Stainless steel casting and aluminum casting are the most commonly adopted metal forming processes today when it comes to the construction of complex metal parts for marine application. While aluminium castings are light, they have limited corrosion resistance in seawater and requires significant maintenance. Stainless steel castings, thus, are recognised as the premium selection for marine applications for the excellent corrosion resistance, lustre, strength and stiffness.
Why Stainless Steel for Marine Application?
For many marine applications, grade 304 (UNS S30400/S30403) stainless steel castings have proven adequate. The current industry standard, however, is grade 316 (UNS S31600/S31603 – commonly termed “marine grade” stainless) which offers a solution to around 90% of marine applications. Grades 304 and 316 are austenitic (300 series) stainless steels due to their metallurgical structure (austenite) which gives them excellent ductility, good strength, non-magnetic properties, good weldability and very good corrosion resistance.
While stainless steel grades 304, 316 and duplex steels can all be used in marine applications, they do provide varying degrees of corrosion resistance and durability. The corrosion resistance of all stainless steels also improves if they are kept clean.
Why Stainless Steel Casting for Marine Application?
Casting method used for marine application with stainless steel alloys is mainly investment casting. The investment casting process is an excellent option for producing dimensionally accurate hardwares that require superior corrosion resistance for the marine industry. Since many highly corrosion resistant materials (i.e. 316 stainless steel) are cast on a regular basis, employing this process makes good economic sense. At CFS Stainless Steel Foundry, we manufacture thousands of stainless steel investment casting parts each year and have an outstanding track record of doing so in the industries fastest lead times at competitive prices. We also have the ability to provide parts with additional surface treatments such as electropolishing, mirror polishing, to enhance corrosion resistance even more and provide parts with superior surface finishes.
Examples of marine hardwares produced by stainless steel casting include:
- Boat propeller
- Boat Steering Wheel
- Boat rail base fittings
- Marine cross bollard
- Bruce boat anchor
- Deck hardware
- Cleats, handles, brackets, covers and other boat hardware
- Engine components
- Bearing housing
- Seal housings
Marine Stainless Steel Casting Capabilities in CFS
CFS mainly supply custom stainless steel investment casting services to deliver high-quality parts for marine application. We are equipped with all the necessary equipment including machining and surface treatments to to provide finished parts.
- Rich experience on stainless steel investment casting process for marine application.
- Wide selection of stainless steel alloys to cast marine hardwares.
- Automatic production equipments in our foundry with higher production effeciency.
- Cast stainless steel marine parts in either large or small volumes can be offered.
- Post treatments such as heat treating, machining and surface finishing are feasible in our foundry.
- We offer fexisible transportation solutions for our customers according to their demands.
At CFS Foundry, we constantly strive to exceed our customers’ expectations. Any inquiry on stainless steel casting for marine application, pls feel free to contact us!
