304 Stainless Steel
1.4301The most widely used austenitic stainless steel. Excellent corrosion resistance, good formability and weldability. Standard choice for food processing, chemical, and architectural applications.
International equivalents
| Flag | Standard | Country | Grade | Number | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 | AISI | USA | AISI 304 | S30400 | REF |
| 🇪🇺 | EN | Europe | X5CrNi18-10 | 1.4301 | 100% |
| 🇯🇵 | JIS | Japan | SUS304 | — | 99% |
| 🇬🇧 | BS | United Kingdom | 304S31 | — | 98% |
| 🇨🇳 | GB | China | 0Cr18Ni9 | — | 96% |
Sources: ASTM A240, EN 10088-2, JIS G4303, BS EN 10088-2, GB/T 1220
Chemical composition comparison (wt%)
Side-by-side: 304 Stainless Steel (EN) (EN 10088-2) vs AISI 304 (AISI) (ASTM A240)
| Element | 304 Stainless Steel (EN) | AISI 304 (AISI) | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 0–0.07% | 0–0.08% | OK |
| Si | 0–1% | 0–0.75% | OK |
| Mn | 0–2% | 0–2% | OK |
| P | 0–0.045% | 0–0.045% | OK |
| S | 0–0.015% | 0–0.03% | OK |
| Cr | 17.5–19.5% | 18–20% | Partial ⚠️ AISI upper limit 0.5% higher |
| Ni | 8–10.5% | 8–10.5% | OK |
| N | 0–0.11% | 0–0.1% | OK |
Mechanical properties
Solution Treated
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 520–720 | MPa |
| Yield Strength | ≥ 210 | MPa |
| Elongation | ≥ 45 | % |
| Hardness HB | ≤ 215 | HB |
| Elastic Modulus | ≥ 200 | GPa |
| Density | ≥ 7.93 | g/cm3 |
Compatibility verdict
304 Stainless Steel and AISI 304: 99% composition match
Close equivalents but NOT identical. Critical differences: C range (0–0.07 vs 0–0.08), Si range (0–1 vs 0–0.75), S range (0–0.015 vs 0–0.03), Cr range (17.5–19.5 vs 18–20).
For dual certification, melt must hit: C 0–0.07, Si 0–0.75, S 0–0.015, Cr 18–19.5
Related materials
316L
1.4404Low-carbon austenitic stainless steel with molybdenum addition. Superior corrosion resistance to 304, especially against chlorides and pitting. Standard choice for chemical processing, marine, medical implants, and pharmaceutical equipment.
430 Stainless Steel
1.4016Ferritic chromium stainless steel with good corrosion resistance and formability. Lower cost than austenitic grades. Used for automotive trim, kitchen sinks, architectural panels, and appliance components.
Super Duplex 2507
1.4410Super duplex stainless steel with PREN >40. Superior corrosion resistance to standard 2205 duplex, especially in chloride and H₂S environments. Used for subsea pipelines, offshore platform components, desalination plants, and chemical processing equipment.
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