| Chemical Composition |
| Carbon |
0.03 max |
| Chromium |
18 - 20 |
| Iron |
Balance |
| Manganese |
2 max |
| Nickel |
8 - 12 |
| Phosphorus |
0.045 max |
| Silicon |
1 max |
| Sulphur |
0.03 max |
| General Information |
| Principal Design Features |
| A low carbon version of type 304 stainless. 304L is used almost interchangeably with 304 but is preferred for welding operations. It offers a good combination of strength, corrosion resistance and fabricability. |
| Applications |
| The list is endless. Almost every conceivable industry uses some of this material in some way. Everything from stovetops to ball point pen barrels to flatware to fasteners has been fabricated from this alloy. |
| Machinability |
| Slow speeds and heavy feeds will minimize this alloys tendency to work harden. Due to long stringy chips, the use of chip breakers is advisable. Many companies now offer premium machinability grades, such as CarTech with their Project 70 and 7000 series. |
| Welding |
| All fusion and resistance processes have been successfully employed in welding 304. AWS E/ER308 or 312 filler metal is recommended. Its low carbon, means that the is less carbide precipitation at the weld boundaries resulting in stronger welds. |
| Hot Working |
| Forging, heading and other hot working should follow uniform heating to 2100-2300 F (1149-1260 C). Rapid cooling is necessary to attain maximum corrosion resistance in finished parts. |
| Cold Working |
| Readily fabricated by most cold working methods, 304L may require intermediate annealing to avoid cracking or tearing from radical deformation. Full annealing should follow any operation to reduce internal stress and optimize corrosion resistance. |
| Annealing |
| 1850-2050 F (1010-1121 C) followed by rapid cooling. |
| Hardening |
| This alloy does not respond to heat treatment. Cold work will cause an increase in both hardness and strength. |
| Physical Properties |
| Density (lb / cu. in.) |
|
0.29 |
| Specific Gravity |
|
7.9 |
| Specific Heat (Btu/lb/Deg F - [32-212 Deg F]) |
|
0.12 |
| Electrical Resistivity (microhm-cm (at 68 Deg F)) |
|
432 |
| Melting Point (Deg F) |
|
2650 |
| Modulus of Elasticity Tension |
|
28 |
| Mechanical Properties |
| Form |
|
Plate |
| Condition |
|
Test Specimen Annealed |
| Temper |
|
70 |
| Tensile Strength |
|
79 |
| Yield Strength |
|
33 |
| Elongation |
|
60 |
