Stainless Steel 305 Full Hard
Supply condition
AISI/SAE 305 · UNS S30500 · EN 1.4303 · JIS SUS305 · GB 10Cr18Ni12
Highest strength condition; chosen where a stiff, still fully non-magnetic strip or spring wire is required.
Values for the Full 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 |
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 |
Full HardThis page 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 Full Hard?
305 Full Hard is 305 supplied in the Full Hard condition — highest strength condition; chosen where a stiff, still fully non-magnetic strip or spring wire is required. 305 Full Hard has a yield strength of 1,000 MPa (145 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,275 MPa (185 ksi) — stronger than 98% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 190 GPa (27.6 Msi). 305 Full 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; Full Hard is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High strength — 1,000 MPa (145 ksi), better than 98% of stainless steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 85/100, better than 97% of stainless steel grades
- Easy to machine — 45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 8%, worse than 99% of stainless steel grades
- 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
- Low fracture toughness — 80 MPa·√m (72.8 ksi·√in), worse than 79% of stainless steel grades
- Limited formability — 25/100, worse than 78% of stainless steel grades
305 Full Hard properties
Typical room-temperature values for 305 Full Hard; 23 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 Full 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 Full Hard has a yield strength of 1,000 MPa (145 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,275 MPa (185 ksi) — stronger than 98% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 190 GPa (27.6 Msi).
Thermal6
305 Full 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 Full Hard conducts electricity at 2.4 % IACS, better than 67% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (62/100), worse than 52% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 305 Full 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 Full Hard's machinability is fair (45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades); weldability good (55/100); formability poor (25/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 305 Full 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 Full Hard — frequently asked
What is 305 Full Hard used for?
305 Full Hard is typically used for sinks, hollowware and spinning cones. In short: deep-drawing austenitic stainless.
What is the yield strength of 305 Full Hard?
305 Full Hard has a typical yield strength of 1,000 MPa (145 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,275 MPa (185 ksi) — stronger than 98% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 305 Full Hard easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, better than 84% 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 Full Hard be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (55/100). 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 Full 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 Full 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 Full Hard?
305 Full 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 Full Hard?
Yes — 305 Full 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.