Stainless Steel 303Se · supply condition · default condition
Stainless Steel 303Se Cold Drawn
Properties of the Cold Drawn condition, compared with the other 303Se tempers.
Standard commercial screw-machine stock: straight, close-tolerance bar with higher strength and better chip control than annealed.
What is 303Se Cold Drawn?
303Se Cold Drawn is 303Se supplied in the Cold Drawn condition — standard commercial screw-machine stock: straight, close-tolerance bar with higher strength and better chip control than annealed. 303Se Cold Drawn has a yield strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — stronger than 62% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 35% and the elastic modulus is 193 GPa (28 Msi). 303Se Cold Drawn has a density of 7.9 g/cm³ (0.285 lb/in³), heavier than 67% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 85/100, better than 100% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 22/100, worse than 94% of stainless steel grades
303Se Cold Drawn properties
Typical room-temperature values for 303Se Cold Drawn — 16 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 303Se temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the stainless steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
303Se Cold Drawn has a density of 7.9 g/cm³ (0.285 lb/in³), heavier than 67% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Mechanical16
303Se Cold Drawn has a yield strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — stronger than 62% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 35% and the elastic modulus is 193 GPa (28 Msi).
Thermal6
303Se Cold Drawn is rated for continuous service to 760°C (1,400 °F). It conducts heat at 16.2 W/m·K (9.36 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 64% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 17.3 µm/m·K (9.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
303Se Cold Drawn conducts electricity at 2.4 % IACS, better than 67% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 71% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 303Se Cold Drawn takes about 54 MJ of energy and emits 4.8 kg of CO₂ — less than 59% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 55%.
Manufacturability7
303Se Cold Drawn's machinability is excellent (85/100, better than 100% of stainless steel grades); weldability poor (22/100); formability fair (40/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 303Se tempers and conditions
303Se is also supplied in 2 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 303Se overview.
- Cold DrawnDefaultStandard commercial screw-machine stock: straight, close-tolerance bar with higher strength and better chip control than annealed.415 MPa yield · 228 HB
- Cold Drawn High TensileChoose when higher yield strength and wear resistance are needed in small diameters and forming/welding is not required.620 MPa yield · 27 HRC
- AnnealedPick when maximum ductility, lowest hardness for secondary cold forming/heading, or fully non-magnetic behaviour is required.240 MPa yield · 160 HB
Working with 303Se Cold Drawn
Is 303Se easy to machine?
Best-in-class austenitic machining — run 20–30% faster than 304, keep positive rake and sharp tools, coolant-rich; selenides give smoother finish and better threads/knurls than sulphide 303.
Can 303Se be welded?
Not recommended: selenium promotes severe hot cracking and porosity; if unavoidable, use 308L/309 filler, minimum heat input, no filler-free autogenous welds, and expect reduced joint corrosion resistance.
Can 303Se be formed, bent or molded?
Cold heading, thread rolling and knurling are acceptable (better than 303-S), but avoid severe bending or deep transverse forming because inclusions cause directional ductility loss; hot work 1150–1260 °C then anneal ~1040 °C and quench.
What surface finishes work on 303Se?
Passivate per ASTM A967 (nitric or citric) after machining to remove smeared inclusions; takes a good mechanical polish, but electroplating/electropolishing gives patchy results around selenide stringers; no anodizing.
303Se 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 | ≤ 0.15 | 0.08 |
| Cr | 17 – 19 | 18 |
| Ni | 8 – 10 | 9 |
| Mn | ≤ 2 | 1.5 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.6 |
| Semin; free-machining addition | ≥ 0.15 | 0.2 |
| P | ≤ 0.2 | 0.04 |
| S | ≤ 0.06 | 0.02 |
| Fe | balance | — |
303Se Cold Drawn — frequently asked
What is 303Se Cold Drawn used for?
303Se Cold Drawn is typically used for machined fittings, threaded shafts, cold-headed screws and studs, valve stems, instrument spindles and electrical connector bodies. In short: selenium machining stainless.
What is the yield strength of 303Se Cold Drawn?
303Se Cold Drawn has a typical yield strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — stronger than 62% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is 303Se Cold Drawn easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (85/100, better than 100% of stainless steel grades). Best-in-class austenitic machining — run 20–30% faster than 304, keep positive rake and sharp tools, coolant-rich; selenides give smoother finish and better threads/knurls than sulphide 303.
Can 303Se Cold Drawn be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (22/100). Not recommended: selenium promotes severe hot cracking and porosity; if unavoidable, use 308L/309 filler, minimum heat input, no filler-free autogenous welds, and expect reduced joint corrosion resistance.
What surface finishes work on 303Se Cold Drawn?
Passivate per ASTM A967 (nitric or citric) after machining to remove smeared inclusions; takes a good mechanical polish, but electroplating/electropolishing gives patchy results around selenide stringers; no anodizing.
Can 303Se Cold Drawn be formed, bent or molded?
Cold heading, thread rolling and knurling are acceptable (better than 303-S), but avoid severe bending or deep transverse forming because inclusions cause directional ductility loss; hot work 1150–1260 °C then anneal ~1040 °C and quench.
What is the maximum service temperature of 303Se Cold Drawn?
303Se Cold Drawn 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in 303Se Cold Drawn?
Yes — 303Se Cold Drawn is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM A582/A582M — Free-Machining Stainless Steel Bars — ASTM International (2021)
- SAE J405 / UNS S30323 chemical composition — SAE International (2013)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Machinery's Handbook — machinability ratings of stainless steels — Industrial Press (2020)
- GB/T 1220 (Y1Cr18Ni9Se) — SAC (2007)
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.