Stainless Steel 301L
AISI/SAE 301L · UNS S30103 · EN 1.4318
301L (S30103, 1.4318) is a low-carbon version of the 17Cr-7Ni austenitic 301, retaining the rapid work hardening of 301 while improving weldability and ductility.
Reference datasheet — 301L 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 ANN condition
301L tempers and conditions
301L is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. ANN is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANNDefault Annealed | Pick for maximum formability, deep drawing, welding and lowest magnetic permeability; strength comes later from forming or work hardening. | 350 | 650 | 50 | 165 HB | — |
1/16-Hard | Small strength/flatness boost while keeping near-annealed formability; common for lightly formed panels and skins. | 400 | 700 | 44 | 200 HB | — |
1/8-Hard | Intermediate temper when moderate strength is needed but roll-forming/bending is still required. | 470 | 770 | 38 | 225 HB | — |
Quarter hard | Standard structural temper for rail-car bodies and stiff panels — good strength-to-weight with usable bend ductility. | 600 | 870 | 28 | 25 HRC | — |
Half hard | High-strength sheet for lightweight welded structures, springs and clamps where only simple bends are needed. | 760 | 1,000 | 20 | 32 HRC | — |
Three-quarter hard | Mill-option temper for spring strip and clips where maximum strength beats formability; not listed for 301L in every standard. | 900 | 1,120 | 12 | 36 HRC | — |
What is 301L?
301L (S30103, 1.4318) is a low-carbon version of the 17Cr-7Ni austenitic 301, retaining the rapid work hardening of 301 while improving weldability and ductility. Annealed sheet is rated at 350 MPa yield, 650 MPa tensile, 50 % elongation, 193 GPa modulus and 165 HB, and cold-rolled tempers from 1/16 hard to 3/4 hard are used for high-strength structural sheet up to 760 °C service. Weldability (80) and formability (88) are strong points, but machinability is low (40) and corrosion resistance (58) sits below 304; use 301LN when higher as-welded strength is needed. 301L 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). 301L has a yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 650 MPa (94.3 ksi) — weaker than 52% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 50% and the elastic modulus is 193 GPa (28 Msi).
What is 301L used for?
- rail car structures
- elevator panels
- structural sheet components
Advantages
- Forms and bends easily — 88/100, better than 97% of stainless steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 50%, better than 90% of stainless steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 80/100, better than 89% of stainless steel grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 200 MPa·√m (182 ksi·√in), better than 86% of stainless steel grades
- Readily welded — 80/100, better than 80% of stainless steel grades
301L properties
Typical room-temperature values for 301L-ANN; bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
301L 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
301L has a yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 650 MPa (94.3 ksi) — weaker than 52% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 50% and the elastic modulus is 193 GPa (28 Msi).
Thermal6
301L is rated for continuous service to 760°C (1,400 °F). It conducts heat at 15.5 W/m·K (8.96 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 53% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 16 µm/m·K (8.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
301L conducts electricity at 2.4 % IACS, better than 67% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (58/100), worse than 62% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 301L takes about 53 MJ of energy and emits 5 kg of CO₂ — less than 67% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability7
301L's machinability is fair (40/100, better than 72% of stainless steel grades); weldability very good (80/100); formability excellent (88/100).
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. 301L is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 301L
Is 301L easy to machine?
Work-hardens fast — use rigid setups, sharp positive-rake carbide, heavy constant feed, no dwell, and flood coolant; expect ~45 % of 1212 in the annealed temper and less when cold worked.
Can 301L be welded?
Excellent with GTAW/GMAW/laser/resistance welding; low carbon avoids sensitization so no post-weld anneal is needed, but weld metal (309L/308L filler) loses the cold-worked strength in the HAZ.
Can 301L be formed, bent or molded?
Annealed sheet deep-draws and roll-forms very well but hardens rapidly and springs back strongly — plan interstage anneals, generous bend radii and press tonnage 30–50 % above carbon steel.
301L 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 — improves weld corrosion resistance | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Mn | ≤ 2 | 1.3 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.5 |
| P | ≤ 0.05 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| CrEN 1.4318: 16.5–18.5 | 16 – 18 | 17 |
| Ni | 6 – 8 | 7 |
| NEN 1.4318 requires 0.10–0.20 N for strength and austenite stability | ≤ 0.2 | 0.13 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 301L?
Not anodizable; use passivation per ASTM A967, electropolishing, No.4/BA/No.8 mechanical finishes, or PVD coating — clean weld heat tint to restore corrosion 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 301L in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- S30103
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.4318
How much does 301L cost?
301L is a standard-cost stainless steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
301L — frequently asked
What is 301L used for?
301L is typically used for rail car structures, elevator panels and structural sheet components. In short: weldable work-hardening 301; high-strength structural sheet; better ductility than 301.
What is the yield strength of 301L?
301L has a typical yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 650 MPa (94.3 ksi) — weaker than 52% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 301L easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (40/100, better than 72% of stainless steel grades). Work-hardens fast — use rigid setups, sharp positive-rake carbide, heavy constant feed, no dwell, and flood coolant; expect ~45 % of 1212 in the annealed temper and less when cold worked.
Can 301L be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (80/100). Excellent with GTAW/GMAW/laser/resistance welding; low carbon avoids sensitization so no post-weld anneal is needed, but weld metal (309L/308L filler) loses the cold-worked strength in the HAZ.
What surface finishes work on 301L?
Not anodizable; use passivation per ASTM A967, electropolishing, No.4/BA/No.8 mechanical finishes, or PVD coating — clean weld heat tint to restore corrosion resistance.
Can 301L be formed, bent or molded?
Annealed sheet deep-draws and roll-forms very well but hardens rapidly and springs back strongly — plan interstage anneals, generous bend radii and press tonnage 30–50 % above carbon steel.
What is the maximum service temperature of 301L?
301L is rated for continuous use to about 760°C (1,400 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does 301L cost?
301L is a standard-cost stainless steel ($$), 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
- ASTM A666 — Annealed or Cold-Worked Austenitic Stainless Steel Sheet, Strip, Plate and Bar — ASTM International (2015)
- EN 10088-2 — Stainless steels: technical delivery conditions for sheet/plate and strip (1.4318) — CEN (2014)
- EN 10088-1 — Stainless steels: list of stainless steels (physical properties) — CEN (2014)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Austenitic stainless 1.4318 / 301L cold-rolled strip datasheet — Outokumpu (2023)
- GB/T 3280 (022Cr17Ni7) (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.