Stainless steel 1.4301 vs 1.4305: key differences
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If you're deciding between 1.4301 stainless steel (commonly known as AISI 304) and 1.4305 stainless steel (AISI 303) for your project, understanding their key differences in machinability, corrosion resistance, and applications can help you make the right choice.
What Is 1.4301 Stainless Steel?
1.4301, also known as AISI 304 or X5CrNi18-10, is the most widely used austenitic stainless steel, valued for its excellent corrosion resistance, formability, and weldability. It's used in everything from kitchen equipment and chemical tanks to architectural panels and medical tools.
What Is 1.4305 Stainless Steel?
1.4305 (AISI 303 or X8CrNiS18-9) is also an austenitic stainless steel, but it's specifically modified to improve machinability by adding sulfur. This makes it ideal for high-speed machining, automatic lathes, and complex precision parts-but it comes with slightly lower corrosion resistance than 1.4301.
What is 1.4305 stainless steel equivalent to?
1.4305 stainless steel is the European equivalent of AISI 303, also known by its UNS number S30300. It belongs to the austenitic stainless steel family and is standardized under EN 10088-3. Designed for improved machinability, 1.4305 contains higher sulfur content than standard 304 (1.4301), making it ideal for automatic lathes, screws, and precision parts. Equivalent international designations include:
AISI: 303
UNS: S30300
JIS: SUS303
EN: X8CrNiS18-9
difference between 304 and 303 stainless steel
1.4301 vs 1.4305 Stainless Steel: Chemical Composition (wt%)
| Element | 1.4301 (AISI 304) | 1.4305 (AISI 303) |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | ≤ 0.07% | ≤ 0.10% |
| Silicon (Si) | ≤ 1.00% | ≤ 1.00% |
| Manganese (Mn) | ≤ 2.00% | ≤ 2.00% |
| Phosphorus (P) | ≤ 0.045% | ≤ 0.05% |
| Sulfur (S) | ≤ 0.03% | 0.15–0.35% |
| Chromium (Cr) | 17.5–19.5% | 17.0–19.0% |
| Nickel (Ni) | 8.0–10.5% | 8.0–10.0% |
1.4301 vs 1.4305 Stainless Steel: Mechanical Properties (Typical, Annealed)
| Property | 1.4301 (304) | 1.4305 (303) |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile Strength (MPa) | 500–750 | 500–750 |
| Yield Strength (MPa) | ≥ 190 | ≥ 190 |
| Elongation (%) | ≥ 45 | ≥ 35 |
| Hardness (HB) | ≤ 215 | ≤ 230 |
Is stainless steel 1.4301 magnetic?
Stainless steel 1.4301, also known as AISI 304, is generally considered non-magnetic in its annealed (solution-annealed) condition. This is because it has an austenitic microstructure, which does not exhibit magnetism. However, cold working processes such as bending, forming, or machining can introduce some martensitic phase, making the steel slightly magnetic in localized areas. So while 1.4301 is not fully non-magnetic, it is significantly less magnetic than ferritic or martensitic stainless steels like 430 or 410.
Is 1.4305 magnetic?
It is non-magnetic in the annealed condition but may become slightly magnetic due to the introduction of martensite or ferrite at the cold- working or welding stages. EN 1.4305 has relatively good resistance to atmospheric corrosion with some restrictions particularly regarding marine and coastal environments.
What is 1.4310 stainless steel equivalent to?
The material AISI 302 is an austenitic stainless steel, also known under the designations 1.4310, BS 301S21 and X10CrNi18-8. The stainless steel AISI 302 belongs to the group of V2A steels and is also known as spring steel, as it is used for the production of technical springs.
1.4301 Stainless Steel Suppliers-GNEE
GNEE offers high-quality 1.4301 and 1.4305 stainless steel bars, sheets and tubes with custom processing options including cut-to-length, bright drawn or ground surface treatments, factory test certificates (EN 10204 3.1) and preferential prices per kg for bulk orders.
Contact us now to get exclusive solutions and let high-quality stainless steel materials help you advance your production efficiently!
