Stainless Steel 1.4301-AT
Precip hard · default condition
EN 1.4301 · UNS S30400 · AISI/SAE 304 · JIS SUS304 · GB 06Cr19Ni10, 0Cr18Ni9
Standard supply condition for sheet, plate, tube and bar — softest, most ductile, fully austenitic and most corrosion resistant.
Values for the AT condition
Other 1.4301 tempers and conditions
1.4301 is listed in 10 conditions; see the grade overview at 1.4301.
Compare all 10 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ATDefaultThis page 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-AT?
1.4301-AT is 1.4301 in the AT condition — standard supply condition for sheet, plate, tube and bar — softest, most ductile, fully austenitic and most corrosion resistant. 1.4301-AT 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). 1.4301-AT 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).
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-AT properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1.4301-AT; 18 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 1.4301 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
1.4301-AT 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-AT 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-AT 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-AT 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-AT 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-AT'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. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 1.4301-AT
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.
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.
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 | — |
1.4301-AT — frequently asked
What is 1.4301-AT used for?
1.4301-AT 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-AT?
1.4301-AT 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-AT 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-AT 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-AT?
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-AT 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-AT?
1.4301-AT 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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.