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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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What is meant with finely modified austenitic stainless steel?

It is said that inhibited hydrochloric acid will attack finely modified austenitic stainless steel - that I found in your pages. I would like to get more information of this finely modification. What is meant with that?

Erja Hiitelä
Metso Paper - Jyväskylä, Finland
2002

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As a ferrous metallurgist of some 40 years experience, and whose first language is English, I don't know -- I have never before heard the phrase in the context of stainless steels. I just searched the site for the phrase, and see that it was used by a Japanese gentleman. Perhaps he had some concept clearly in his mind but did not translate it into English well. Perhaps he did not even have a clear concept in his mind in the first place. You have some absolutely excellent stainless steel experts in your organisation, particularly in your foundry in Finland -- I suggest you seek their help in explaining how hydrochloric acid can sometimes affect the simpler stainless steels.

Bill Reynolds [deceased]
consultant metallurgist - Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
We sadly relate the news that Bill passed away on Jan. 29, 2010.
2002