Stainless Steel 304
Stainless Steel 304 – The Universal 18-8 Austenitic Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel 304 (18-8) is the most widely specified stainless steel grade globally, offering an optimal balance of corrosion resistance, formability, weldability, and cost. Its 18% chromium and 8% nickel composition creates a stable austenitic microstructure that is non-magnetic and highly resistant to oxidation across a broad range of environments.
Key Properties
- Tensile Strength: 515 MPa
- Yield Strength: 205 MPa
- Hardness: 201 HB
- Density: 8.00 g/cm³
- Magnetic: Non-magnetic (annealed)
- Weldability: Good
Common Applications
Food processing equipment, kitchen appliances, sinks, architectural cladding, chemical containers, heat exchangers, pharmaceutical equipment, and fasteners. Compliant with ASTM A240 / ASTM A276.
Material properties
| Material name | Stainless Steel 304 |
|---|---|
| Type | Stainless Steel |
| Standard code | ASTM A240 / ASTM A276 |
| Tensile strength (MPa) | 515 |
| Yield strength (MPa) | 205 |
| Fatigue strength (MPa) | 207 |
| Elongation (%) | 40 |
| Hardness (Brinell) | 201 |
| Density (g/cm³) | 8 |
| Electrical resistivity (µΩ·in) | 72 |
| Thermal conductivity (W/m·K) | 16.2 |
| Melting range (°C) | 1400–1455 |
| Weldability | Excellent |
| Formability | Good |
| Shear modulus | 77 |
| Industry code | ss_304 |