Stainless Steel 305-1/4 Hard
Supply condition
AISI/SAE 305 · UNS S30500 · EN 1.4303 · JIS SUS305 · GB 10Cr18Ni12
1/4 Hard = quarter hard
Light temper strip for parts that still need bending but more spring-back resistance than annealed.
Values for the 1/4 Hard condition
Other 305 tempers and conditions
305 is listed in 6 conditions; see the grade overview at 305.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Finish State | Hot-rolled/hot-forged and solution-annealed 305 bar: soft, fully austenitic, non-magnetic condition supplied for further forming or machining. | 250 | 570 | 50 | 150 HB | 2.4 % IACS |
AnnealedDefault solution annealed (1010–1120 °C, rapid cool) | Default stock condition for sheet, plate, coil and cold-heading wire; maximum ductility for drawing, spinning and multi-blow heading. | 260 | 585 | 50 | 150 HB | — |
bar/wire drawn to size, lightly work-hardened | Pick for straight bar and wire needing better surface, tighter tolerance and modest strength gain while keeping heading ductility. | 430 | 655 | 32 | 200 HB | 2.4 % IACS |
1/4 HardThis page Quarter hard | Light temper strip for parts that still need bending but more spring-back resistance than annealed. | 515 | 860 | 20 | 25 HRC | 2.4 % IACS |
Half hard | Use for flat springs, clips and stiff formed strip where a mild bend radius is acceptable. | 760 | 1,035 | 12 | 32 HRC | 2.4 % IACS |
heavily cold worked strip/wire | Highest strength condition; chosen where a stiff, still fully non-magnetic strip or spring wire is required. | 1,000 | 1,275 | 8 | 38 HRC | 2.4 % IACS |
What is 305-1/4 Hard?
305-1/4 Hard is 305 supplied in the 1/4 Hard condition — light temper strip for parts that still need bending but more spring-back resistance than annealed. 305-1/4 Hard has a yield strength of 515 MPa (74.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 860 MPa (125 ksi) — stronger than 78% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 193 GPa (28 Msi). 305-1/4 Hard has a density of 8 g/cm³ (0.289 lb/in³), heavier than 92% 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
- Polishes to a fine finish — 85/100, better than 97% of stainless steel grades
- High strength — 515 MPa (74.7 ksi), better than 78% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), worse than 90% of stainless steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 6.2 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 90% of stainless steel grades
- Limited ductility — 20%, worse than 79% of stainless steel grades
305-1/4 Hard properties
Typical room-temperature values for 305-1/4 Hard; 24 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 305 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
305-1/4 Hard has a density of 8 g/cm³ (0.289 lb/in³), heavier than 92% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Mechanical16
305-1/4 Hard has a yield strength of 515 MPa (74.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 860 MPa (125 ksi) — stronger than 78% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 193 GPa (28 Msi).
Thermal6
305-1/4 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 17.2 µm/m·K (9.56 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
305-1/4 Hard conducts electricity at 2.4 % IACS, better than 67% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (64/100), better than 54% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 305-1/4 Hard takes about 82 MJ of energy and emits 6.2 kg of CO₂ — more than 90% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability8
305-1/4 Hard's machinability is fair (42/100, better than 79% of stainless steel grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability good (65/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 305-1/4 Hard
Is 305 easy to machine?
Gummy and stringy — use sharp positive-rake carbide, 0.15 mm+ feed to break the chip, rigid setup and flood coolant; expect ~40 % of AISI 1212 rates.
Can 305 be welded?
Weld with GTAW/GMAW using 308L/308LSi filler; low-ferrite 305 weld metal is hot-crack sensitive, so limit heat input, avoid restraint and skip preheat.
Can 305 be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding for deep drawing, spinning and 4–6 blow cold heading thanks to a low work-hardening exponent; intermediate anneals are rarely needed.
What surface finishes work on 305?
Passivate per ASTM A967 or electropolish after forming; takes BA and No.8 mirror polish well, and stays non-magnetic so magnetic-particle-free assemblies are possible.
305 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CASTM A240/A276 | ≤ 0.12 | 0.06 |
| SiEN 1.4303 allows ≤1.00 | ≤ 0.75 | 0.45 |
| Mn | ≤ 2 | 1.2 |
| P | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Cr | 17 – 19 | 18 |
| Nihigh Ni stabilises austenite, lowers n-value | 10.5 – 13 | 11.75 |
| NEN 1.4303 limit | ≤ 0.1 | 0.04 |
| Fe | balance | — |
305-1/4 Hard — frequently asked
What is 305-1/4 Hard used for?
305-1/4 Hard is typically used for sinks, hollowware and spinning cones. In short: deep-drawing austenitic stainless.
What is the yield strength of 305-1/4 Hard?
305-1/4 Hard has a typical yield strength of 515 MPa (74.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 860 MPa (125 ksi) — stronger than 78% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 305-1/4 Hard easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (42/100, better than 79% of stainless steel grades). Gummy and stringy — use sharp positive-rake carbide, 0.15 mm+ feed to break the chip, rigid setup and flood coolant; expect ~40 % of AISI 1212 rates.
Can 305-1/4 Hard be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). Weld with GTAW/GMAW using 308L/308LSi filler; low-ferrite 305 weld metal is hot-crack sensitive, so limit heat input, avoid restraint and skip preheat.
What surface finishes work on 305-1/4 Hard?
Passivate per ASTM A967 or electropolish after forming; takes BA and No.8 mirror polish well, and stays non-magnetic so magnetic-particle-free assemblies are possible.
Can 305-1/4 Hard be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding for deep drawing, spinning and 4–6 blow cold heading thanks to a low work-hardening exponent; intermediate anneals are rarely needed.
What is the maximum service temperature of 305-1/4 Hard?
305-1/4 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 305-1/4 Hard?
Yes — 305-1/4 Hard is available for sheet metal; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM A240/A240M — Cr and Cr-Ni stainless plate, sheet and strip — ASTM International (2023)
- ASTM A276/A276M — Stainless steel bars and shapes — ASTM International (2023)
- EN 10088-1/-2 — Stainless steels, grade 1.4303 — CEN (2014)
- JIS G 4305 / G 4303 — SUS305 — JSA (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.13B — Corrosion: Materials — ASM International (2005)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16 — Machining — ASM International (1989)
- Austenitic cold-heading grade 305 wire data — Sandvik / Outokumpu (2022)
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.