
Palgotta Metal supplies high-grade SMO 254 stainless steel, a top-performing alloy built to handle the harshest environments. This stainless steel stands out for its exceptional corrosion resistance, especially in areas with high chloride levels like seawater, brackish water and chemical plants. What makes it different? Its mix of high chromium, molybdenum, and nitrogen gives it strong protection against pitting, crevice corrosion, and stress corrosion cracking. SMO 254 (also known as Alloy 254) isn’t just about corrosion resistance. It’s also about strength. It’s nearly twice as strong as standard 300-series stainless steels, making it ideal for demanding applications where durability matters. Despite this strength, it still welds well due to its low carbon content, which helps prevent cracking or carbide buildup during the welding process. In some industries, this alloy has even replaced more expensive nickel and titanium alloys, delivering the same performance at a better cost.
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SMO 254 stainless steel provides a balanced combination of performance, durability, and long-term value, making it an excellent choice for demanding industrial applications.
Exceptional Corrosion Resistance
SMO 254 is designed to function in chloride-rich conditions such as seawater, brackish water, and strong chemical situations. It resists pitting, crevice corrosion and stress corrosion cracking, common issues in marine and offshore operations.
High Strength with Reduced Weight
This alloy delivers nearly twice the strength of standard 300-series stainless steels. Its mechanical strength allows for the use of thinner material in certain designs, helping reduce overall weight without compromising structural integrity.
Reliable Weldability
Despite its high alloy content, SMO 254 offers excellent weldability. It supports most common welding techniques and produces clean, durable joints with minimal risk of carbide precipitation, making it easier to fabricate into complex shapes and custom components.
Versatile Across Industries
From chemical processing and desalination to marine construction and food production, SMO 254 adapts easily to a wide range of environments. Its resistance to both chemical and thermal stress makes it a useful, and long-lasting solution for a variety of industries.
Thermal and Mechanical Stability
SMO 254 maintains its toughness and mechanical properties even at elevated temperatures. This stability ensures consistent performance in high-heat applications like heat exchangers, reactors, and pressure vessels.
We don’t just supply materials, we deliver quality you can count on. Our Alloy SMO 254 stainless steel is sourced from trusted mills and tested to meet strict industry standards. Every batch is inspected for strength, corrosion resistance, and finish to ensure it performs in the toughest environments. Whether you require sheets, pipes, bars, or custom sizes, we provide accurate cutting, quick delivery, and complete traceability. Our team works closely with you to understand your project needs and provide reliable, cost-effective solutions. When you choose our SMO 254, you're choosing long-term performance, consistent quality, and dedicated support from start to finish.
SMO 254, also known as UNS S31254, is a high-alloy austenitic stainless steel with a carefully balanced chemical composition that includes approximately 20% chromium, 18% nickel, 6% molybdenum, and added nitrogen. This unique blend gives it superior resistance to chloride-induced corrosion and excellent mechanical strength. It has a minimum yield strength of around 300 MPa and tensile strength of up to 650 MPa, with high elongation and toughness even at elevated temperatures. The material's low carbon concentration helps prevent carbide precipitation during welding. SMO 254 complies with several international standards, including ASTM A240 for plates and sheets, ASTM A312 for pipes, and ASTM A479 for bars.
SMO 254, often called UNS S31254, benefits from a powerful mix of elements that make it unique. It contains around 19.5–20.5% chromium, which builds a strong passive layer resisting rust and pitting. It also includes 17.5–18.5% nickel, boosting toughness and helping protect against stress corrosion. With 6.0–6.5% molybdenum and about 0.18–0.25% nitrogen, the alloy gains superior resistance to crevice and pitting corrosion. Small amounts of copper (0.5–1.0%) further improve resistance in chloride-rich environments. The carbon content stays very low (≤ 0.02%), preventing carbide formation during welding. SMO-254's exact chemical combination ensures remarkable resistance to chloride attacks, and long service life in demanding applications.
| Grade | Ni | Cr | Mo | Cu | N | C | Mn | Si | P | S |
| SMO 254 | 17.5 - 18.5 | 19.5 - 20.5 | 6 - 6.5 | 0.5 - 1 | 0.18 - 0.22 | 0.02 max | 1 max | 0.8 max | 0.03 max | 0.01 max |
SMO 254 delivers outstanding mechanical strength and toughness, making it a reliable choice for demanding uses. Its yield strength starts around 300 MPa, while its tensile strength ranges from 650 up to 850 MPa, depending on form and thickness. It also offers elongation of at least 35%, giving it excellent ductility. The alloy remains tough even at low temperatures and under stress. Thanks to a high PRE (Pitting Resistance Equivalent) value of 42 or higher, SMO 254 resists pitting and crevice corrosion exceptionally well. That PRE rating comes from the combined effects of chromium, molybdenum, and nitrogen. And despite high strength, it still allows cold forming and welding with good results when performed properly
| Grade | Tensile Strength ksi (MPa) min | Yield Strength 0.2% Offset ksi (MPa) min | Elongation - % in 50 mm (min.) | Hardness (Brinell) MAX | Hardness (Rockwell B) MAX |
| 254 SMO Sheet & Strip |
100 (690) | 45 (310) | 35 | 223 | 96 |
The table below outlines the equivalent grades and standard designations for 254 SMO stainless steel. It provides a clear comparison of its UNS number, EN classification, common trade names, and relevant ASTM specifications used across global standards.
| Alloy | 254 SMO |
| UNS | S31254 |
| EN / DIN | 1.4547 |
| ISO / German | X1CrNiMoCuN20-18-7 |
| W.Nr. | 1.4529 |
| British Standard | SS 2378 |
| French Standard (AFNOR) | Z1 CNDU 20.18.06AZ |
The physical properties of SMO 254 play a big role in what makes this alloy stand out. With a density of 8.0 g/cm³, it offers the solid structure needed for high-load applications, without being overly heavy. The material's low thermal conductivity (12 W/m·K at 20°C) enhances its ability to withstand intense heat or cooling. The alloy has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than normal austenitic stainless steels which reduces the danger of distortion or fracture under fluctuating temperatures. SMO 254 also holds strong magnetic neutrality due to its fully austenitic structure, making it ideal in applications where non-magnetic materials are required.
| Grade: | Alloy 254 |
| Density | 8.0 kg/dm3 |
| Modulus of Elasticity | 195 GPa |
| Linear Expansion at 68 to 212°F (20 to 100°C) | 16.5 × 10-6/°C |
| Thermal Conductivity | 14 W/m°C |
| Thermal Capacity | 500 J/kg°C |
| Electrical Resistivity | 0.85 µΩ·m |
Stainless Steel 254 SMO is designed to perform in conditions when most other stainless steels fail. Its strength and corrosion resistance make it a reliable material for a variety of important sectors.
Saltwater Systems
SMO 254 is commonly used for seawater pipe, marine hardware and heat exchangers. Its ability to withstand pitting and crevice corrosion makes it perfect for ships, coastal plants, and ocean-based constructions.
Food and Chemical Processing
In food and chemical plants, hygiene and durability are key. SMO 254 handles acidic, caustic, and saline conditions while staying easy to clean and compliant with safety standards.
Pulp and Paper Mills
SMO 254 is suitable for bleach systems, towers, and chemical tanks as it is resistant to chlorine dioxide and strong oxidizing chemicals, making it useful in tough bleaching environments.
Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD)
Power plants and industrial facilities use SMO 254 in scrubbers and ductwork where it resists acidic condensates and high chloride exposure, ensuring long-term durability.
Tall Oil Distillation Columns
In chemical recovery units, SMO 254 is more resistant to organic acids and high temperatures, decreasing wear and maintenance in tall oil distillation systems.
Offshore Oil and Gas
SMO 254 is used in platform structures, piping and valves that face constant exposure to saltwater and salty air, delivering strong, corrosion-resistant performance offshore.
Desalination Plants
In evaporators, condensers and brine piping, SMO 254 resists aggressive salt concentrations, making it a dependable choice for desalination operations focused on long-term reliability.
The production of SMO 254 starts with carefully selected raw materials, mostly iron, chromium, nickel, molybdenum and nitrogen. These components are melted together in an electric arc furnace at a high enough temperature to produce a clean, uniform mixture. After melting, the molten metal is refined to remove impurities and adjust the chemical balance. Once refined, the alloy is cast into slabs or billets, which are then hot rolled into the required shapes, such as plates, bars, or coils. The material is then solution-annealed, heated, and quickly cooled to lock in corrosion resistance and enhance toughness. After heat treatment, the steel is pickled to remove surface scale and improve finish. Final steps include straightening, cutting, machining, and testing. Every batch is inspected for chemical compostion, mechanical strength and surface quality.