What factors limit the widespread popularization of precipitation hardening stainless steel?

The primary restriction is its higher raw material cost than ordinary austenitic and martensitic stainless steel, caused by added copper, niobium and nickel alloy elements. The mandatory double heat treatment procedure extends production cycles and increases energy consumption and processing fees. A narrow applicable corrosion range prevents its replacement of Hastelloy or titanium alloys in strong acid and high-chloride environments. These cost and environmental limits make it only selected for high-end equipment requiring integrated high strength and moderate anti-corrosion performance.