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Stainless Steel 304

CNC MachiningSheet Metal

Overview

304 stainless steel is the most common stainless steel. It contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel. It is an austenitic stainless steel that is non-magnetic and cannot be hardened by heat treatment. It has excellent corrosion resistance and is widely used in food processing, chemical, and medical industries.

Mechanical Properties

Tensile Strength≥ 515 MPa
Yield Strength≥ 205 MPa
Elongation≥ 40%
Modulus of Elasticity193 GPa
Hardness70-90 HRB

Physical Properties

Density8,000 kg/m³
Melting Point1,400-1,450°C
Specific Heat Capacity0.50 J/g·K
Thermal Conductivity16.2 W/m·K
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion17.3 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹
Electrical Resistivity7.2 × 10⁻⁷ Ω·m

Applications

Kitchen equipment
Food processing equipment
Medical devices
Chemical containers
Architectural trim
Marine hardware

Advantages

  • Excellent corrosion resistance
  • Food safe
  • Easy to clean
  • Non-magnetic
  • Good formability
  • Weldable

Limitations

  • Work hardens quickly
  • Lower strength than other stainless grades
  • Not suitable for chloride environments
  • More expensive than carbon steel

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