Stainless Steel 334 Annealed
Temper · default condition
AISI/SAE 334 · UNS S33400
Standard stocked condition for plate, sheet, bar, tube and fabricated furnace hardware; maximum ductility and best high-temperature stability.
Values for the Annealed condition
Other 334 tempers and conditions
334 is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at 334.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefaultThis page solution annealed (typically 1065–1175 °C, rapid cool) | Standard stocked condition for plate, sheet, bar, tube and fabricated furnace hardware; maximum ductility and best high-temperature stability. | 275 | 585 | 45 | 150 HB | — |
Cold drawn | Choose when tighter tolerance, straighter bar and higher room-temperature strength are needed for machined furnace fixtures and fasteners. | 550 | 760 | 25 | 18 HRC | 1.7 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Rarely stocked; used for springy strip and formed clips where extra room-temperature strength is wanted before a stress-relief. | 620 | 860 | 15 | 23 HRC | 1.7 % IACS |
What is 334 Annealed?
334 Annealed is 334 in the Annealed temper — standard stocked condition for plate, sheet, bar, tube and fabricated furnace hardware; maximum ductility and best high-temperature stability. 334 Annealed has a yield strength of 275 MPa (39.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 585 MPa (84.8 ksi) — weaker than 77% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 45% and the elastic modulus is 196 GPa (28.4 Msi). 334 Annealed has a density of 7.94 g/cm³ (0.287 lb/in³), heavier than 78% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,345°C (2,453 °F).
Advantages
- High service temperature — 1,100°C (2,012 °F), better than 96% of stainless steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 70/100, better than 79% of stainless steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 45%, better than 76% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 8.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 99% of stainless steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 1.7 % IACS, worse than 93% of stainless steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 12.5 W/m·K (7.22 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 90% of stainless steel grades
- Low strength — 275 MPa (39.9 ksi), worse than 77% of stainless steel grades
334 Annealed properties
Typical room-temperature values for 334 Annealed; 14 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 334 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
334 Annealed has a density of 7.94 g/cm³ (0.287 lb/in³), heavier than 78% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,345°C (2,453 °F).
Mechanical13
334 Annealed has a yield strength of 275 MPa (39.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 585 MPa (84.8 ksi) — weaker than 77% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 45% and the elastic modulus is 196 GPa (28.4 Msi).
Thermal6
334 Annealed is rated for continuous service to 1,100°C (2,012 °F). It conducts heat at 12.5 W/m·K (7.22 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 90% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 14.4 µm/m·K (8 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
334 Annealed conducts electricity at 1.7 % IACS, worse than 93% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (62/100), worse than 52% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 334 Annealed takes about 85 MJ of energy and emits 8.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 92% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability6
334 Annealed's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 70% of stainless steel grades); weldability good (65/100); formability very good (70/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 334 Annealed
Is 334 easy to machine?
Gummy and strongly work-hardening — use rigid setups, positive-rake carbide, heavy feeds with no dwell, low-to-moderate speed (~25–40 m/min) and flood sulphochlorinated coolant.
Can 334 be welded?
Weld with GTAW/GMAW using matching 334/330 or Ni-base (ERNiCr-3) filler, low heat input and no preheat; avoid heavy restraint to limit hot cracking and avoid 650–870 °C exposure that embrittles the HAZ.
Can 334 be formed, bent or molded?
Formable hot (1050–1200 °C) or cold, but cold work demands 40–50 % more power than 304 and generous bend radii plus intermediate solution anneals.
What surface finishes work on 334?
Pickle in HNO₃-HF then passivate in nitric acid to remove Ti/Al-rich oxides; polishes to a bright finish, no anodizing applicable, plating rarely used.
334 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 | ≤ 0.08 | 0.05 |
| Mn | ≤ 1 | 0.7 |
| Siaids oxidation resistance | 0.75 – 1.5 | 1.1 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Cr | 18 – 20 | 19 |
| Ni | 34 – 37 | 35 |
| Tiscale adherence / carbide stabilisation | 0.15 – 0.6 | 0.35 |
| Alimproves oxide adherence | 0.15 – 0.6 | 0.35 |
| Fe | balance | — |
334 Annealed — frequently asked
What is 334 Annealed used for?
334 Annealed is typically used for generator retaining rings, non-magnetic structural parts, high-temperature furnace fixtures, heat-treatment baskets and trays, low-permeability instrument housings and hot ducting and support hardware. In short: non-magnetic retaining ring grade; 1100 °C service capability; specialty, limited availability.
What is the yield strength of 334 Annealed?
334 Annealed has a typical yield strength of 275 MPa (39.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 585 MPa (84.8 ksi) — weaker than 77% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is 334 Annealed easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 70% of stainless steel grades). Gummy and strongly work-hardening — use rigid setups, positive-rake carbide, heavy feeds with no dwell, low-to-moderate speed (~25–40 m/min) and flood sulphochlorinated coolant.
Can 334 Annealed be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (65/100). Weld with GTAW/GMAW using matching 334/330 or Ni-base (ERNiCr-3) filler, low heat input and no preheat; avoid heavy restraint to limit hot cracking and avoid 650–870 °C exposure that embrittles the HAZ.
What surface finishes work on 334 Annealed?
Pickle in HNO₃-HF then passivate in nitric acid to remove Ti/Al-rich oxides; polishes to a bright finish, no anodizing applicable, plating rarely used.
Can 334 Annealed be formed, bent or molded?
Formable hot (1050–1200 °C) or cold, but cold work demands 40–50 % more power than 304 and generous bend radii plus intermediate solution anneals.
What is the maximum service temperature of 334 Annealed?
334 Annealed is rated for continuous use to about 1,100°C (2,012 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 334 Annealed and 334-CD?
Annealed is the default condition — standard stocked condition for plate, sheet, bar, tube and fabricated furnace hardware; maximum ductility and best high-temperature stability. CD: choose when tighter tolerance, straighter bar and higher room-temperature strength are needed for machined furnace fixtures and fasteners. Yield strength is 275 MPa in Annealed versus 550 MPa in CD.
Sources
- SAE J405 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Wrought Stainless Steels — SAE International (2013)
- Metals & Alloys in the Unified Numbering System (UNS S33400) — SAE/ASTM (2017)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Stainless Steels — ASM International (1994)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Heat-resisting 19Cr-35Ni alloy (330/334) datasheet — Sandvik / Outokumpu (2020)
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.