303 Stainless Steel plate Mechanical properties

 

What is 303 stainless steel?

303 stainless steel belongs to the 300 series austenitic stainless steel. It contains chromium, nickel, and small amounts of sulfur and phosphorus. The presence of sulfur allows for excellent machinability, enabling high-quality surface finishes and precise tolerances. It also offers good corrosion resistance (the high chromium content helps prevent oxidative corrosion, but its corrosion resistance is not as high as that of 316 and 304). It is suitable for use in industries such as aerospace, automotive, medical equipment, and food processing. It is often used in the manufacture of shafts, pins, fasteners, and other components that require good machinability and moderate corrosion resistance.

 

What is 303 stainless steel equivalent to?
303 stainless steel equivalents include ASTM A582 Type 303 (US), EN 10088-3 X10CrNiS18-9 (Europe), JIS G4303 SUS303 (Japan), and BS 970 303S21 (UK), all free-machining austenitic grades with similar properties.

 

303 Stainless Steel plate Composition

Element	Percent
Carbon (C)	0.10
Chromium (Cr)	17.00 – 19.00
Manganese (Mn)	2.00
Silicon (Si)	1.00
Phosphorous (P)	0.20
Sulphur (S)	0.015 min
Nickel (Ni)	8.00 – 10.00
Iron (Fe)	Balance

 

303 stainless steel flat plate Mechanical properties

Tensile strength: ≥520 MPa

Yield strength (σ0.2): ≥205 MPa

Elongation(δ5): ≥40%

Hardness: ≤187HB; ≤90HRB; ≤200HV

 

SS 303 Cold Rolled Plates Physical Properties

Physical Properties	Value
303 stainless steel density, g/cm3 (lb/in.3)	7.9 (0.29)
Melting point, °C (°F)	1400-1450 (2550-2590)
Specific heat capacity, J/kg·K (Btu/lb ·°F)	500 (0.12) at 20℃
Electrical resistivity, μΩ·m	0.72 at 20℃
Magnetic permeability	1.02 (Approximate)
Elastic modulus, GPa (106 psi)	193 (28)
Thermal conductivity, W/m·K (Btu/ft · h ·°F)	16.2 (9.4) at 100 °C (212 °F)
	21.5 (12.4) at 500 °C (932 °F)
Coefficient of thermal expansion, 10-6/K (μin./in. ·°F)	17.2 (9.6) at 0-100 ℃ (32-212 °F)
	17.8 (9.9) at 0-315 ℃ (32-600 °F)
	18.4 (10.2) at 0-538 ℃ (32-1000 °F)

 

Is 303 stainless steel plate magnetic?
In the annealed condition, 303 stainless steel is non-magnetic, but it may become slightly magnetic after cold working or machining.

 

Can you weld 303 stainless steel?

Under certain circumstances, 303 stainless steel can still be welded using appropriate welding methods (such as argon arc welding). Care should be taken to control welding parameters and reduce heat input. Preheating and slow cooling can be used to reduce the risk of cracking if necessary. Overall, however, its welding results are not as stable and reliable as those of low-carbon, low-sulfur stainless steel grades such as 304.

 

What is the difference between 303 and 304 mechanical properties?
In general, 304 is stronger than 303 stainless steel. 304 stainless steel contains a higher percentage of chromium (18-20%) and nickel (8-10.5%) than 303 stainless steel, which not only gives it superior corrosion resistance, but higher strength. 

 

Which is better, 303 or 316 stainless steel?
303 and 316 stainless steels are both austenitic and non-magnetic, but they differ primarily in their composition and properties, particularly regarding corrosion resistance and machinability. 303 stainless steel is known for its excellent machinability due to the addition of sulfur, while 316 stainless steel boasts superior corrosion resistance, especially in chloride-rich environments, thanks to its molybdenum content.