304/304L

STAINLESS STEEL

P r o d u c t D ata B u l l e t i n

Architectural Moldings and Trim

Textile

Kitchen Equipment

Paper

Pharmaceutical and
Chemical Industry Processing Equipment
High strength, excellent corrosion resistance and excellent formability make
Types 304 and 304L Stainless Steels useful for many applications. Typical uses
include architectural moldings and trim, kitchen equipment, as well as chemical,
textile, paper, pharmaceutical and chemical industry processing equipment.
For severely corrosive environments or when welding is required, Type 304L
is preferred because of its greater immunity to intergranular corrosion.
UNS S30400/UNS S30403

3 0 4 / 3 0 4 L S t a i n l e ss s t e e l

304/304L STAINLESS STEEL

Table of Contents
Product Description ......................................................................... 1
Composition .................................................................................... 1
Available Forms ............................................................................... 1
Mechanical Properties ..................................................................... 2
Properties ........................................................................................ 4
Corrosion Resistance ....................................................................... 4
Oxidation Resistance ....................................................................... 4
Heat Treatment ................................................................................ 4
Cold Working ................................................................................... 4
Formability ...................................................................................... 4
Weldability . ..................................................................................... 4
Specifications .................................................................................. 4

304/304L STAINLESS STEEL

Product Description
Type 304 Stainless Steel is a variation of the base 18-8 grade, with a higher
chromium and lower carbon content. The lower carbon content minimizes
chromium carbide precipitation due to welding and its susceptibility to
intergranular corrosion. In some instances Type 304 can be used in the
"as-welded" condition.
Type 304L is an extra low-carbon variation of Type 304 with a 0.03%
maximum carbon content that eliminates carbide precipitation due to welding.
As a result, this alloy can be used in the "as welded" condition, even in severe
corrosive conditions. In many cases it eliminates the necessity of annealing
weldments except for applications specifying stress relief. Type 304L has
slightly lower mechanical properties than Type 304.
COMPOSITION

TYPE 304
(wt %)

TYPE 304L
(wt %)

Carbon

0.08 max.

0.03 max.

Manganese

2.00 max.

2.00 max.

Phosphorus

0.045 max.

0.045 max.

Sulfur

0.030 max.

0.030 max.

Silicon

0.75 max.

0.75 max.

Chromium

18.00 20.00

18.00 20.00

Nickel

8.00 12.00

8.00 12.00

Nitrogen

0.10 max.

0.10 max.

Iron

Balance

Balance

AVAILABLE FORMS
AK Steel produces Type 304 and 304L Stainless Steels in thicknesses from
0.01 to 0.25 in. (0.25 to 6.35 mm) max. and widths up to 60 in. (1524 mm).
For other thicknesses and widths, inquire.
Values shown in this bulletin were established in U.S. customary units.
The metric equivalents may be approximate.

304/304L STAINLESS STEEL

Mechanical Properties
Table 1 Typical ROOM TEMPERATURE Mechanical Properties
UTS
ksi. (MPa)

0.2% YS
ksi. (MPa)

Elongation
% in 2" (50.8 mm)

Rockwell
Hardness

Type 304

95 (655)

42 (290)

55

B84

Type 304L

95 (655)

40 (276)

55

B82

Table 2 ELEVATED TEMPERATURE Mechanical Properties

Temperature
F (C)

UTS
ksi. (MPa)

0.2% YS
ksi. (MPa)

Elongation
% in 2" (50.8 mm)

Room

85 (586)

35 (241)

55

400 (204)

72 (496)

23 (159)

51

600 (316)

68 (469)

20 (134)

45

800 (427)

64 (441)

17 (114)

40

1000 (538)

56 (386)

14 (97)

36

1200 (649)

44 (303)

13 (88)

34

1400 (760)

29 (200)

11 (76)

36

1600 (871)

16 (110)

40

Table 3 LOW TEMPERATURE Mechanical Properties

Condition
Annealed

Temperature
F (C)

UTS
ksi. (MPa)

-320 (-196)
-80 (-62)
-40 (-40)
32 (0)
70 (21)

235
161
145
122
85

(1620)
(1110)
(1000)
(841)
(586)

0.2% YS
ksi. (MPa)

Elongation
% in 2" (50.8 mm)

56 (386)
50 (345)
48 (331)
40 (296)
35 (241)

40
57
60
65
55

304/304L STAINLESS STEEL

Mechanical Properties
Table 4 Fatigue Strength
Condition

Fatigue Strength, ksi. (MPa)

Annealed 150 BHN

35 (241)

Cold Drawn 277 BHN

70 (70)

FIGURE 1 Effect of Cold Work on Tensile Properties

200 (1379)
180 (1241)
160 (1103)

120 (827)
100 (689)
80

80 (552)
UTS
0.2% YS
Elongation

60 (414)
40 (276)

60
40
20

20 (138)

0
0

10

20

30 40 50 60
% Cold Reduction

70

Elongation % in 2" (50.8 mm)

Stress, ksi. (MPa)

140 (965)

80

304/304L STAINLESS STEEL

Properties
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Density, lbs./in.3 (g/cm3)

0.29 (8.03)

Electrical Resistivity, in. (cm)

68 F (20 C)
1200 F (659 C)

28.4 (72)
45.8 (116)

Thermal Conductivity, BTU/hr./ft./F (W/m/K)

212 F (100 C)

9.4 (16.2)

932 F (500 C)

12.4 (21.4)

Mean Coefficient of Thermal Expansion, in./in./F (m/m/K)

32 212 F (0 100 C)

9.4 x 10-6 (16.9)

32 600 F (0 315 C)

9.9 x 10-6 (17.3)

32 1000 F (0 538 C)

10.2 x 10-6 (18.4)

32 1200 F (0 649 C)

10.4 x 10-6 (18.7)

Modulus of Elasticity, ksi. (MPa)

in tension 28.0 x 103 (193 x 103)
in torsion

11.2 x 103 (78 x 103)

Magnetic Permeability Annealed,

(H/m at 200 Oersteds)

1.02 max.

Specific Heat, BTU/lbs./F (kJ/kg/K)

32 212 F (0 100 C)

0.12 (0.50)

Melting Range, F (C)

2550 2650
(1399 1454)

CORROSION RESISTANCE
Types 304 and 304L exhibit excellent resistance to corrosive
environments such as the chemical, textile and petroleum industries.
Type 304 and 304L are found suitable in the food and dairy industries
as well as excelling in rural and industrial atmospheric exposure.
By reducing the carbon content in Type 304L, welding operations will
not cause carbide precipitation that can lead to intergranular corrosion.

COLD WORKING
High hardness and strength are achieved through cold working. In
the annealed condition, Types 304 and 304L are very ductile and can
be cold worked easily by roll forming, deep drawing, bending, and
other common fabricating methods. Since the material work hardens
rapidly, in-process annealing may be necessary to restore ductility
and to lower hardness.
FORMABILITY
Types 304 and 304L can be readily formed and drawn. The higher
nickel versions of Type 304 are well suited to severe forming
applications involving multi-draw operations and forming of complex
shapes. This is largely due to its combination of lower strength and
lower work hardening rate. As with all austenitic stainless steels,
annealing or stress-relieving can be performed following fabrication.
WELDABILITY
The austenitic class of stainless steels is generally considered to be
weldable by the common fusion and resistance techniques. Special
consideration is required to avoid weld hot cracking by assuring
formation of ferrite in the weld deposit. Type 304 and 304L are
generally considered to be the most common alloys of this stainless
class. When a weld filler is needed, AWS E/ER 308, 308L or 347 are
most often specified. Types 304 and 304L Stainless Steels are well
known in reference literature and more information can be obtained in
the following ways:
1. ANSI/AWS A5.9, A5.22 and A5.4 (Stainless Steel Welding Electrode
Specifications).
2. Welding of Stainless Steels and Other Joining Methods, SSINA,
(www.ssina.com).
3. ANSI/AWS B2.1.009:2002 (GTAW 300s @ 0.50 0.14 in.).
4. ANSI/AWS B2.1-8-024:2001 (GTAW 300s @ 0.125 1.5 in.).
5. ANSI/AWS B2.1-8-013:2002 (SMAW 300s @ 0.050 0.14 in.).
6. ANSI/AWS B2.1-8-023:94 (SMAW 300s @ 0.125 1.5 in.).

OXIDATION RESISTANCE
The maximum temperature to which Type 304 can be exposed
continuously without appreciable scaling is about 1650 F (899 C).
For intermittent cyclic exposure, the maximum exposure temperature
is about 1500 F (816 C).
HEAT TREATMENTS
Type 304 is non-hardenable by heat treatment.
Annealing: Heat to 1900 2050 F (1038 1121 C), then cool rapidly.
Thin strip sections may be air cooled, but heavy sections should be water
quenched to minimize exposure in the carbide precipitation region.

7. ANSI/AWS B2.1.005:2002 (GMAW 300s @ 0.050 0.14 in.).

8. "High Frequency Welding of Stainless Steel Tubes" by H.N. Udall and
R.K. Nichols.
9. ANSI/AWS D1.6/D1.6M:2007 (Structural Welding Code Stainless
Steel).
SPECIFICATIONS
Type 304 and 304L Stainless Steels are covered by the following
specifications:

Stress Relief Annealing: Cold worked parts should be stress relieved at

750 F (399 C) for 1/2 to 2 hours.

Type 304

Type 304L

AMS 5513 AMS 5511

ASTM A240 ASTM A240
ASTM A666 ASTM A666

AK Steel Corporation
9227 Centre Pointe Drive
West Chester, OH 45069
800.331.5050
www.aksteel.com
Headquartered in West Chester, Ohio, AK Steel is a world leader in the production of
flat rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steel products, primarily for automotive,
appliance, construction and electrical power generation and distribution markets. The
company operates seven steel plants and two tube manufacturing plants across four
states Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania. All of the companys steel plants are
ISO/TS 16949, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified for their quality and environmental
management systems. AK Steel is a publicly held company traded over the New York
Stock Exchange under the symbol AKS aligning the company with many of the most
prominent corporations in America.
The information and data in this document are accurate to the best of our knowledge
and belief, but are intended for general information only. Applications suggested for the
materials are described only to help readers make their own evaluations and decisions,
and are neither guarantees nor to be construed as express or implied warranties of
suitability for these or other applications.
Data referring to material properties are the result of tests performed on specimens
obtained from specific locations of the products in accordance with prescribed
sampling procedures; any warranty thereof is limited to the values obtained at such
locations and by such procedures. There is no warranty with respect to values of the
materials at other locations.
AK and the AK Steel logo are registered trademarks of the AK Steel Corporation.
Revision 04.25.13