Knowledge Resources

What tolerances and surface finish are achievable in stainless steel investment casting — and how to specify them correctly on an engineering drawing. Covers ISO 8062-3 CT grades CT4–CT7, as-cast Ra values by stainless steel grade, the three sources of dimensional variation, GD&T application to castings, grade-specific dimensional behaviour in SS316L, duplex 2205 and 17-4 PH, and what procurement teams should request from a foundry.

Duplex stainless steel 2205 investment castings — ASTM A890 Grade 4A — deliver twice the yield strength of SS316L with PREN ≈ 35, making them the specification of choice for oil and gas, marine, chemical processing, and desalination applications where austenitic grades fail in chloride service. Covers cast grade designation, metallurgy, mechanical properties, foundry process controls, mandatory solution annealing, ferrite measurement, design guidelines, and inspection standar

Producing thin wall stainless steel investment castings — sections between 1.5mm and 4mm — is a different engineering problem from standard section investment casting. The metal solidifies faster, fill must be complete before the section freezes, and the margin for process variation is narrower in every dimension. This guide covers why thin wall stainless castings are specified, the applications that require them, what makes them technically different to produce.

Investment casting of stainless steel begins with a grade selection decision that most engineers encounter at least once: SS304 or SS316. The difference between them is a single alloying addition. This guide explains what that addition delivers, the ASTM cast designations for both grades, the service conditions where SS304 is the correct and sufficient specification, the conditions where SS316 is mandated, and when to additionally specify the low-carbon L variants

A comprehensive guide to stainless steel investment casting across all five alloy families: austenitic (SS304/316L), duplex (2205/2507), precipitation hardening (17-4 PH), martensitic (SS410/420), and ferritic grades. Covers precision capabilities, heat treatment requirements, ASTM and EN standards, and industrial applications.

This article explores the unique characteristics of SS 446, the challenges involved in Investment casting it, and why Pahwa MetalTech is the trusted partner for sourcing precision components in this advanced alloy.

Stainless steel casting alloys like CF3, CF3M, CF8, CF8M, SS304, SS316, and 17-4PH are integral to numerous industries due to their high strength, corrosion resistance, and versatility. These alloys are composed mainly of iron and chromium, along with additional elements like nickel and molybdenum, which contribute to their enhanced properties. The chromium content forms a protective oxide layer on the surface, providing resistance against oxidation and staining. Here are som