Stainless Steel 1.4301
EN 1.4301 · UNS S30400 · AISI/SAE 304 · JIS SUS304 · GB 06Cr19Ni10, 0Cr18Ni9
1.4301 (X5CrNi18-10, S30400/304, SUS304) is the European designation for standard 18-10 austenitic stainless, the general-purpose grade for corrosion-resistant fabrication.
Reference datasheet — 1.4301 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.
Values for the AT condition
1.4301 tempers and conditions
1.4301 is supplied in 10 conditions, soft to hard. AT is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 10 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ATDefault solution annealed (solution treated, quenched) | Standard supply condition for sheet, plate, tube and bar — softest, most ductile, fully austenitic and most corrosion resistant. | 260 | 600 | 55 | 155 HB | — |
lightly cold drawn / smooth-turned bar (near-annealed properties) | Bright bar drawn only enough to size and straighten — pick when tight tolerance and good surface are wanted without losing much ductility. | 350 | 650 | 40 | 200 HB | — |
cold worked to minimum tensile strength 700 MPa | Light cold-drawn/cold-rolled temper for shafts, fasteners and springs needing roughly double the annealed yield with useful remaining ductility. | 450 | 760 | 25 | 230 HB | — |
Quarter hard | US-market quarter-hard sheet temper (Rm ≥ 860 MPa) for structural panels and brackets that still need moderate bending. | 590 | 900 | 14 | 27 HRC | 2.4 % IACS |
cold worked to minimum tensile strength 800 MPa | Medium cold-worked bar/wire temper when higher yield is needed and only moderate bending/forming will follow. | 600 | 860 | 18 | 26 HRC | — |
cold worked to minimum tensile strength 900 MPa | Heavily cold-drawn bar/wire for high-strength fasteners and springs where formability is no longer required. | 700 | 960 | 12 | 30 HRC | — |
cold rolled strip, minimum tensile strength 1000 MPa (≈ half hard) | Cold-rolled strip temper for spring clips, shims and stamped parts requiring high yield and flatness. | 820 | 1,060 | 9 | 34 HRC | — |
Half hard | Half-hard sheet (Rm ≥ 1035 MPa) for high-strength stampings, clamps and structural strip. | 830 | 1,080 | 8 | 32 HRC | 2.4 % IACS |
Full hard | Maximum-strength sheet temper (Rm ≥ 1275 MPa) for flat springs, blades and wear strip; bend only across the rolling direction. | 1,030 | 1,320 | 4 | 41 HRC | 2.4 % IACS |
cold rolled strip / spring wire, minimum tensile strength 1300 MPa | Full-hard strip and spring wire condition — maximum strength, essentially no cold formability beyond simple bending. | 1,100 | 1,350 | 3 | 42 HRC | 2.4 % IACS |
What is 1.4301?
1.4301 (X5CrNi18-10, S30400/304, SUS304) is the European designation for standard 18-10 austenitic stainless, the general-purpose grade for corrosion-resistant fabrication. Annealed material gives 260 MPa yield, 600 MPa tensile, 55 % elongation, 155 HB (80 HRB) and 200 GPa modulus, with service to 870 °C, and it is stocked in every common form from AT and LC through C1300 and 1/4H to full hard. Weldability (90) and formability (92) are high while machinability is only 42; thick multipass welds can sensitise, so use low-carbon 1.4307 there and 1.4401/316 for chloride exposure. 1.4301 has a density of 7.9 g/cm³ (0.285 lb/in³), heavier than 68% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F). 1.4301 has a yield strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) — weaker than 84% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 55% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
What is 1.4301 used for?
- food processing equipment
- architectural panels
- tanks
- general fabrication
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 88/100, better than 100% of stainless steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 92/100, better than 98% of stainless steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 55%, better than 97% of stainless steel grades
- Readily welded — 90/100, better than 95% of stainless steel grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 200 MPa·√m (182 ksi·√in), better than 86% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 260 MPa (37.7 ksi), worse than 84% of stainless steel grades
1.4301 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1.4301-AT; bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
1.4301 has a density of 7.9 g/cm³ (0.285 lb/in³), heavier than 68% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Mechanical15
1.4301 has a yield strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) — weaker than 84% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 55% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
1.4301 is rated for continuous service to 870°C (1,598 °F). It conducts heat at 15 W/m·K (8.67 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 59% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 16 µm/m·K (8.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1.4301 conducts electricity at 2.4 % IACS, better than 67% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (65/100), better than 56% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1.4301 takes about 53 MJ of energy and emits 4.2 kg of CO₂ — less than 67% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 65%.
Manufacturability7
1.4301's machinability is fair (42/100, better than 79% of stainless steel grades); weldability excellent (90/100); formability excellent (92/100).
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. 1.4301 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1.4301
Is 1.4301 easy to machine?
Gummy and work-hardening: use rigid setups, sharp positive-rake carbide, heavy positive feed (never dwell), 80–150 m/min with flood coolant; expect ~45 % of 1212 free-machining rate.
Can 1.4301 be welded?
Excellent by GTAW/GMAW/laser/resistance with 308L or 316L filler, no preheat and low interpass (<150 °C); for thick multipass welds prefer low-carbon 1.4307 to avoid sensitisation.
Can 1.4301 be formed, bent or molded?
Very high work-hardening rate gives outstanding deep-drawing and stretch forming, but needs ~50 % more press force than mild steel, generous springback allowance and interstage annealing for severe draws.
1.4301 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C≤0.07 % per EN 10088-2; ASTM 304 allows ≤0.08 % | ≤ 0.07 | 0.05 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.45 |
| Mn | ≤ 2 | 1.4 |
| P | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| S≤0.030 % in ASTM A240 304 | ≤ 0.02 | 0.01 |
| N | ≤ 0.11 | 0.05 |
| Cr | 17.5 – 19.5 | 18.2 |
| Ni | 8 – 10.5 | 8.5 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1.4301?
Cannot be anodized — pickle and passivate (ASTM A967) after welding or forming, then choose 2B, BA, No.4 brush, mirror polish, bead blast or PVD colour coating.
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 1.4301 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- S30400
- AISI / SAE
- 304
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- X5CrNi18-10
- GB (China)
- 06Cr19Ni100Cr18Ni9
- JIS
- SUS304
How much does 1.4301 cost?
1.4301 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.
1.4301 — frequently asked
What is 1.4301 used for?
1.4301 is typically used for food processing equipment, architectural panels, tanks and general fabrication. In short: baseline austenitic stainless; highly weldable and formable; widest stock availability.
What is the yield strength of 1.4301?
1.4301 has a typical yield strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) — weaker than 84% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is 1.4301 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (42/100, better than 79% of stainless steel grades). Gummy and work-hardening: use rigid setups, sharp positive-rake carbide, heavy positive feed (never dwell), 80–150 m/min with flood coolant; expect ~45 % of 1212 free-machining rate.
Can 1.4301 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (90/100). Excellent by GTAW/GMAW/laser/resistance with 308L or 316L filler, no preheat and low interpass (<150 °C); for thick multipass welds prefer low-carbon 1.4307 to avoid sensitisation.
What surface finishes work on 1.4301?
Cannot be anodized — pickle and passivate (ASTM A967) after welding or forming, then choose 2B, BA, No.4 brush, mirror polish, bead blast or PVD colour coating.
Can 1.4301 be formed, bent or molded?
Very high work-hardening rate gives outstanding deep-drawing and stretch forming, but needs ~50 % more press force than mild steel, generous springback allowance and interstage annealing for severe draws.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1.4301?
1.4301 is rated for continuous use to about 870°C (1,598 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 1.4301-AT and 1.4301-C1300?
AT is the default condition — standard supply condition for sheet, plate, tube and bar — softest, most ductile, fully austenitic and most corrosion resistant. C1300: full-hard strip and spring wire condition — maximum strength, essentially no cold formability beyond simple bending. Yield strength is 260 MPa in AT versus 1,100 MPa in C1300.
How much does 1.4301 cost?
1.4301 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/-3 Stainless steels — technical delivery conditions — CEN (2014)
- ASTM A240/A240M & ASTM A666 — ASTM International (2023)
- GB/T 20878 / GB/T 3280 (06Cr19Ni10) — SAC (2015)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Outokumpu Steel Grade Datasheet 4301/304 — Outokumpu (2022)
- Total Materia / MatWeb austenitic stainless data — Key to Metals AG (2024)
- SMM / Mysteel (2025)
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.