Stainless Steel Alloy 304
The General Purpose Stainless
The most common and economical stainless on the market. Non-heat-treatable, highly resistant to corrosion and heat oxidation to roughly 2,000°F, and non-magnetic in the annealed condition. In foil gauges, individual lots can certify to 302, 304, and 304L. Being non-heat-treatable is exactly what makes 304 work as tool wrap. It protects the part rather than reacting alongside it. That is why it’s the base material for our tool wrap rolls, and we stock it in foil and sheet.
Material Range
Comet Metals maintains aluminum inventory and converting capabilities across a wide range of sizes and formats.
| Thickness: | .0007” to .025” |
| Widths: | .250” to 36” |
| Tempers: | Ann, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, full hard and spring |
| Finishes: | 2B, 4F, Dull and BA |
Built for use by:
Infrastructure
Automotive
Manufacturing
HVAC
Aerospace
Medical
Electronics
Specifications
| AMS Spec Number | 5513 |
| ASTM Standards | A666 |
| Principal Design Features | The most widely used and readily available alloy. Originally certified as 18-8 (nickel/chromium content). Excellent strength, corrosion resistance, and temperature resistance. Available in parts, sheets, and coils. |
| Applications | Wide-ranging: heat-treating parts, metal tapes, kitchen appliances, machine parts; shaped, cut, and applied in numerous applications. |
| Annealing | 1850 to 2050°F, followed by rapid cooling. |
| Forging / Hot Working | Uniform heating to 2100 to 2300°F; rapid cooling for max corrosion resistance. Readily cold worked; may require intermediate annealing to avoid cracking, with full annealing afterward. |
| Hardening | Does not respond to heat treatment. Cold work increases hardness and strength. |
| Welding | All fusion and resistance procedures work. AWS E/ER308 or 312 filler recommended. 304L (lower carbon) preferred for stronger welds. |
Chemical Properties
| Carbon (C) | 0.08% |
| Chromium (Cr) | 19% |
| Manganese (Mn) | 2% (Max) |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | – |
| Nickel (Ni) | 9.25% |
| Nitrogen (N) | 0.10% (Max) |
| Other Total | 0.10% (Max) |
Mechanical Properties
| Elongation (Annealed) | 40 (Min) |
| Elongation (1/4 Hard) | 10 (Min) |
| Elongation (1/2 Hard) | 6 (Min) |
| Elongation (3/4 Hard) | 3 (Min) |
| Elongation (Full Hard) | 1 (Min) |
| Elongation (Spring) | 1 (Nom) |
| Rockwell (Annealed) | B92 |
| Rockwell (1/4 Hard) | B92 |
| Rockwell (1/2 Hard) | B92 |
| Tensile Strength (Annealed) | 75 to 100 |
| Tensile Strength (1/4 Hard) | 125 to 150 |
| Tensile Strength (1/2 Hard) | 150 to 175 |
| Tensile Strength (3/4 Hard) | 175 to 200 |
| Tensile Strength (Full Hard) | 185 (Min) |
| Tensile Strength (Spring) | 200 (Min) |
| Yield Strength (Annealed) | 30 (Min) |
| Yield Strength (1/4 Hard) | 75 (Min) |
| Yield Strength (1/2 Hard) | 110 (Min) |
| Yield Strength (3/4 Hard) | 135 (Min) |
| Yield Strength (Full Hard) | 140 (Min) |
Physical Properties
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion | 9.6 in/in/°F x 10^6 |
| Density | 0.287 lbs./cu.in. |
| Modulus of Elasticity | 28 x 10^6 psi |
| Thermal Conductivity | 9.4 BTU/sq.ft/hr/°F |
More Stainless Steel materials
Stainless Steel Alloy 321
Titanium stabilized for extreme heat. Manifolds, exhaust stacks, and jet engine parts.
Stainless Steel Alloy 316
The best all around corrosion resistance in austenitic stainless. Molybdenum bearing, rated to 1,500°F.
Stainless Steel Alloy 309
Built for heat. Oxidation resistance well beyond 304, and workable in sulfur bearing atmospheres.