Material · Stainless Steels
Stainless Steel 304
The world's default stainless: food-safe, weldable, corrosion-resistant for everyday environments.
Price index: $$$
Instant quote onlineMaterial properties
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 515 MPa |
| Yield strength | 205 MPa |
| Hardness | ≤201 HB |
| Density | 8.00 g/cm³ |
Choose it when
When a part just needs to be "stainless" with no special chemistry: rust-free in everyday service, hygienic, weldable and never needs coating. The sensible stainless default.
Look elsewhere when
Specify 316L for chloride exposure (marine, medical), 303 when machinability dominates cost on turned parts, and 17-4 PH when stainless must also be genuinely strong.
Compatible finishes
As-Machined
The baseline finish: straight off the machine, fastest and cheapest.
Passivation
Chemical hygiene for stainless: strips embedded iron so the steel can be as stainless as advertised.
Electropolishing
Reverse plating that brightens, deburrs and passivates stainless in one step.
Bead Blasting
The uniform matte look: erases tool marks, hides fingerprints, preps perfect anodizing.
Brushed Finish
The appliance-grade look: directional satin grain on panels, bezels and show faces.
Polishing
Progressive abrasives down to mirror: the finish for optics, molds and show surfaces.
Vibratory Tumbling
Batch deburring by the bowl-full: every edge broken, every burr gone, at volume prices.
Laser Marking
Permanent identification with zero dimensional change: serials, logos and codes burned in, not stuck on.
Typical applications
- Food and beverage processing parts
- Kitchen and lab equipment components
- Pump shafts and impellers (fresh water)
- Brackets for humid environments
Compared with similar grades
| Property | Stainless Steel 304 | Stainless Steel 303 | Stainless Steel 316L | Stainless Steel 17-4 PH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 515 MPa | ~620 MPa (cold drawn) | 485 MPa | 1310 MPa (H900) |
| Yield strength | 205 MPa | ~415 MPa (cold drawn) | 170 MPa | 1170 MPa (H900) |
| Hardness | ≤201 HB | ≤228 HB | ≤217 HB | 40–44 HRC (H900) |
| Density | 8.00 g/cm³ | 8.00 g/cm³ | 7.98 g/cm³ | 7.75 g/cm³ |
| Price index | $$$ | $$$ | $$$ | $$$$ |
| Machinability | 3/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 |
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