Stainless Steel 304L · supply condition
Stainless Steel 304L-1/4 Hard
Properties of the 1/4 Hard condition, compared with the other 304L tempers.
Structural/spring-like sheet for brackets and panels where roll forming replaces deep drawing.
What is 304L-1/4 Hard?
304L-1/4 Hard is 304L supplied in the 1/4 Hard condition — structural/spring-like sheet for brackets and panels where roll forming replaces deep drawing. 304L-1/4 Hard has a yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 870 MPa (126 ksi) — stronger than 88% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 195 GPa (28.3 Msi). 304L-1/4 Hard 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). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; 1/4 Hard is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High strength — 620 MPa (89.9 ksi), better than 88% of stainless steel grades
- Easy to machine — 48/100, better than 88% of stainless steel grades
- Readily welded — 85/100, better than 86% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), worse than 90% of stainless steel grades
- Limited ductility — 18%, worse than 83% of stainless steel grades
304L-1/4 Hard properties
Typical room-temperature values for 304L-1/4 Hard — 37 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 304L temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the stainless steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
304L-1/4 Hard 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
304L-1/4 Hard has a yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 870 MPa (126 ksi) — stronger than 88% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 195 GPa (28.3 Msi).
Thermal6
304L-1/4 Hard is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °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
304L-1/4 Hard conducts electricity at 2.4 % IACS, better than 67% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (65/100), better than 55% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 304L-1/4 Hard takes about 80 MJ of energy and emits 5.1 kg of CO₂ — more than 89% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability8
304L-1/4 Hard's machinability is fair (48/100, better than 88% of stainless steel grades); weldability excellent (85/100); formability good (55/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 304L tempers and conditions
304L is also supplied in 10 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 304L overview.
- AnnealedDefaultDefault stocked condition for plate, sheet, tube and bar; maximum ductility, formability and corrosion resistance.275 MPa yield · 150 HB
- Full HardMaximum as-rolled strength/hardness for spring washers, blades and wear strips; essentially no cold forming.1,030 MPa yield · 40 HRC
- 3/4 HardNear-maximum cold-worked strength for flat springs and straps; forming limited to shallow flanges.980 MPa yield · 37 HRC
- 1/2 HardHigh-strength thin sheet for clamps, shims and lightweight structures; only gentle large-radius bends.800 MPa yield · 33 HRC
- 1/4 HardStructural/spring-like sheet for brackets and panels where roll forming replaces deep drawing.620 MPa yield · 27 HRC
- Cold DrawnStandard condition for shafting and machined parts: higher yield strength, straightness and a smooth surface, with better chip control than annealed bar.500 MPa yield · 215 HB
- Cold RolledPick for flat, tight-tolerance sheet with a bright 2B/BA surface and modestly higher yield strength than annealed plate.380 MPa yield · 185 HB
- Hot FinishedHot rolled / hot finished 304L bar, plate or section (HRAP or hot-finished + solution annealed), soft austenitic condition with near-annealed strength and full ductility.240 MPa yield · 150 HB
Working with 304L-1/4 Hard
Is 304L easy to machine?
Gummy and rapidly work-hardening: use rigid setups, positive-rake sharp carbide, 20–35 % lower speed than 1212 steel, heavy feed to cut under the hardened layer, and flood coolant.
Can 304L be welded?
Excellent by GTAW/GMAW/SMAW/laser with 308L or 316L filler; low carbon avoids sensitization so no post-weld anneal is needed, but keep heat input low and back-purge to limit distortion and oxide.
Can 304L be formed, bent or molded?
Very ductile — deep drawing, spinning and roll forming are routine; expect high springback and ~50 % more press force than mild steel, and inter-anneal at 1010–1100 °C for severe multi-stage draws.
What surface finishes work on 304L?
Mill 2B/BA or mechanically polished No.4/No.8; passivate per ASTM A967 or electropolish after machining/welding; no anodizing — use PVD or paint for colour.
304L 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≤0.035 % permitted for some EN 1.4307 product forms | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Si≤1.00 % in ASTM A276/A479 bar | ≤ 0.75 | 0.45 |
| Mn | ≤ 2 | 1.4 |
| P | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| CrEN 1.4307: 17.5–19.5 | 18 – 20 | 18.5 |
| NiEN 1.4307: 8.0–10.5 | 8 – 12 | 9 |
| N | ≤ 0.1 | 0.05 |
| Fe | balance | — |
304L-1/4 Hard — frequently asked
What is 304L-1/4 Hard used for?
304L-1/4 Hard is typically used for welded food and beverage tanks, chemical process piping, sanitary fittings and valve bodies, pharmaceutical vessels, heat exchanger shells and sheet metal enclosures and panels. In short: weldable standard stainless.
What is the yield strength of 304L-1/4 Hard?
304L-1/4 Hard has a typical yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 870 MPa (126 ksi) — stronger than 88% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 11 listed tempers.
Is 304L-1/4 Hard easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (48/100, better than 88% of stainless steel grades). Gummy and rapidly work-hardening: use rigid setups, positive-rake sharp carbide, 20–35 % lower speed than 1212 steel, heavy feed to cut under the hardened layer, and flood coolant.
Can 304L-1/4 Hard be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (85/100). Excellent by GTAW/GMAW/SMAW/laser with 308L or 316L filler; low carbon avoids sensitization so no post-weld anneal is needed, but keep heat input low and back-purge to limit distortion and oxide.
What surface finishes work on 304L-1/4 Hard?
Mill 2B/BA or mechanically polished No.4/No.8; passivate per ASTM A967 or electropolish after machining/welding; no anodizing — use PVD or paint for colour.
Can 304L-1/4 Hard be formed, bent or molded?
Very ductile — deep drawing, spinning and roll forming are routine; expect high springback and ~50 % more press force than mild steel, and inter-anneal at 1010–1100 °C for severe multi-stage draws.
What is the maximum service temperature of 304L-1/4 Hard?
304L-1/4 Hard is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in 304L-1/4 Hard?
Yes — 304L-1/4 Hard is available for CNC machining and sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM A240/A240M — Chromium and Chromium-Nickel Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet, and Strip — ASTM International (2023)
- ASTM A666 — Annealed or Cold-Worked Austenitic Stainless Steel Sheet, Strip, Plate, and Flat Bar — ASTM International (2015)
- ASTM A276/A479 — Stainless Steel Bars and Shapes — ASTM International (2022)
- EN 10088-1/-2/-3 (1.4307, X2CrNi18-9) — CEN (2014)
- GB/T 20878 / GB/T 3280 (022Cr19Ni10) — SAC (2015)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Stainless Steels — ASM International (1994)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 & Vol.19 (Properties; Fatigue and Fracture) — ASM International (1996)
- Outokumpu Core 304L/4307 datasheet & Corrosion Handbook — Outokumpu (2023)
- Sandvik/Alleima 3R12 (304L) technical data — Alleima (2023)
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.