Stainless Steel 1.4003
EN 1.4003 · UNS S41003 · also 3CR12
1.4003 (X2CrNi12, UNS S41003, commercially 3CR12) is a low-carbon 12Cr ferritic stainless steel with a small nickel addition that raises toughness and weldability, and it is used as a cost-effective corrosion-resistant structural steel rather than a decorative one.
Reference datasheet — 1.4003 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
1.4003 tempers and conditions
1.4003 is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed 2B/2D | Pick for sheet ≤ 4 mm needing a smoother surface and press forming (panels, tanks, ducting). | 350 | 500 | 25 | 165 HB | — |
Hot rolled | Cheapest structural supply for heavy plate where surface and maximum ductility are not critical. | 365 | 520 | 22 | 180 HB | 2.9 % IACS |
Temper Rolled / lightly cold worked strip | Choose when flatness, spring-back and higher yield strength matter more than deep-drawing ductility. | 480 | 600 | 10 | 14 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
Quenched and tempered | Niche supply where higher strength/abrasion resistance is wanted; sacrifices toughness and weldability, needs post-weld heat treatment. | 550 | 700 | 16 | 22 HRC | 2.8 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways 1.4003 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
Annealed-Plate-1DDefault | Annealed | Supply form |
CD-BAR | Cold Drawn bar | Supply form |
Welded-Tube-Annealed | Welded tube / pipe, bright annealed after welding | Supply form |
What is 1.4003?
1.4003 (X2CrNi12, UNS S41003, commercially 3CR12) is a low-carbon 12Cr ferritic stainless steel with a small nickel addition that raises toughness and weldability, and it is used as a cost-effective corrosion-resistant structural steel rather than a decorative one. Typical annealed properties are 330 MPa yield, 490 MPa tensile, 28 % elongation and 160 HB, with service to 550 °C, in 1D plate, 2B cold-rolled sheet, hot-rolled coil, cold-drawn and TR bar, annealed welded tube and QT sections. Weldability is the strong point (score 75) while formability (58) and machinability (55) are moderate, and the 12Cr film tea-stains outdoors. Choose 1.4016/430 for appearance or 3xx grades where full stainless corrosion resistance is required. 1.4003 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F). 1.4003 has a yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 490 MPa (71.1 ksi) — weaker than 57% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is 1.4003 used for?
- mining chutes and liners
- structural weldments
- transport trailers
- conveyor components
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 99% of stainless steel grades
- Low embodied carbon — 2.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 98% of stainless steel grades
- Easy to machine — 55/100, better than 94% of stainless steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 2.9 % IACS, better than 87% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 50/100, worse than 93% of stainless steel grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 42/100, worse than 90% of stainless steel grades
1.4003 properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
1.4003 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F).
Mechanical15
1.4003 has a yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 490 MPa (71.1 ksi) — weaker than 57% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
1.4003 is rated for continuous service to 550°C (1,022 °F). It conducts heat at 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 99% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.4 µm/m·K (5.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1.4003 conducts electricity at 2.9 % IACS, better than 87% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (42/100), worse than 90% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1.4003 takes about 38 MJ of energy and emits 2.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 99% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability6
1.4003's machinability is good (55/100, better than 94% of stainless steel grades); weldability very good (75/100); formability good (58/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the stainless steel family
Yield strength against density for every stainless steel grade FabDigit runs. 1.4003 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1.4003
Is 1.4003 easy to machine?
Machines like a soft low-alloy steel — better chip control than 304 but somewhat gummy; use sharp carbide, positive rake, ~120–180 m/min and generous coolant to avoid work hardening and smearing.
Can 1.4003 be welded?
Readily welded by GMAW/GTAW/SMAW with 309L/308L or matching 12Cr filler; keep heat input low and interpass ≤ 150 °C to limit HAZ grain coarsening — no pre/post-heat needed in thin sections.
Can 1.4003 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold forms and roll-bends well for a ferritic (min bend radius ≈ 1.5–2 t) but has less stretch than 304 and shows some directionality; hot work 800–1100 °C, avoid finishing below 750 °C.
1.4003 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Clow carbon for weldability | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.4 |
| Mn | ≤ 1.5 | 0.9 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.03 |
| SEN 10088-2; ASTM A240 S41003 allows S ≤ 0.030 | ≤ 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Cr | 10.5 – 12.5 | 11.5 |
| NiASTM A240 S41003 allows Ni ≤ 1.50 | 0.3 – 1 | 0.5 |
| N | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Tisome producers (3CR12Ti-type) add Ti/Nb stabilisation | ≤ 0.5 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1.4003?
Takes shot-blast, brushed or 2B mill finish and paints extremely well (often supplied unpainted); can be polished but the 12Cr film dulls and tea-stains outdoors, so passivate/pickle after welding for best service life.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on stainless steel parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Passivation
Organic Coating
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Stainless Steel 1.4003 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
How much does 1.4003 cost?
1.4003 is a standard-cost stainless steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
1.4003 — frequently asked
What is 1.4003 used for?
1.4003 is typically used for mining chutes and liners, structural weldments, transport trailers and conveyor components. In short: cheapest weldable stainless structural; abrasion and corrosion compromise; paints better than 304.
What is the yield strength of 1.4003?
1.4003 has a typical yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 490 MPa (71.1 ksi) — weaker than 57% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is 1.4003 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, better than 94% of stainless steel grades). Machines like a soft low-alloy steel — better chip control than 304 but somewhat gummy; use sharp carbide, positive rake, ~120–180 m/min and generous coolant to avoid work hardening and smearing.
Can 1.4003 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (75/100). Readily welded by GMAW/GTAW/SMAW with 309L/308L or matching 12Cr filler; keep heat input low and interpass ≤ 150 °C to limit HAZ grain coarsening — no pre/post-heat needed in thin sections.
What surface finishes work on 1.4003?
Takes shot-blast, brushed or 2B mill finish and paints extremely well (often supplied unpainted); can be polished but the 12Cr film dulls and tea-stains outdoors, so passivate/pickle after welding for best service life.
Can 1.4003 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold forms and roll-bends well for a ferritic (min bend radius ≈ 1.5–2 t) but has less stretch than 304 and shows some directionality; hot work 800–1100 °C, avoid finishing below 750 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1.4003?
1.4003 is rated for continuous use to about 550°C (1,022 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does 1.4003 cost?
1.4003 is a standard-cost stainless steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- EN 10088-1/-2 Stainless steels — X2CrNi12 (1.4003) — CEN (2014)
- ASTM A240/A240M — S41003 plate, sheet and strip — ASTM (2023)
- ASTM A1010/A1010M — high-Cr chromium alloy steel plate — ASTM (2018)
- 3CR12 / 3CR12L utility ferritic stainless steel datasheet — Columbus Stainless (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties of Stainless Steels — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16 — Machining — ASM International (1989)
- GB/T 4237 / GB/T 20878 unified stainless steel numbering (022Cr12Ni) — SAC (2015)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.