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Eternal
The F304 forged steel ball is a core component of austenitic stainless steel ball valves, forged in accordance with the ASTM A182 standard. A182 F304 forgings possess excellent overall mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and machinability, and are widely used in industrial piping systems such as oil and gas, chemical, and metallurgical industries to shut off or open the flow of media.
The F304 ball bodies manufactured by Jiangyin Eternal Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. are designed and produced in strict accordance with international standards such as ASME B16.34, meeting the requirements for valves with flanged, threaded, and welded end connections. Relying on a comprehensive standard system including ASTM A29, ASTM A370, and ASTM A388, the company ensures that every product, from raw materials to finished goods, is of traceable, high quality.
F304 （ASTM A182/A276）
Element | C | Mn | P | S | Si | Ni | Cr |
（%） | ≤0.08 | ≤2.00 | ≤0.045 | ≤0.030 | ≤1.00 | 8.0-11.0 | 18.0-20.0 |
F304 (ASTM A370)
Item | Tensile Strength Rm （MPa） | Yield Strength ReL （MPa） | Elongation A （%） | Cross-sectional Contraction RatioZ （%） | Hardness HBW |
F304 | ≥515 | ≥205 | ≥30 | ≥50 | 139-187 |
Our factory handles the entire production process in-house—from forging and heat treatment to machining—ensuring that the quality of every stainless steel forged steel ball is consistently controlled and delivery times are reliable.
We use high-quality killed steel ingots or continuously cast billets produced via electric furnace + ladle refining (LF/VD) smelting, and strictly control the forging ratio (main cross-section ≥ 3) to ensure that the internal microstructure of the forgings is dense and free of defects such as shrinkage cavities, porosity, and segregation.
After the forged part has cooled to below 500°C, it undergoes solution treatment. The time from when the furnace door is fully opened until the part is fully submerged in water is kept within 60 seconds to ensure that the alloying elements are fully dissolved, prevent intergranular chromium depletion, and enhance corrosion resistance.
We have the capability to perform high-precision rough machining on forged steel balls, efficiently completing turning and milling of the outer diameter, end faces, and reference surfaces to ensure dimensional consistency and uniform, stable finishing allowances for subsequent operations.
Ultrasonic Testing (UT): We perform 100% ultrasonic testing in accordance with ASTM A388, with acceptance criteria meeting or exceeding Grade II requirements of ASME B16.34 or NB/T 47013.3. Given the coarse-grained nature of austenitic stainless steel, we use low-frequency probes or phased array (PAUT) technology when necessary to ensure defect detection rates.
Metallographic Examination:
Grain Size: Evaluated in accordance with ASTM E112; the grain size grade shall be no lower than Grade 5 to ensure the material’s strength and toughness.
Non-metallic Inclusions: Shall meet the requirements of the SY/T 7459 standard.
Intergranular Corrosion: Corrosion testing shall be conducted in accordance with ASTM A262 to ensure there is no tendency for intergranular corrosion.
Corrosion Resistance: After corrosion testing, the austenitic stainless steel shall show no signs of intergranular corrosion.
F304 forged steel balls, with their consistent corrosion resistance and moderate cost, are the standard choice for the following applications:
Oil and Gas Industry: Suitable for long-distance transmission pipelines and gathering and distribution stations for crude oil, refined petroleum products, and natural gas; particularly well-suited for environments containing sulfides (wet hydrogen sulfide) and high-pressure gas pipelines.
Chemical and Petrochemical Industries: Used for transporting nitric acid, acetic acid, organic acids, and alkaline media; performs exceptionally well in oxidizing media.
Power and Energy: Used to shut off or regulate the flow of media in power plant boiler auxiliary systems, water treatment systems, and steam pipelines.
General Industry: Water, steam, and oil pipelines in sectors such as metallurgy, food processing machinery, and pharmaceutical equipment.
Our goal is to work closely with partners to help customers achieve greater success in multiple fields.
We have high-quality ASTM A182 F304 forged billets and a well-established processing line, enabling us to respond quickly to custom orders.
We provide comprehensive after-sales service, providing product return and exchange services.
We have a professional technical team that can provide technical consultation and support to customers.
Each steel ball has its own manufacturing record, which includes chemical composition, mechanical properties, heat treatment curves, and NDT reports.
