304 – General-Purpose Austenitic Steel: The Most Versatile Corrosion-Resistant Alloy

Overview

304 is the most widely used austenitic stainless steel in the world, characterized by its balanced 18.00-20.00% chromium and 8.00-12.00% nickel composition. It forms a dense, stable passive oxide film on the surface, providing excellent general corrosion resistance in atmospheric, fresh water, and mild chemical environments. With a face-centered cubic austenitic structure, it is non-magnetic in the annealed state, featuring outstanding ductility, cold forming ability, and weldability. This grade is cost-effective and versatile, serving as the standard choice for most non-severe corrosive applications across civil, industrial, and commercial fields.

Chemical Composition (wt%)

C ≤ 0.08, Si ≤ 1.00, Mn ≤ 2.00, P ≤ 0.045, S ≤ 0.030, Cr: 18.00-20.00, Ni: 8.00-12.00, N ≤ 0.10

Typical Mechanical Properties (Annealed Condition)

Tensile Strength (Rm): ≥ 515 MPa; Yield Strength (Rp0.2): ≥ 205 MPa; Elongation (A): ≥ 40%; Brinell Hardness (HB): ≤ 187

Core Advantages

Excellent general corrosion resistance in mild environments; non-magnetic and high ductility for complex forming; easy to weld with no preheating required; cost-effective and widely available; versatile for diverse applications.

Applications

Kitchen utensils, food processing equipment, architectural decorations, household appliances, water supply pipelines, stainless steel furniture, and general industrial equipment.

Equivalent Grades

UNS S30400, STS304, SUS304, EN 1.4301, GB 06Cr19Ni10

Stainless Steel Suppliers

If you have project requirements for stainless steel, we welcome your order. GNEE has a large inventory of popular products for you to choose from. It can be processed into various practical product forms, including plates, coils, tubes, bars, wires, etc. For detailed chemical composition information and free samples, please contact our factory immediately. We offer competitive prices and excellent service.Email: info@gneestainless.com

 

Testing and Documentation: Factory test certificate, EN 10204 3.1, chemical report, mechanical report, destructive testing report, non-destructive testing report, PMI test report, visual inspection report, third-party inspection report, NABL certified laboratory report.
Packaging: Wooden crate packaging, bubble wrap packaging, steel strapping, or packaging according to customer requirements.