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Grade 304 is the standard "18/8" stainless; it is the most versatile and most widely used stainless steel, available in a wider range of products, forms and finishes than any other. It has excellent forming and welding characteristics. The balanced austenitic structure of Grade 304 enables it to be severely deep drawn without intermediate annealing, which has made this grade dominant in the manufacture of drawn stainless parts such as sinks, hollow-ware and saucepans. For these applications it is common to use special "304DDQ" (Deep Drawing Quality) variants. Grade 304 is readily brake or roll formed into a variety of components for applications in the industrial, architectural, and transportation fields. Grade 304 also has outstanding welding characteristics. Post-weld annealing is not required when welding thin sections. Grade 304L, the low carbon version of 304, does not require post-weld annealing and so is extensively used in heavy gauge components (over about 6mm). Grade 304H with its higher carbon content finds application at elevated temperatures. The austenitic structure also gives these grades excellent toughness, even down to cryogenic temperatures. |
Key Properties |
These properties are specified for flat rolled product (plate, sheet and coil) in ASTM A240/A240M. Similar but not necessarily identical properties are specified for other products such as pipe and bar in their respective specifications. |
Table 1. Composition ranges for 304 grade stainless steel
| Grade
| C
| Mn
| Si
| P
| S
| Cr
| Mo
| Ni
| N
| |
| 304
| min. max.
| - 0.08
| - 2.0
| - 0.75
| - 0.045
| - 0.030
| 18.0 20.0
| -
| 8.0 10.5
| - 0.10
|
| 304L
| min. max.
| - 0.030
| - 2.0
| - 0.75
| - 0.045
| - 0.030
| 18.0 20.0
| -
| 8.0 12.0
| - 0.10
|
| 304H
| min. max.
| 0.04 0.10
| - 2.0
| - 0.75
| -0.045
| - 0.030
| 18.0 20.0
| -
| 8.0 10.5
| -
|
Mechanical Properties
Typical mechanical properties for grade 304 stainless steels are given in table 2.
Table 2. Mechanical properties of 304 grade stainless steel
| Grade
| Tensile Strength (MPa) min
| Yield Strength 0.2% Proof (MPa) min
| Elongation (% in 50mm) min
| Hardness
| |
| Rockwell B (HR B) max
| Brinell (HB) max
| ||||
| 304
| 515
| 205
| 40
| 92
| 201
|
| 304L
| 485
| 170
| 40
| 92
| 201
|
| 304H
| 515
| 205
| 40
| 92
| 201
|
| 304H also has a requirement for a grain size of ASTM No 7 or coarser.
| |||||
Physical Properties
Typical physical properties for annealed grade 304 stainless steels are given in table 3.
Table 3. Physical properties of 304 grade stainless steel in the annealed condition
| Grade
| Density (kg/m3)
| Elastic Modulus (GPa)
| Mean Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (mm/m/°C)
| Thermal Conductivity (W/m.K)
| Specific Heat 0-100°C (J/kg.K)
| Electrical Resistivity (nW.m)
| |||
| 0-100°C
| 0-315°C
| 0-538°C
| at 100°C
| at 500°C
| |||||
| 304/L/H
| 8000
| 193
| 17.2
| 17.8
| 18.4
| 16.2
| 21.5
| 500
| 720
|
Grade Specification Comparison
Approximate grade comparisons for 304 stainless steels are given in table 4.
Table 4. Grade specifications for 304 grade stainless steel
| Grade
| UNS No
| Old British
| Euronorm
| Swedish SS
| Japanese JIS
| ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BS
| En
| No
| Name
| ||||
| 304
| S30400
| 304S31
| 58E
| 1.4301
| X5CrNi18-10
| 2332
| SUS 304
|
| 304L
| S30403
| 304S11
| -
| 1.4306
| X2CrNi19-11
| 2352
| SUS 304L
|
| 304H
| S30409
| 304S51
| -
| 1.4948
| X6CrNi18-11
| -
| -
|
| These comparisons are approximate only. The list is intended as a comparison of functionally similar materials not as a schedule of contractual equivalents. If exact equivalents are needed original specifications must be consulted.
| |||||||
Possible Alternative Grades
Possible alternative grades to grade 304 stainless steels are given in table 5.
Table 5. Possible alternative grades to 304 grade stainless steel
| Grade
| Why it might be chosen instead of 304
|
| 301L
| A higher work hardening rate grade is required for certain roll formed or stretch formed components.
|
| 302HQ
| Lower work hardening rate is needed for cold forging of screws, bolts and rivets.
|
| 303
| Higher machinability needed, and the lower corrosion resistance, formability and weldability are acceptable.
|
| 316
| Higher resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion is required, in chloride environments
|
| 321
| Better resistance to temperatures of around 600-900°C is needed…321 has higher hot strength.
|
| 3CR12
| A lower cost is required, and the reduced corrosion resistance and resulting discolouration are acceptable.
|
| 430
| A lower cost is required, and the reduced corrosion resistance and fabrication characteristics are acceptable. |
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