Stainless Steel 304H Cold Drawn vs 304H Forged + SA
Stainless Steel · 304H temper comparison
304H Cold Drawn and 304H Forged + SA are two conditions of the same stainless steel grade, 304H: Cold Drawn versus Forged + SA (forged and solution annealed). The chemistry is identical, so every difference below comes from the condition. 304H Cold Drawn is the stronger of the two: yield strength 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) against 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) for 304H Forged + SA, about 80% more; tensile strength follows at 690 MPa (100 ksi) vs 565 MPa (81.9 ksi). In exchange, 304H Forged + SA is the more ductile: elongation 50% versus 32% for 304H Cold Drawn, and 304H Cold Drawn is harder (210 HB vs 155 HB).
304H Cold DrawnChoose it when strength drives the design.
304H Forged + SAChoose it when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded.
304H Cold Drawn vs 304H Forged + SA: 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.
304H Cold Drawn304H Forged + SA
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
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: Elastic (Young's) Modulus 193 GPa28 Msi · Shear Modulus 77 GPa11.2 Msi · Bulk Modulus 152 GPa22 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.29
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Same in both: Density 7.9 g/cm³0.29 lb/in³ · Melting Point (Solidus) 1,400°C2,552 °F · Liquidus Temperature 1,450°C2,642 °F
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Same in both: Thermal Conductivity 16.2 W/m·K9.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F · Specific Heat Capacity 500 J/kg·K0.12 BTU/lb·°F · Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C) 17.3 µm/m·K9.6 µin/in·°F · Latent Heat of Fusion 285 J/g123 BTU/lb · Max Service Temperature (continuous) 815°C1,499 °F · Min Service Temperature -196°C-321 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Same in both: Electrical Conductivity 2.4 % IACS · Electrical Resistivity 7.2×10⁻⁷ Ω·m28.3 µΩ·in
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Same in both: Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE) -0.08 V
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)
Weldability
Formability (cold)
Same in both: Castability 45 / 100 · Brazeability / Solderability 70 / 100 · Polishability 80 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Same in both: Embodied Energy (primary production) 53 MJ/kg22,786 BTU/lb · Embodied Carbon (primary production) 4.5 kg CO₂/kg · Embodied Water 250 L/kg30 gal/lb · Typical Recycled Content 65%
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.
304H Cold Drawn vs 304H Forged + SA — frequently asked
Is 304H Cold Drawn stronger than 304H Forged + SA?
Yes. 304H Cold Drawn has a typical yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) against 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) for 304H Forged + SA — about 80% more. Tensile strength is 690 MPa (100 ksi) vs 565 MPa (81.9 ksi).
Which condition does FabDigit quote by default, Cold Drawn or Forged + SA?
Solution Annealed is the default 304H condition in the FabDigit quote flow (neither Cold Drawn nor Forged + SA). The other condition is available on request or by drawing note — specify it in the material field or the part notes and the quote is priced for it.
Which is easier to machine, 304H Cold Drawn or 304H Forged + SA?
304H Cold Drawn, by a small margin. Both rate fair for machinability — 45/100 against 38/100 for 304H Forged + SA.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in 304H Cold Drawn and 304H Forged + SA 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.