Stainless Steel 904L Annealed vs 904L Cold Rolled Hard
Stainless Steel · 904L temper comparison
904L Annealed and 904L Cold Rolled Hard are two conditions of the same stainless steel grade, 904L: Annealed versus Cold Rolled Hard (cold rolled strip/sheet, temper rolled). The chemistry is identical, so every difference below comes from the condition. 904L Cold Rolled Hard is the stronger of the two: yield strength 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) against 240 MPa (34.8 ksi) for 904L Annealed, about 158% more; tensile strength follows at 820 MPa (119 ksi) vs 560 MPa (81.2 ksi). In exchange, 904L Annealed is the more ductile: elongation 45% versus 15% for 904L Cold Rolled Hard, and 904L Cold Rolled Hard is harder (260 HB vs 150 HB). 904L Annealed runs hotter in service (400°C vs 300°C continuous).
904L AnnealedChoose it when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded, or when the part sees heat.
904L Cold Rolled HardChoose it when strength drives the design.
904L Annealed vs 904L Cold Rolled Hard: 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.
904L Annealed904L Cold Rolled Hard
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 195 GPa28.3 Msi · Shear Modulus 75 GPa10.9 Msi · Bulk Modulus 160 GPa23.2 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.3
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Same in both: Density 8 g/cm³0.29 lb/in³ · Melting Point (Solidus) 1,300°C2,372 °F · Liquidus Temperature 1,390°C2,534 °F
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Same in both: Thermal Conductivity 12 W/m·K6.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F · Specific Heat Capacity 450 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F · Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C) 15.3 µm/m·K8.5 µin/in·°F · Latent Heat of Fusion 270 J/g116 BTU/lb · Min Service Temperature -196°C-321 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Same in both: Electrical Conductivity 1.7 % IACS · Electrical Resistivity 1×10⁻⁶ Ω·m39.4 µΩ·in
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Same in both: Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE) -0.05 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: Brazeability / Solderability 55 / 100 · Polishability 78 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Same in both: Embodied Energy (primary production) 78 MJ/kg33,534 BTU/lb · Embodied Carbon (primary production) 5.6 kg CO₂/kg · Embodied Water 200 L/kg24 gal/lb · Typical Recycled Content 55%
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.
904L Annealed vs 904L Cold Rolled Hard — frequently asked
Is 904L Cold Rolled Hard stronger than 904L Annealed?
Yes. 904L Cold Rolled Hard has a typical yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) against 240 MPa (34.8 ksi) for 904L Annealed — about 158% more. Tensile strength is 820 MPa (119 ksi) vs 560 MPa (81.2 ksi).
Which condition does FabDigit quote by default, Annealed or Cold Rolled Hard?
Solution Annealed is the default 904L condition in the FabDigit quote flow (neither Annealed nor Cold Rolled Hard). 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 welds better, 904L Annealed or 904L Cold Rolled Hard?
904L Annealed. Its weldability rates very good (78/100) against very good (70/100) for 904L Cold Rolled Hard.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in 904L Annealed and 904L Cold Rolled Hard 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.