310S stainless steel pipe is the lower-carbon, high-chromium, high-nickel austenitic alloy chosen when continuous high-temperature resistance, good oxidation resistance and improved weldability are required. For most elevated-temperature service and welded pipework where carbide precipitation and intergranular attack are a concern, 310S offers the most reliable combination of long life, fabrication friendliness and predictable mechanical performance.

What is 310S stainless steel pipe?

310S is an austenitic chromium-nickel stainless steel that was developed for elevated-temperature service. Compared with ordinary austenitic grades (304/316 families), 310S contains significantly more chromium and nickel — which raises its oxidation resistance and strength at high temperatures — while its carbon content is intentionally limited to reduce carbide precipitation during welding and thermal cycling. In piping form (seamless or welded), 310S pipes are specified for process furnaces, burner systems, petrochemical installations that encounter hot oxidizing atmospheres, high-temperature ductwork, and anywhere thermal stability and resistance to scaling are important.

Chemical composition

Below is the conventional composition window used for 310S as referenced by ASTM/ASME grade designations. Values are maximum or ranges (wt.%) unless noted.

Notes: The table above follows the common chemical limits referenced in ASME/ASTM technical references and mill certifications for 310S. These composition limits are applied to plate, coil and pipe products sold under the 310S designation.

Material properties

These are typical, solution-annealed values used for engineering selection. Always use mill certificates and project-specific testing for final design.

Performance at elevated temperatures depends on environment, flow, and cyclic thermal exposure. Where alloying and elevated nickel content matter (sulfidizing or carburizing atmospheres), consult detailed corrosion allowances and field test data.

Standards and specifications for 310S pipe

Typical standards and specifications used when procuring 310S pipe:

• ASTM A312 / ASME SA312 — Standard specification covering seamless, welded and heavily cold-worked austenitic stainless steel pipe. This is the primary pipe specification in the United States and widely referenced globally for pressure-containing piping.

• ASME B36.19 / B36.10 — Standard dimensions for stainless steel pipe (schedules, OD tables) used for sizing and weight calculations.

• ASME SA240 / ASTM A240 — Plate and sheet spec for 310/310S where plates are rolled and then formed into pipes or used in heat-exchange fabrication.

• National and EN standards (EN 10216 series) may apply in Europe for similar grades — check project codes.

When ordering make clear: grade (310S / UNS S31008), product form (seamless vs welded), heat treatment (solution annealed), pipe schedule, end finish (beveled, plain-end), and test requirements (hydrostatic, eddy current, PMI if required).

What is the difference between 310 and 310S?

The defining difference is carbon content. Type 310 permits a higher maximum carbon (commonly up to ~0.25 wt.%), while 310S restricts carbon to ≤0.08 wt.%. The practical effects:

• 310 (higher C) — slightly higher creep strength at very high temperature and marginally higher hardness; more prone to carbide precipitation (sensitization) during slow cooling or welding which can cause intergranular corrosion in corrosive media.

• 310S (low C) — reduced carbide precipitation, superior weldability, and lower risk of intergranular corrosion after welding or thermal cycling. For welded pipework where repeated heating or post-weld operations are involved, 310S is typically preferred.

Bottom line: if you must weld or expect thermal cycles that create long time-at-temperature, choose 310S; use 310 only when marginally higher as-received strength is required and welding/sensitization can be controlled.

310S stainless steel pipe specifications

Manufacturers typically supply 310S pipe under ASTM A312 (TP310S) in either seamless or ERW/Welded forms, in standard schedules. Typical commercial offering:

• Material grade: ASTM A312 TP310S (UNS S31008)

• OD range: 1/8" up to 24"+ (seamless commonly up to ~12–24", welded can be larger)

• Wall thickness: Schedule 5S, 10S, 40 (STD), 80, XXH and custom wall thicknesses by request

• End finish: plain end, beveled (BPE), threaded (NPT) on small sizes

• Testing: hydrostatic test, PMI on request, chemical & mechanical mill certificates, NDT as required by purchaser

For design and procurement, always list the exact ASTM/ASME code, schedule, heat treatment, and inspection plan to prevent ambiguity.

310s stainless steel pipe Sizes & weight

Below are sample sizes for stainless pipe and approximate weight per foot (imperial). These are approximation examples for engineers to estimate handling and logistics; use vendor tables for final mass.

For metric and detailed schedule charts (weight by OD and wall thickness across all schedules), refer to standard pipe dimension tables such as those published in ASTM/ASME reference tables. These tables are commonly used for estimating tonnage for quotes and logistics.

High-temperature performance and corrosion behaviour

• Oxidation resistance: The high chromium content forms a stable oxide scale; 310S performs well in oxidizing atmospheres at elevated temperatures (continuous service typically up to ~1,100–1,150 °C depending on stress and atmosphere).

• Carburizing / sulfidizing atmospheres: In environments with carbonaceous gases or sulfur species, localized attack can occur; alloy selection should consider specific gas chemistry. 310S has better resistance than lower-alloy austenitics but does not match certain nickel-based superalloys in aggressive sulfidizing conditions.

• Thermal cycling: Repeated heating and cooling can cause scale spallation and fatigue; 310S is robust but design for thermal expansion and support points is necessary.

• Corrosion in aqueous environments: 310S is not generally chosen for chloride-rich water service — duplex or super-austenitic/316L/6Mo families are usually better for chloride corrosion resistance. Use 310S where temperature and oxidation resistance are critical rather than general chloride corrosion protection.

Fabrication and welding notes

• Weldability: 310S welds readily using standard austenitic filler metals; the low carbon content reduces sensitization risk. Preheat is often not required for thin sections; avoid excessive interpass temperatures for thick sections.

• Filler metal: For most welded pipework, ER309L/309MoL type filler metals are commonly specified for dissimilar welds or where matching strength/temperature stability is needed. If corrosion exposure is critical, choose filler to match corrosion resistance.

• Post-weld heat treatment (PWHT): Not typically required for 310S for corrosion purposes, but if creep strength or stress relief is required, follow project codes.

• Cold working: Cold forming increases strength and may cause slight magnetism; annealing restores full ductility. Solution annealing is performed by mills to meet ASTM/ASME requirements.

Typical industrial applications

• Furnace components and flues — ductwork, burner tubes, heat recovery piping etc.

• Petrochemical processing — hot gas lines, reformer piping lances, high-temperature process ducting.

• Heat exchangers and boiler internals — where local temperatures are high and oxidation resistance is essential.

• Food/oven industry — industrial ovens, baking equipment at high temperature where scaling resistance is required.

• Chemical reactors — where intermittent elevated temperature and welding exposure make 310S preferable.

Advantages and limitations

Advantages

• Excellent oxidation resistance at elevated temperature (Cr ~24–26%).

• Improved weldability and lower risk of intergranular attack due to low carbon (≤0.08%).

• Good toughness and ductility in a wide temperature range.

• Readily available in pipe form under ASTM A312 and international equivalents.

Limitations

• Not the best choice for chloride-rich aqueous environments (pitting/crevice corrosion).

• Lower creep strength than specialized high-temperature nickel alloys for extremely aggressive hot environments.

• Costlier than common austenitics (304/316) due to high nickel content.

310s stainless steel pipe Pricing (United States / Europe / China) 2025

Important: stainless steel price is volatile and depends on form (coil, plate, pipe), mill surcharges, alloy premium, order quantity, delivery term (EXW / FOB / DDP), and local tariffs/anti-dumping duties. The figures below are indicative 2025 regional ranges for stainless product basket prices and are provided to help build realistic RFQs — always obtain live mill or distributor quotes before committing.

• China (domestic FOB / ex-works for commodity 300 series items): Chinese factory offers for stainless sheet/coil and commodity 300-series material have commonly been lower than Western markets. Public trading listings and supplier platforms in 2025 show range approximations around USD 1,400–2,250 / tonne for some 300-series coil/plate offers (note: highly dependent on thickness, finish, and minimum order). Use care: these platform numbers reflect trading/offer ranges rather than final mill contracts.

• United States (industrial stainless price indices Q2 2025): Market indices reported USA stainless price levels in the USD 3,400–3,800 / tonne bracket for broad stainless product indices in mid-2025, driven by nickel and chromium input costs, transportation, and surcharges. Specialty grades with high Ni content (like 310S) can carry additional alloy surcharges.

• Europe: European delivered prices for stainless coils/sheets in parts of 2025 were commonly similar or slightly below U.S. indices depending on product; month-by-month indices saw ranges of USD ~3,100–3,600 / tonne for benchmark cold-rolled coil, but volatility is high and local energy costs and import competition from Asia can reduce domestic mill quotations. Alloy premiums for 310/310S add to these base figures.

How to read these numbers practically

• For pipe, conversion from coil/plate base price to finished pipe includes extra steps: forming, welding or seamless mill processing, testing, cutting, and finishing. Industry rule-of-thumb adds conversion and value-added costs (and logistics + tariffs), so pipe prices per tonne will be higher than raw coil/plate prices in the lists above.

• For large procurement, negotiate: (1) alloy surcharge formula (Ni/Cr basis), (2) firm lead times and inspection points, (3) payment and inspection terms (PMI, mill certs), and (4) logistics (FOB / CIF / DDP). Use supplier references and sample certificates to validate chemistry.

Sources used for regional market context and indices are market research and price-indexing services; these should be cross-checked with live quotes for project procurement.

How MWAlloys supplies 310S pipe

At MWAlloys we specialize in industrial stainless solutions and combine factory connections with responsive export capabilities:

• Product forms: ASTM A312 TP310S seamless and welded pipe, standard schedules and custom wall thicknesses.

• Factory pricing: We source directly from our Chinese mills and partner factories; typical 100% factory ex-works pricing provides transparent cost advantage for bulk buyers (we quote FOB/CIF/DDP per buyer preference).

• Stock & lead times: MWAlloys maintains a rotating inventory of common NPS sizes and schedules; for stocked items we can deliver within days to a few weeks depending on destination and customs — for made-to-order or large seamless diameters, lead times follow mill schedules.

• Quality control: Each shipment is accompanied by mill chemical and mechanical test certificates (EN/ASTM), traceable heat numbers, and optional third-party inspection (SGS/Intertek) or PMI on request.

• Technical support: We assist customers with grade selection (310 vs 310S), welding procedure recommendations, and packaging for sensitive shipping routes.

If you want a tailored quote, provide: required grade (310S), NPS/OD and schedule or wall, length per piece, quantity (tons or pieces), delivery port/address, and any special test/inspection requirements.

FAQs

1. Is 310S magnetic?
   In the annealed condition 310S is essentially non-magnetic (austenitic). It may show slight magnetic response if heavily cold worked.

2. Can I weld 310S pipe without filler?
   Autogenous welding is possible on thin sections, but for pipes and dissimilar joints a matching filler (e.g., ER309L) is often recommended to avoid microstructural problems.

3. Is 310S better than 316 for high temperature?
   Yes! 310S provides superior oxidation resistance and high-temperature strength compared with 316; 316 is better for chloride aqueous corrosion.

4. What maximum continuous temperature is realistic for 310S?
   Continuous service up to roughly 1,100–1,150 °C, depending on stress and atmosphere; check project conditions and consult creep-rupture data for long term duty.

5. Is 310S suitable for food equipment?
   For thermal ovens and high-temperature cookware systems, yes — but for wet food processing where chloride exposure occurs, choose appropriate grades.

6. How do I specify 310S pipe for pressure systems?
   Use ASTM A312 / ASME SA312 TP310S, specify schedule, end finish, hydrostatic test, and required certificates.

7. Does low carbon (S) affect high-temperature strength?
   310S has slightly lower as-received creep strength than 310 due to lower carbon, but in welded or thermally cycled service its overall performance and long-term resistance to intergranular attack usually makes it the preferred choice.

8. Can 310S be used in sulfidizing atmospheres?
   It has reasonable performance in mildly sulfidizing conditions, but for heavy sulfidation or carburization choose higher-nickel alloys or specialized superalloys.

9. What inspection documents come with MWAlloys shipments?
   Mill test certificates (chemical & mechanical), heat number traceability, packing list; third-party inspection or PMI available on request.

10. How do I calculate weight for ordering?
    Use standard OD and wall thickness tables (ASME B36.19) and multiply by length; table sources or vendor weight charts are used to confirm final tonnage.

Practical procurement checklist

• Confirm 310S grade (UNS S31008) and standard (ASTM A312).

• Specify pipe schedule / wall thickness, OD, length, and end finish.

• Ask for Mill Test Certificates and heat numbers on each bundle.

• Confirm alloy surcharge formula or premium for Ni/Cr if relevant.

• Request delivery terms (FOB/CIF/DDP), expected lead time, and packing for overseas shipment.

• Arrange inspection or PMI if critical.