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StainlessSteelGrade304(UNSS30400)
ChemicalFormula
Fe,<0.08%C,17.520%Cr,811%Ni,<2%Mn,<1%Si,<0.045%P,<0.03%S

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Background
KeyProperties
Composition
MechanicalProperties
PhysicalProperties
GradeSpecificationComparison
PossibleAlternativeGrades
CorrosionResistance
HeatResistance
HeatTreatment
Welding
Machining
DualCertification
Applications

Background
Grade304isthestandard"18/8"stainlessitis
themostversatileandmostwidelyused
stainlesssteel,availableinawiderrangeof
products,formsandfinishesthananyother.It
hasexcellentformingandwelding
characteristics.Thebalancedaustenitic
structureofGrade304enablesittobeseverely
deepdrawnwithoutintermediateannealing,
whichhasmadethisgradedominantinthe
manufactureofdrawnstainlesspartssuchas
sinks,hollowwareandsaucepans.Forthese
applicationsitiscommontousespecial
"304DDQ"(DeepDrawingQuality)variants.
Grade304isreadilybrakeorrollformedintoa
varietyofcomponentsforapplicationsinthe
industrial,architectural,andtransportation
fields.Grade304alsohasoutstandingwelding
characteristics.Postweldannealingisnot
requiredwhenweldingthinsections.
Grade304L,thelowcarbonversionof304,
doesnotrequirepostweldannealingandsois
extensivelyusedinheavygaugecomponents
(overabout6mm).Grade304Hwithitshigher
carboncontentfindsapplicationatelevated
temperatures.Theausteniticstructurealso
givesthesegradesexcellenttoughness,even
downtocryogenictemperatures.

KeyProperties
Thesepropertiesarespecifiedforflatrolled
product(plate,sheetandcoil)inASTM
A240/A240M.Similarbutnotnecessarily
identicalpropertiesarespecifiedforother

MoreaboutStainlessSteel304
InDepthSS304PropertyData
MedicalApplicationsofSS304
StainlessSteelHighTemperature
Resistance
StainlessSteelSortingand
IdentificationTests
StainlessSteelMagnetic
Properties
InthemarketforStainlessSteel
304?wecanconnectyouwith
suppliersofSS304inanyofthese
forms
Ball,Bar,Beam,Billet,Bloom,
Cable,Castings,Coil,Cylinder,Disc,
Extrusions,Flats(FlatBar),
Foil,Forging,Pipe,Plate,
Powder,Ribbon,Ring,Rod,
Rounds,Sheet,Squares,Strip,
TubeandWire.
Interestedinstainlesssteel
newsingeneral?Alsofeelfreeto
'AskAQuestion'atthebottomof
thisarticle,we'velotsofinhouse
knowledge,materialsexpertise
andindustrycontacts!
Doyouhaveanyinteresting
picturesofSS304wecanaddto
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levelorsimplycoolproducts?
We'llgivecreditwherecreditsdue

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Composition

Typicalcompositionalrangesforgrade304stainlesssteelsaregivenintable1.
Table1.Compositionrangesfor304gradestainlesssteel

PreventingCorrosionofSteelinHigh
TemperatureSettingssuchasKilns,Dryers
Grade

andFanUnits

Mn

Si

Cr

Mo

18.0

Ni

8.0

10.5

0.10

8.0

12.0

0.10

AGuidetoChangingyourCarrierGasSource
fromHeliumtoHydrogenin7Steps
PittconintheBigPeachOurHighlights

min.
304

UsingHandheldLIBSAnalyzerforLaser

max.

0.08

2.0

0.75

0.045

0.030

20.0

min.

18.0

BasedChromiumAnalysisinElementsand
Alloys
InvestigatingAluminumAlloysUsingMicroX

304L

RayFluorescenceSpectroscopy(MicroXRF)

max.

0.030

2.0

0.75

min.

0.04

0.045

0.030

20.0

18.0

inSEMandEDS
304H

8.0

0.045
max.

0.10

2.0

0.75

0.030

20.0

10.5

MechanicalProperties
Typicalmechanicalpropertiesforgrade304stainlesssteelsaregivenintable2.
Table2.Mechanicalpropertiesof304gradestainlesssteel
Hardness
YieldStrength

TensileStrength

Grade

Elongation(%in

0.2%Proof(MPa)

(MPa)min

50mm)min

min

RockwellB

Brinell(HB)

(HRB)max

max

304

515

205

40

92

201

304L

485

170

40

92

201

304H

515

205

40

92

201

304HalsohasarequirementforagrainsizeofASTMNo7orcoarser.

PhysicalProperties
Typicalphysicalpropertiesforannealedgrade304stainlesssteelsaregivenintable3.
Table3.Physicalpropertiesof304gradestainlesssteelintheannealedcondition

Grade

304/L/H

Density
(kg/m3 )

8000

Elastic
Modulus

MeanCoefficientofThermal

ThermalConductivity

Expansion(m/m/C)

Specific

(W/m.K)

Heat0
100C

(GPa)
0100C

0315C

0538C

at100C

at500C

(J/kg.K)

17.2

17.8

18.4

16.2

21.5

500

193

Electrical
Resistivity
(n .m)

720

GradeSpecificationComparison
Approximategradecomparisonsfor304stainlesssteelsaregivenintable4.
Table4.Gradespecificationsfor304gradestainlesssteel
OldBritish
Grade

Euronorm

UNSNo
BS

En

No

Name

Swedish

Japanese

SS

JIS

304

S30400

304S31

58E

1.4301

X5CrNi1810

2332

SUS304

304L

S30403

304S11

1.4306

X2CrNi1911

2352

SUS304L

304H

S30409

304S51

1.4948

X6CrNi1811

Thesecomparisonsareapproximateonly.Thelistisintendedasacomparisonoffunctionallysimilarmaterialsnot
asascheduleofcontractualequivalents.Ifexactequivalentsareneededoriginalspecificationsmustbeconsulted.

PossibleAlternativeGrades
Possiblealternativegradestograde304stainlesssteelsaregivenintable5.
Table5.Possiblealternativegradesto304gradestainlesssteel
Grade

Whyitmightbechoseninsteadof304

301L

Ahigherworkhardeningrategradeisrequiredforcertainrollformedorstretchformedcomponents.

302HQ

303

Lowerworkhardeningrateisneededforcoldforgingofscrews,boltsandrivets.

Highermachinabilityneeded,andthelowercorrosionresistance,formabilityandweldabilityare
acceptable.

316

Higherresistancetopittingandcrevicecorrosionisrequired,inchlorideenvironments

321

Betterresistancetotemperaturesofaround600900Cisneeded321hashigherhotstrength.

3CR12

430

Alowercostisrequired,andthereducedcorrosionresistanceandresultingdiscolourationare
acceptable.

Alowercostisrequired,andthereducedcorrosionresistanceandfabricationcharacteristicsare
acceptable.

CorrosionResistance
Excellentinawiderangeofatmosphericenvironmentsandmanycorrosivemedia.Subjectto
pittingandcrevicecorrosioninwarmchlorideenvironments,andtostresscorrosioncracking
aboveabout60C.Consideredresistanttopotablewaterwithuptoabout200mg/Lchlorides
atambienttemperatures,reducingtoabout150mg/Lat60C.

HeatResistance
Goodoxidationresistanceinintermittentserviceto870Candincontinuousserviceto925C.
Continuoususeof304inthe425860Crangeisnotrecommendedifsubsequentaqueous
corrosionresistanceisimportant.Grade304Lismoreresistanttocarbideprecipitationand
canbeheatedintotheabovetemperaturerange.
Grade304Hhashigherstrengthatelevatedtemperaturessoisoftenusedforstructuraland
pressurecontainingapplicationsattemperaturesaboveabout500Canduptoabout800C.
304Hwillbecomesensitisedinthetemperaturerangeof425860Cthisisnotaproblemfor
hightemperatureapplications,butwillresultinreducedaqueouscorrosionresistance.

HeatTreatment
SolutionTreatment(Annealing)Heatto10101120Candcoolrapidly.Thesegradescannot
behardenedbythermaltreatment.

Welding
Excellentweldabilitybyallstandardfusionmethods,bothwithandwithoutfillermetals.AS
1554.6prequalifiesweldingof304withGrade308and304Lwith308Lrodsorelectrodes(and
withtheirhighsiliconequivalents).HeavyweldedsectionsinGrade304mayrequirepost
weldannealingformaximumcorrosionresistance.ThisisnotrequiredforGrade304L.Grade
321mayalsobeusedasanalternativeto304ifheavysectionweldingisrequiredandpost
weldheattreatmentisnotpossible.

Machining
A"Ugima"improvedmachinabilityversionofgrade304isavailableinbarproducts."Ugima"
machinessignificantlybetterthanstandard304or304L,givinghighermachiningratesand
lowertoolwearinmanyoperations.

DualCertification
Itiscommonfor304and304Ltobestockedin"DualCertified"form,particularlyinplateand
pipe.Theseitemshavechemicalandmechanicalpropertiescomplyingwithboth304and304L
specifications.Suchdualcertifiedproductdoesnotmeet304Hspecificationsandmaybe
unacceptableforhightemperatureapplications.

Applications
Typicalapplicationsinclude:
Foodprocessingequipment,particularlyinbeerbrewing,milkprocessing&winemaking.
Kitchenbenches,sinks,troughs,equipmentandappliances
Architecturalpanelling,railings&trim
Chemicalcontainers,includingfortransport
HeatExchangers

Wovenorweldedscreensformining,quarrying&waterfiltration
Threadedfasteners
Springs

The630foothigh(190m),stainlessclad(type304)GatewayArchdefinesSt.Louis'sskyline
Source:AtlasSteelsAustralia
FormoreinformationonthissourcepleasevisitAtlasSteelsAustralia

DateAdded:Oct23,2001|Updated:Feb27,2015

Readin|English|Espaol|Franais|Deutsch|Portugus|Italiano|||||
Nederlands||Svenska

Comments
MahmoudEllithy says:
Mahmoud
November10,2013at2:46PM
Ellithy
IwanttoknowaboutcompaniesproducingSS304tanksandtheiroffersandhow
tocontactthem....?
0

Reply

AmosStitham

says:

December10,2013at4:12PM

IBI/GlobalPower
EngineeredManufacturedDelivered
Caldwell,ID
93716
(208)4596077
TollFree:1(800)4978251
Reply

ThanhTran says:
Thanh
January11,2014at5:26PM
Tran
Iwouldliketoknow316and304whichoneismoreexpensive?orhigherquality?
Reply

VinayKumarN says:
Vinay
January23,2014at1:57AM
Kumar
316ishigher.
N
0

Reply

ugeshkumars

says:

June26,2014at3:40AM

iwanttoknowlistofssmaterialsandcost
1

Reply

AsrulAizzad says:
Asrul
February23,2014at4:44AM
Aizzad
IwanttoknowTIGweldingparameterfor304
0

Reply

MusthafaIsmail says:
Musthafa
March3,2014at10:36PM
Ismail
CorrosionResistance
Excellentinawiderangeofatmosphericenvironmentsandmanycorrosivemedia.
Subjecttopittingandcrevicecorrosioninwarmchlorideenvironments,andtostress
corrosioncrackingaboveabout60C.Consideredresistanttopotablewaterwithupto
about200mg/Lchloridesatambienttemperatures,reducingtoabout150mg/Lat60C.
Pittingandcrevicecorrosionatwhattemperature.Pleasespecify.
0

Reply

BrigittaRoselie says:
Brigitta
March18,2014at4:26AM
Roselie
IwanttoknowhowcanIfindthemostupdatingpricesforsus304inkg(isthere
anywebsite)
0

Reply

TyroneDunn says:
Tyrone
March21,2014at5:05PM
Dunn
Iwouldliketoknowifitisacceptabletoheat304stainlessinordertocreate
formsweptbendson6mmthickangleironwithoutdistortingitsmetalicpropertiesor
reducingitscorrosivenessinhighhumiditycoastalareas.
0

Reply

BarryPatterson

says:

March24,2014at2:22PM

Is304suitablefora6"fluepipefromasmallcoalstoveinahuntingcamp?
0

Reply

TArai

says:

April20,2014at4:11PM

Whichgradewouldbebestformakinganexhaustsystemforaautomobile
(specificallyaVWVanagon)?Ihaveseen304used,butwasthinkingthat304Hor316
wouldbebetter.Wouldthosegradesbeavailableintherequiredpipesizes?Whatwould
bethetradeoffs?Strength?Longevity?
0

Reply

stevemiller

says:

June11,2014at5:25PM

304and316areveryexpensiveandcanbeoverkillintheexhaust
application.TryCromgard181.JustGoogleCromgardandthecompanypops
up.Itsusedalotintheautomotiveindustryforexhaustedsystemsbecauseof
resistancetocorrosionandlowcost.

Reply

ihsandurani

says:

July4,2014at12:33PM

Nowadaysweightreductionisimportantgoalforautomobile
applications.soyoumustuseametalwhichsatisfiedthecustomerand
company.304and316areveryhighweightandalsoarecostly..............
0

Reply

ugeshkumars

says:

June26,2014at3:41AM

whatismouldingandcastingdifferencebetweenthem
0

Reply

ihsandurani

says:

July4,2014at12:22PM

moldingisaprocessofmoldmakingforcostinganyshapebutcasting
belongtoaprocessinwhichspecificshapeisgiventothematerialsbyusing
mold.themoltenmetalisporedintothemoldforcastingparts..........
0

Reply

YangFuqiang

says:

September17,2014at9:50PM

iwanttotheelasticmodulsof304stainlesssteelat100~100
Reply

KianFarzaneh

says:

October30,2014at10:26PM

Isthissteelgoodformakingknives?
Reply

TuanTran

says:

February3,2015at5:06PM

Isstainlesssteel304RoHScompliant?
Reply

ManoocherMohebi

says:

April24,2015at2:18AM

hello
Iwantthebestsuggestionprocess(whitdesigningfordeepdrawing)ofcupstainless
steel(304)thefollowingdata
outerdiameter49.8mm
wallthickness0.8~1mm
length65mm
r=5~5.5mm
0

Reply

RichardPanfil

says:

April29,2015at12:26PM

Doeshardnessof304sheetandanglediffer?Iampunching304SS3"angleand
ambendinganddeformiingthepunchafteroneuse.Thepunchanddieisratedupto1/4"
304annealed.
0

Reply

MarkNels

says:

May10,2015at12:20PM

Ihaveabeam,123/4x24thatsspanning48.Howmuchweightissafeinthe
middleofthespan?

Also,Ihaveahoisttrolleythathasa11/4steelrodthatconnectsthe2halvesofthe
trolley.The11/4rodisonlylongenough(itstotallengthis91/2)fora51/2
beam.Ineedtogetalongerrod.17willdofora123/4flange.Ineedtodrillholesin
theendsforcotterpins.WhattypeofsteeldoIneedandshouldIworryaboutthelonger
lengthgivingproblemsandbending?Thetrolleyisratedfor3tons.
Founda304stainlesssteel11/4rodonEbay.Wouldthatworkforstrength?CanIdrill
itforthecotterpins?
Reply

DHANANJAYKUMAR

says:

May19,2015at4:03AM

whatistherangeofbhnno.ofss304
Reply

DHANANJAYKUMAR

says:

May19,2015at4:06AM

ifthevalueofbrinellhardness187andsecondbrinellhardnessvalueis245then
whatiscomparisionbetweenboth
0

Reply

MichaelRederstorf

says:

September1,2015at9:10AM

Isiteasiertomachine304SSifheattreatedandcooledatacertainrate?
0

Reply

arsuliman

says:

October23,2015at12:07PM

hi.iwouldliketoask,asfor304Lwhat'stherangeforthebestPWHTandwhats
thesoakingtimeforit?imusinga9mmthickness.
Reply

ahmedomer

says:

January26,2016at7:49AM

whatistheHeatRangeFor304?
Reply

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ofAZoM.com.

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