Stainless Steel 1.4306
EN 1.4306 · UNS S30403 · AISI/SAE 304L · JIS SUS304L · GB 022Cr19Ni10
1.4306 (X2CrNi19-11, 304L/S30403) is an extra-low-carbon 18Cr-10Ni austenitic stainless to the EN/ASTM 304L family; the reduced carbon suppresses grain-boundary carbide precipitation during welding.
Reference datasheet — 1.4306 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
1.4306 tempers and conditions
1.4306 is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. +AT is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 8 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
+ATDefault Solution annealed | Standard stocked condition: maximum ductility, corrosion resistance and weld-decay immunity for plate, tube, bar and heavy-gauge fabrications. | 260 | 570 | 55 | 150 HB | — |
Cold worked to minimum 700 MPa tensile strength | Light cold-work class for strip and drawn tube/bar needing higher strength while retaining useful ductility for bending. | 430 | 750 | 25 | 22 HRC | — |
Cold drawn | Cold-drawn round/hex bar with better straightness, surface finish and machining behaviour than annealed hot-rolled bar. | 450 | 660 | 30 | 14 HRC | 2.4 % IACS |
Cold worked to minimum 800 MPa tensile strength | Medium cold-work class for springy strip, clamps and structural sections where strength matters more than deep-draw ductility. | 560 | 850 | 16 | 26 HRC | — |
Quarter hard | North-American temper designation for cold-rolled 304L sheet/strip with 515 MPa min yield; use for structural panels and brackets. | 590 | 780 | 14 | 25 HRC | 2.4 % IACS |
Cold worked to minimum 850 MPa tensile strength | Higher cold-work class per EN 10088-2 for thin strip and cold-drawn wire/bar needing high proof strength. | 620 | 900 | 13 | 29 HRC | 2.4 % IACS |
Half hard | Half-hard cold-rolled strip (690 MPa min yield) for flat springs, shims and stiff formed parts with simple bends only. | 760 | 950 | 9 | 32 HRC | 2.4 % IACS |
Cold worked to minimum 1000 MPa tensile strength | Heavily cold-worked thin strip/wire for high-strength springs and straps; very limited bending ability and noticeably magnetic. | 800 | 1,050 | 8 | 34 HRC | 2.4 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways 1.4306 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
+2B | Cold rolled, annealed, pickled, skin-passed | Surface finish |
+2R | +2R | Surface finish |
What is 1.4306?
1.4306 (X2CrNi19-11, 304L/S30403) is an extra-low-carbon 18Cr-10Ni austenitic stainless to the EN/ASTM 304L family; the reduced carbon suppresses grain-boundary carbide precipitation during welding. It is chosen for heavy-gauge welded tanks, piping and vessel plate that cannot be solution annealed after welding, and is stocked as +AT plate, +2B/+2R sheet, tube, bar and cold-drawn wire. Strength is modest (260 MPa yield, 570 MPa tensile, 55 % elongation, 150 HB) with service rated to 425 °C, and chloride pitting resistance is limited; use 1.4404/316L in chloride service and 1.4305 for free-machining turned parts. 1.4306 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). 1.4306 has a yield strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) — weaker than 84% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 55% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
What is 1.4306 used for?
- welded tanks
- pharmaceutical equipment
- piping systems
Advantages
- Readily welded — 95/100, better than 99% of stainless steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 90/100, better than 98% of stainless steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 55%, better than 97% of stainless steel grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 220 MPa·√m (200.2 ksi·√in), better than 97% of stainless steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 85/100, better than 97% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 260 MPa (37.7 ksi), worse than 84% of stainless steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 5.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 77% of stainless steel grades
1.4306 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1.4306-+AT; bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
1.4306 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).
Mechanical16
1.4306 has a yield strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) — weaker than 84% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 55% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
1.4306 is rated for continuous service to 425°C (797 °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
1.4306 conducts electricity at 2.4 % IACS, better than 67% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (70/100), better than 68% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1.4306 takes about 57 MJ of energy and emits 5.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 62% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 65%.
Manufacturability8
1.4306's machinability is fair (40/100, better than 72% of stainless steel grades); weldability excellent (95/100); formability excellent (90/100).
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. 1.4306 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1.4306
Is 1.4306 easy to machine?
Gummy and work-hardening: use rigid setups, sharp positive-rake carbide, heavy positive feed to stay under the hardened skin, ~45 % of AISI 1212 speeds and flood coolant.
Can 1.4306 be welded?
Excellent by GTAW/GMAW/SMAW/laser with 308L or 316L filler; low carbon removes any need for post-weld solution annealing, keep interpass ≤150 °C and back-purge for full-penetration root passes.
Can 1.4306 be formed, bent or molded?
Very good deep-drawing and bending (n ≈ 0.45); expect high springback, ~50 % more press force than mild steel, and interstage annealing at 1050 °C + rapid cool for severe draws.
1.4306 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cextra-low carbon, prevents sensitisation | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.45 |
| Mn | ≤ 2 | 1.4 |
| P | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| SEN limit; ASTM A240 304L allows 0.030 max | ≤ 0.02 | 0 |
| Cr | 18 – 20 | 18.5 |
| Nihigher Ni than 1.4307 to offset low C | 10 – 12 | 10.5 |
| N | ≤ 0.11 | 0.05 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1.4306?
Not anodisable — pickle/passivate to ASTM A967 or electropolish after fabrication; takes No.4 brushed to mirror (No.8) polish readily, and welds should be descaled to restore chloride resistance.
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 1.4306 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
How much does 1.4306 cost?
1.4306 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.
1.4306 — frequently asked
What is 1.4306 used for?
1.4306 is typically used for welded tanks, pharmaceutical equipment and piping systems. In short: sensitisation-resistant 304; no post-weld anneal needed; poor machinability.
What is the yield strength of 1.4306?
1.4306 has a typical yield strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) — weaker than 84% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 1.4306 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (40/100, better than 72% of stainless steel grades). Gummy and work-hardening: use rigid setups, sharp positive-rake carbide, heavy positive feed to stay under the hardened skin, ~45 % of AISI 1212 speeds and flood coolant.
Can 1.4306 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (95/100). Excellent by GTAW/GMAW/SMAW/laser with 308L or 316L filler; low carbon removes any need for post-weld solution annealing, keep interpass ≤150 °C and back-purge for full-penetration root passes.
What surface finishes work on 1.4306?
Not anodisable — pickle/passivate to ASTM A967 or electropolish after fabrication; takes No.4 brushed to mirror (No.8) polish readily, and welds should be descaled to restore chloride resistance.
Can 1.4306 be formed, bent or molded?
Very good deep-drawing and bending (n ≈ 0.45); expect high springback, ~50 % more press force than mild steel, and interstage annealing at 1050 °C + rapid cool for severe draws.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1.4306?
1.4306 is rated for continuous use to about 425°C (797 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 1.4306 +AT and 1.4306-CD?
+AT is the default condition — standard stocked condition: maximum ductility, corrosion resistance and weld-decay immunity for plate, tube, bar and heavy-gauge fabrications. CD: cold-drawn round/hex bar with better straightness, surface finish and machining behaviour than annealed hot-rolled bar. Yield strength is 260 MPa in +AT versus 450 MPa in CD.
How much does 1.4306 cost?
1.4306 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 (S30403) plate, sheet and strip — ASTM (2023)
- ASTM A666 annealed or cold-worked austenitic stainless sheet, strip, plate and flat bar — ASTM (2015)
- GB/T 20878 / GB/T 24511 (022Cr19Ni10) — SAC (2007)
- JIS G4304/G4305 (SUS304L) — JSA (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
- Outokumpu Core 304L/4306 datasheet & Corrosion Handbook — Outokumpu (2023)
- worldstainless / ISSF stainless steel LCI data — ISSF (2021)
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.