304 Stainless Steel | AISI 304 1.4301 18-8 | Austenitic Stainless Steel Supplier

304 stainless steel is the world’s most versatile and widely used austenitic grade. With its classic 18/8 chromium-nickel composition, it delivers excellent corrosion resistance, outstanding formability, and good mechanical properties.

What makes 304 indispensable is its remarkable adaptability—the balanced austenitic structure enables exceptional drawing, forming, and spinning while maintaining reliable corrosion protection across diverse environments. Also designated as EN 1.4301, UNS S30400, and SUS304. Ideal for food processing equipment, chemical containers, architectural panelling, and kitchen sinks. Supplied annealed, cold-rolled, or hot-rolled to meet specific requirements.

Material Shape and Size

1.Round Bar

Hot Rolled / Cold Drawn (Small Diameters): Diameter 2mm – 50mm, Condition: Annealed, Surface: Bright, peeled, or ground
Hot Rolled / Peeled (Medium Diameters): Diameter 50mm – 200mm, Condition: Annealed, Surface: Peeled, turned, or ground
Forged (Large Diameters): Diameter 200mm – 500mm (larger sizes available upon request), Condition: Annealed, Surface: Black forged, rough turned, or ground
Length: 3000mm – 6000mm (custom cutting available), Tolerance: ASTM A484 / EN 10088 (customizable according to your requirements)

Flat Bar

Equivalent Grade

Standard System	Country/Region	Equivalent Grade	Common Search Terms
DIN EN	Germany	1.4301, X5CrNi18-10	1.4301 steel, DIN 1.4301, X5CrNi18-10
AISI/ASTM	USA	304, S30400, A2	304 stainless steel, AISI 304, 18-8 stainless
JIS	Japan	SUS304	SUS304 steel, JIS SUS304
GB	China	0Cr18Ni9, 06Cr19Ni10	0Cr18Ni9 steel, 304 Chinese equivalent
BS	UK	304S15, EN58E	304S15 steel, EN58E
ISO	International	X5CrNi18-10	ISO 304 equivalent
AFNOR	France	Z7CN18-09	AFNOR 304 equivalent

Chemical Composition

Element	C	Si	Mn	P	S	Cr	Ni
Content (%)	≤0.08	≤1.00	≤2.00	≤0.045	≤0.045	18.00-20.00	8.00-11.00

Mechanical Property

MECHANICAL PROPERTY	METRIC VALUE	IMPERIAL VALUE
Hardness (Annealed)	≤201 HB	≤201 HB
Tensile Strength (σb)	≥515 – 540 MPa	≥74.7 – 78.3 ksi
Yield Strength (σ0.2)	≥205 – 230 MPa	≥29.7 – 33.4 ksi
Elongation (δ5)	≥40 – 45 %	≥40 – 45 %
Impact Toughness (KV, 20°C, Longitudinal)	≥34 J	≥25.1 ft·lb

Delivery Condition

Black Surface, Bright Surface, Turned Surface, Grinded Surface, Poblished surface.

Application

Food and Beverage Industry: Food processing equipment, beer kegs, brewing tanks, dairy equipment, milking machines, wine making vessels, commercial kitchens, and food storage containers.
Architectural Applications: Building facades, architectural panelling, handrails, curtain walls, roofing, and decorative trim for commercial and residential buildings.
Kitchen and Household: Kitchen sinks, saucepans, pots and pans, cutlery, flatware, splash backs, and sanitary ware.
Chemical and Industrial Processing: Chemical storage tanks, pressure vessels, piping systems, heat exchangers, evaporators, cooling coils, and process equipment.
Medical and Pharmaceutical: Hospital surgical equipment, hypodermic needles, pharmaceutical production equipment, sterile containers, and medical devices.
Fasteners and Hardware: Screws, nuts, bolts, washers, springs, and marine hardware requiring corrosion resistance.
Automotive and Transportation: Automotive trim, exhaust components, railcars, and shipping containers.
Cryogenic Applications: Cryogenic vessels, liquid nitrogen storage tanks, and low-temperature processing equipment down to -196°C.
Water Treatment: Water storage tanks, piping, and filtration equipment for potable water and wastewater treatment.
Marine and Offshore: Marine fittings, boat components, and offshore platform equipment where moderate chloride resistance is sufficient.
Textile Industry: Textile dyeing equipment and processing machinery requiring corrosion resistance.
Nuclear Industry: Nuclear vessels and components where reliability and corrosion resistance are critical.

Heat Treatment & Processing

Heat Treatment:

Solution Annealing: Heat uniformly to 1010-1120°C (1850-2050°F), hold until the entire section reaches temperature, then cool rapidly in air or water. Rapid cooling is essential to prevent carbide precipitation and maintain optimum corrosion resistance.
Stress Relieving: For fabricated components requiring stress relief, heat to 300-400°C (570-750°F) for 1-2 hours, then air cool. Note that this treatment does not significantly reduce strength but may relieve residual stresses from forming or welding.
Hot Working: Hot forming should be performed at 1149-1260°C (2100-2300°F). After hot working, components should be rapidly cooled to ensure maximum corrosion resistance. Do not work below 925°C (1700°F) to avoid cracking.
Cold Working: Work hardens readily during cold forming operations. Intermediate annealing may be required for severe cold working to restore ductility and avoid tearing. Full annealing should be performed after fabrication to optimize corrosion resistance.
Limitations: Cannot be hardened by heat treatment; strength increased only through cold working. Prolonged exposure at 425-860°C may cause sensitization and reduce corrosion resistance.

Processing Guide:

Machining: Cutting edges must be kept sharp; dull edges cause excess work hardening. Cuts should be light but deep enough to prevent work hardening by riding on the surface. Chip breakers should be employed to control swarf. Coolants and lubricants are necessary and must be used in large quantities. Machinability rating is approximately 45% compared to AISI 1212 carbon steel.
Welding: Excellent weldability with all standard methods. Fusion welding performance is excellent both with and without fillers. Recommended filler for 304 is 308 stainless steel. Oxy-acetylene welding: Excellent. Gas-shielded arc welding: Excellent. Resistance welding: Excellent. Heavy welded sections may require post-weld annealing. For applications requiring no post-weld heat treatment, 304L is preferred.
Forming: Excellent for deep drawing, spinning, and forming operations. Higher work hardening rate requires more power than carbon steel. Springback is greater than carbon steel due to higher yield strength. Intermediate annealing may be needed for complex multi-stage draws.
Polishing: Can be polished to various finishes including 2B, BA, No.4 brushed, HL, and 8K mirror. Avoid overheating during polishing to maintain surface integrity.
Surface Treatments: Available in multiple finishes to meet specific aesthetic and functional requirements.

Quality Inspection & Control

Full-process control: Raw material inspection (certificate, composition); production inspection (composition, mechanical properties, 100% UT, dimensional, surface); finished product inspection (MTC EN 10204 3.1, reports).

Our Advantages

Strong Production Capacity: 10,000 tons/year, advanced equipment.
Adequate Stock: 600+ tons standard specs (3-7 days delivery); custom specs 15-30 days.
Custom Processing: One-stop sawing, milling, drilling, polishing, heat treatment.
Strict Quality Control: Full-process inspection, professional team/equipment.
Global Supply: Container/LCL shipment, anti-rust packaging, on-time delivery.
Professional Technical Support: Senior engineers guide material selection, heat treatment, processing.