Annealing
• Heat slowly to 1450 -1600°F (790 - 871°C), quickly cool. Slow cooling produces less desirable impact transition behavior. Ferritic stainless steels containing more than about 12% chromium have a susceptibility to a phenomenon known as 885°F (475°C) embrittlement. This embrittlement is observed as a degradation of impact properties at room temperature resulting from very long exposures in the temperature range of 700 to 1000°F (371 to 537°C). If service temperatures are cycling through this range, exposure above, about 1050°F (565°C), restores the room temperature toughness properties. When there have been long dwell times near 885°F (475°C), service temperatures that cycle above, about 1050°F (565°C), are beneficial rather than detrimental.