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Duplex and Super Duplex Stainless Steel, Complete Grade Family Guide

Super duplex stainless steel grades including Ferralium 255 UNS S32550
Super duplex stainless steel family

The duplex and super duplex stainless steel family covers two-phase austenite-ferrite stainless grades, distinguished from each other by Pitting Resistance Equivalent Number (PREN = %Cr + 3.3·%Mo + 16·%N). The PREN ≥ 40 boundary defines super duplex; standard duplex grades sit at PREN ~30–38. The family combines the high mechanical strength of ferritic stainless steel (yield ≥ 450 MPa for standard duplex, ≥ 550 MPa for super duplex) with corrosion resistance superior to standard austenitic stainless steels (304/316L) in chloride-bearing environments.

Standard Duplex Stainless Steel Grades

The most-specified standard duplex grade is Duplex 2205 (UNS S31803 or modern narrowed S32205). Composition: 22 Cr – 5 Ni – 3 Mo – 0.15 N (no Cu). PREN ~35. EN designation 1.4462 / X2CrNiMoN22-5-3. Used in chemical processing, moderate-chloride seawater, oil & gas low-CO2 environments, pulp & paper. Lower-tier standard-duplex grades (Duplex 2304 UNS S32304 with PREN ~26 and Duplex 2003 UNS S32003 with PREN ~30) cover lighter-duty applications.

Super Duplex Stainless Steel Grades, PREN ≥ 40

The commercially significant super duplex stainless steel grades are: Ferralium 255 (UNS S32550, EN 1.4507, Cu-bearing), Super Duplex 2507 (UNS S32750, EN 1.4410, the most-common grade), and Zeron 100 (UNS S32760, EN 1.4501, W-bearing). All meet PREN ≥ 40. Super duplex extends service to warm seawater, high-chloride brines, sour-gas service per NACE MR0175, and reducing-acid chemical processing (Ferralium 255 specifically for the Cu advantage).

Duplex 2205 Chemical Composition vs Super Duplex Composition

ElementDuplex 2205 (S31803/S32205)Ferralium 255 (S32550)Super Duplex 2507 (S32750)Zeron 100 (S32760)
Chromium (Cr)21.0–23.024.0–27.024.0–26.024.0–26.0
Nickel (Ni)4.5–6.54.5–6.56.0–8.06.0–8.0
Molybdenum (Mo)2.5–3.52.9–3.93.0–5.03.0–4.0
Nitrogen (N)0.08–0.200.10–0.250.24–0.320.20–0.30
Copper (Cu)none1.5–2.5none0.5–1.0
Tungsten (W)nonenonenone0.5–1.0
Nominal PREN~35~40~42~41

Duplex / Super Duplex PREN Threshold Explained

The PREN ≥ 40 boundary is not arbitrary, it correlates with Critical Pitting Temperature (CPT) per ASTM G48 method A. Standard duplex (Duplex 2205, PREN ~35) has CPT ~25 °C, marginal for typical seawater service at 20–30 °C. Super duplex (PREN ~40+) has CPT ≥ 35 °C, providing safety margin for warm-seawater offshore service and high-chloride environments. Hyper duplex grades (PREN ≥ 49, e.g. UNS S32707, S33207) sit one tier above super duplex for the most extreme chloride/sour-service environments.

When to Upgrade From Duplex 2205 to Super Duplex

Standard upgrade triggers from Duplex 2205 to a super-duplex grade like Ferralium 255: seawater service above 30 °C; sour-gas H2S partial pressure exceeding NACE MR0175 thresholds for standard duplex; reducing-acid service (HCl, dilute H2SO4), here Ferralium 255 specifically (Cu-bearing) outperforms Cu-free super duplex; high-velocity erosion-corrosion service. See Ferralium 255 vs Duplex 2205 upgrade guide.

Need duplex or super duplex stainless steel? Email info@torqbolt.com or WhatsApp +91-22-66157017 with form, dimensions, quantity, ASTM/EN spec, MTC level (3.1 / 3.2). NACE MR0175 sour-service stamp on every heat. NORSOK M-650 QTR on request. Per-heat EN 10204 type 3.2 MTC included with every consignment.