Stainless Steel 304 vs Nitronic 60
Stainless Steel · grade comparison
Stainless Steel 304 and Nitronic 60 are both stainless steel grades. Nitronic 60 is the stronger of the two: yield strength 414 MPa (60 ksi) against 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) for 304, about 66% more; tensile strength follows at 717 MPa (104 ksi) vs 585 MPa (84.8 ksi). Nitronic 60 is harder — 210 HB against 150 HB for 304 — which matters for wear surfaces and threads. Nitronic 60 is lighter (7.63 g/cm³ vs 8 g/cm³ for 304) and 304 conducts heat better (16.2 W/m·K vs 12.9 W/m·K). On the shop floor, 304 machines more easily (fair vs poor), 304 welds better (excellent vs very good), and 304 forms better (excellent vs good).
304Choose it when the part is machined in volume, or when it will be welded.
Nitronic 60Choose it when strength drives the design, or when surface hardness matters.
304 vs Nitronic 60: 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
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)
Elongation at Break
Reduction in Area
Compressive Strength
Shear Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Rockwell B
Hardness, Vickers
Same in both: Shear Modulus 77 GPa11.2 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.29
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
Same in both: Max Service Temperature (continuous) 870°C1,598 °F · Min Service Temperature -196°C-321 °F
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
Polishability
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Typical Recycled Content
Same in both: Embodied Energy (primary production) 53 MJ/kg22,786 BTU/lb
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Modulus of Resilience
Thermal Diffusivity
Same in both: Thermal Shock Resistance Index 3
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 | 304 | Nitronic 60 |
|---|---|---|
| Casting & forging | Yes | — |
| Default condition | Annealed | Solution Annealed |
| Relative cost | $$ Standard | $$$$$ Specialty |
| Min. machined wall | 0.8 mm | 0.8 mm |
| Best machined surface | Ra 1.6 µm | Ra 1.6 µm |
Both are offered for CNC machining and Sheet metal. Both take the same 32 finishes: AlCrN, AlTiN, Black Oxide, CVD Al2O3, CVD TiCN, CVD TiN, Cerakote, Chrome Plating, CrN, DLC, Electroless Nickel (EN), Electropolishing and 20 more.
304 vs Nitronic 60 — frequently asked
Is Nitronic 60 stronger than 304?
Yes. Nitronic 60 has a typical yield strength of 414 MPa (60 ksi) against 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) for 304 — about 66% more. Tensile strength is 717 MPa (104 ksi) vs 585 MPa (84.8 ksi).
Which is cheaper, 304 or Nitronic 60?
304 is the lower-cost material: it sits in the standard tier ($$) while Nitronic 60 is specialty ($$$$$). 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, 304 or Nitronic 60?
304. Its machinability rates fair (45/100) against poor (28/100) for Nitronic 60; for welding the order is 304 first (excellent, 88/100) then Nitronic 60 (very good, 72/100).
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in 304 and Nitronic 60 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.