Stainless Steel 302HQ vs 430
Stainless Steel · grade comparison
Stainless Steel 302HQ and 430 are both stainless steel grades, both corrosion resistant ss. 302HQ is the stronger of the two: yield strength 400 MPa (58 ksi) against 310 MPa (45 ksi) for 430, about 29% more; tensile strength follows at 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) vs 500 MPa (72.5 ksi). 302HQ is harder — 185 HB against 155 HB for 430 — which matters for wear surfaces and threads. 430 runs hotter in service (815°C vs 500°C continuous) and 430 conducts heat better (26 W/m·K vs 16.2 W/m·K). On the shop floor, 302HQ forms better (excellent vs good) and 430 sits in a lower cost tier (standard, $$) than 302HQ (premium, $$$).
302HQChoose it when strength drives the design, or when surface hardness matters.
430Choose it when the part sees heat, or when cost is the deciding factor.
302HQ vs 430: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all stainless steel grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all stainless steel grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Bulk Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)
Elongation at Break
Reduction in Area
Shear Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Rockwell B
Hardness, Vickers
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Same in both: Shear Modulus 77 GPa11.2 Msi
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Melting Point (Solidus)
Liquidus Temperature
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Specific Heat Capacity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Latent Heat of Fusion
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Min Service Temperature
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Conductivity
Electrical Resistivity
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)
Weldability
Formability (cold)
Brazeability / Solderability
Same in both: Polishability 80 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Typical Recycled Content
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Modulus of Resilience
Thermal Diffusivity
Thermal Shock Resistance Index
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every stainless steel grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | 302HQ | 430 |
|---|---|---|
| CNC machining | — | Yes |
| Default condition | Cold Drawn | Annealed |
| Relative cost | $$$ Premium | $$ Standard |
| Min. machined wall | — | 0.8 mm |
| Best machined surface | — | Ra 1.6 µm |
| AlCrN | — | Yes |
| AlTiN | — | Yes |
| CVD Al2O3 | — | Yes |
| CVD TiCN | — | Yes |
| CVD TiN | — | Yes |
| CrN | — | Yes |
| DLC | — | Yes |
| HVOF Coating | — | Yes |
| MoS2 | — | Yes |
| Multilayer CVD | — | Yes |
| TiAlN | — | Yes |
| TiB2 | — | Yes |
| TiCN | — | Yes |
| TiN | — | Yes |
| WC/C | — | Yes |
| ZrN | — | Yes |
Both are offered for Sheet metal. They share 16 finishes: Black Oxide, Cerakote, Chrome Plating, Electroless Nickel (EN), Electropolishing, Epoxy Coating, Gold Plating, Hard Chrome Plating, Nickel Plating, PTFE Coating, Painting, Passivation (Stainless Steel) and 4 more.
302HQ vs 430 — frequently asked
Is 302HQ stronger than 430?
Yes. 302HQ has a typical yield strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) against 310 MPa (45 ksi) for 430 — about 29% more. Tensile strength is 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) vs 500 MPa (72.5 ksi).
Which is cheaper, 302HQ or 430?
430 is the lower-cost material: it sits in the standard tier ($$) while 302HQ is premium ($$$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Which is easier to machine, 302HQ or 430?
430, by a small margin. Both rate fair for machinability — 50/100 against 42/100 for 302HQ; for welding the order is 302HQ first (good, 65/100) then 430 (good, 60/100).
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in 302HQ and 430 side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.