many structural and mechanical components. The low, ambient, and elevated temperature mechanical properties of 2507 sheet and plate are shown below. All of the test data shown are for samples in the annealed and quenched condition.

2507 is not recommended for applications which require long exposures to temperatures in excess of 570°F because of the increased risk of a reduction in toughness. The data listed here are typical for wrought products and should not be regarded as a maximum or minimum value unless specifically stated.

Hot Forming

2507 should be hot worked between 1875°F and 2250°F. This should be followed by a solution anneal at 1925°F minimum and a rapid air or water quench.

Cold Forming

Most of the common stainless steel forming methods can be used for cold working 2507. The alloy has a higher yield strength and lower ductility than the austenitic steels so fabricators may find that higher forming forces, increased radius of bending, and increased allowance for springback are necessary. Deep drawing, stretch forming, and similar processes are more difficult to perform on 2507 than on an austenitic stainless steel. When forming requires more than 10% cold deformation, a solution anneal and quench are recommended.

Heat Treatment

2507 should be solution annealed and quenched after either hot or cold forming. Solution annealing should be done at a minimum of 1925°F. Annealing should be followed immediately by a rapid air or water quench. To obtain maximum corrosion resistance, heat treated products should be pickled and rinsed.

Welding

2507 possesses good weldability and can be joined to itself or other materials by shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), plasma arc welding (PAW), flux cored wire (FCW), or submerged arc welding (SAW). 2507/P100 filler metal is suggested when welding 2507 because it will produce the appropriate duplex weld structure.

Preheating of 2507 is not necessary except to prevent condensation on cold metal. The interpass weld temperature should not exceed 300°F or the weld integrity can be adversely affected. The root should be shielded with argon or 90% N2/10% H2 purging gas for maximum corrosion resistance. The latter provides better corrosion resistance.

If welding is to be done on only one surface and post-weld cleaning is not possible, GTAW is suggested for root passes. GTAW or PAW should not be done without a filler metal unless post-weld cleanup is possible. A heat input of 5-38 kJ/in. should be used for SMAW or GTAW. A heat input of about 50kJ/in. can be used for SAW.