1.4401 vs 1.4301 stainless steel

What is the equivalent material for 1.4301 stainless steel?
1.4301 stainless steel is equivalent to AISI 304 (also known as UNS S30400). According to European standards, it is also known as X5CrNi18-10. Due to its nominal composition of 18% chromium and 8% nickel, it is sometimes also referred to by its older name, 18/8.

 

What is the ASTM equivalent of 1.4401 stainless steel?

The ASTM equivalent for the European stainless steel grade 1.4401 is ASTM 316. This grade is an austenitic stainless steel known for its excellent corrosion resistance, particularly in chloride environments, due to its added molybdenum.

 

 

1.4401 (AISI 316) contains 2-3% molybdenum, while 1.4301 (AISI 304) contains no molybdenum. As a result, 1.4401 is more expensive and more difficult to machine, while 1.4301 is a more cost-effective general-purpose grade suitable for less demanding applications.

1. Chemical Composition (%)​​

(Per EN 10088-2 / ASTM A240 standards)

1.4301 (AISI 304): Primarily composed of chromium (18-20%) and nickel (8-10.5%).
1.4401 (AISI 316): Molybdenum (2-2.5%) is added.

​​Element​​	​​1.4401 (316)​​	​​1.4301 (304)​​
​​Carbon (C)​​	≤0.08	≤0.07
​​Chromium (Cr)​​	16.0–18.5	17.5–19.5
​​Nickel (Ni)​​	10.0–14.0	8.0–10.5
​​Molybdenum (Mo)​​	​​2.0–3.0​​	​​None​​
​​Manganese (Mn)​​	≤2.0	≤2.0
​​Silicon (Si)​​	≤1.0	≤1.0
​​Phosphorus (P)​​	≤0.045	≤0.045
​​Sulfur (S)​​	≤0.030	≤0.030

​​2. Mechanical Properties (Typical Values at Room Temperature)​​

(Per EN 10088-2 / ASTM A240)

​​Property​​	​​1.4401 (316)​​	​​1.4301 (304)​​
​​Tensile Strength (MPa)​​	515–795	500–700
​​Yield Strength (0.2% Offset, MPa)​​	205–515	205–500
​​Elongation (% in 50mm)​​	≥40	≥40
​​Hardness (HRB)​​	≤95	≤95
​​Density (g/cm³)​​	8.0	8.0

 

Are 1.4401 and 1.4301 stainless steels magnetic?

No, neither 1.4401 (316) nor 1.4301 (304) stainless steel are significantly magnetic. Both are austenitic stainless steels with a crystal structure that is generally non-magnetic, although they can become weakly magnetic after cold working.

 

Corrosion Resistance:
1.4301 stainless steel performs well in a variety of environments, but its resistance to chlorides and acidic conditions is inferior to that of 1.4401. Due to the addition of molybdenum, 1.4401 stainless steel exhibits excellent corrosion resistance, especially in chloride-containing and acidic environments.

 

Machinability
1.4401 stainless steel contains 2-3% molybdenum and a slightly higher nickel content. Its strength and hardness are slightly higher than 1.4301. However, during high-speed cutting or heavy machining, 1.4401 exhibits slightly greater cutting resistance, requiring higher tool wear resistance.

 

What is the difference between 1.4401 and 1.4404?
The materials 1.4401 and 1.4404, which belong to the V4A Group, are easy to machine and weld. With the addition of 2-2.5% molybdenum, both grades show good corrosion resistance even in the presence of chlorides.