COMMONLY STOCKED Stainless Steel

301 STAINLESS STEEL

We stock 301 stainless steel in quarter-hard to full-hard tempers. AISI 301 stainless steel is austenitic, and due to its lower chromium-nickel content, it hardens through the cold working process more quickly than other grades. It offers excellent corrosion and heat resistance. AISI 301 stainless steel is especially well-suited for applications requiring drawing, stamping, or forming.

302/304 STAINLESS STEEL

Mead Metals carries 302/304 stainless steel in annealed through full hard tempers. AISI 302/304 stainless steel is austenitic, and it delivers even greater corrosion and heat resistance than 301 stainless steel. The increased chromium-nickel content of 302/304 stainless steel causes it to work-harden less rapidly than other grades. Our 302/304 stainless steel is ideal for applications that employ laser and etching processes.

STAINLESS STEEL VALUE-ADD SERVICES

Based on the needs of our customers, we will slit stainless steel to size and level the material to length. We accommodate high-volume and low-volume orders of stainless steel sheet metal, with sizes to match your requirements.

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Product Specification

Stainless Steel Product Specifications

Stainless steel is ideal for use in a broad range of industries: automotive, food processing and handling, and medical, to name a few. Our stainless steel offerings are available in thicknesses ranging from 0.005 to 0.134.

Due to its malleable nature, stainless steel has wide applications. Once it's utilized, it offers good corrosion and oxidation resistance, and doesn't require treating such as painting or coating. Stainless steel has excellent characteristics including:

  • Extremely corrosion-resistant 
  • Telecommunications products
  • Very durable 
  • High tensile strength 
  • Attractive
  • Low maintenance 

Stainless Steel Physical & Chemical Properties

Here are the physical and chemical properties of the 301, 302, and 304 stainless steel that we regularly stock - including the free bend requirements for each alloy. 

301 Physical Properties
UNS Designation S30100
  Tensile Yield Elongation Thickness   
Condition  ksi ksi in 2" min % 0.015 in 0.015 - 0.030 in > 0.030 in 
Annealed 75 30 40  45    
1/4 Hard 125 75   25 25 25
1/2 Hard 150 110   15 18 18
Full Hard 185 140   8 9 9


301 Free Bend Requirements
UNS Designation S30100
  Thickness 0.050 in Thickness > 0.050 to 0.1874 in
Condition Bend Angle Bend Factor Bend Angle
1/4 Hard 180° 1 90°
1/2 Hard 180° 2 90°
Full Hard 180° 4 90° 


302 Physical Properties
UNS Designation S30200
  Tensile Yield Elongation Hardness Max Thickness   
Condition  ksi ksi in 2" min % Brinell/Rockwell B 0.015 in 0.015 - 0.030 in > 0.030 in 
Annealed 75 30 40 201/92      
1/4 Hard 125 30     10 10 12
1/2 Hard 150 110     9 10 10
Full Hard 185 140     3 4 4


302 Free Bend Requirements
UNS Designation S30200
  Thickness 0.050 in Thickness > 0.050 to 0.1874 in
Condition Bend Angle Bend Factor Bend Angle
1/4 Hard 180° 1 90°
1/2 Hard 180° 2 90° 


304 Physical Properties
UNS Designation S30400
  Tensile Yield Elongation Hardness Max Thickness   
 Condition ksi ksi in 2" min % Brinell/Rockwell B 0.015 in 0.015 - 0.030 in > 0.030 in 
Annealed 75 30 40 201/92      
1/4 Hard 125 75     10 10 12
1/2 Hard 150 110     6 7 7


304 Free Bend Requirements
UNS Designation S30400
  Thickness 0.050 in Thickness > 0.050 to 0.1874 in
Condition Bend Angle Bend Factor Bend Angle
1/4 Hard 180° 1 90°
1/2 Hard 180° 2 90°



Stainless Steel Chemical Composition
ASTM A240/A666
Annealed, 1/4 Hard, 1/2 Hard, Full Hard
  UNS Designation Carbon Manganese Phosphorus Sulfur Silicon  Chromium  Nickel  Other Elements 
301 S30100 0.15 2.00 0.045  0.03  1.00  16.0-18.0  6.0-8.0  N 0.10
302 S30200

0.15

2.00 0.045  0.03  0.75  17.0-19.0  8.0-10.0  
304 S30400 0.03 2.00 0.045  0.03  0.75  18.0-20.0  8.0-10.5  N 0.10
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Ordering

MINIMUM ORDER QUANTITies

Our Minimum Order Quantities enable us to suit metal product orders of all sizes. Every metal product we provide has its own MOQ, and for stainless steel, our MOQ is 10-12 lbs. While we can, and will, support orders for quantities smaller than this, the minimum lot charge will remain the same for any quantities ordered at, or below, a metal’s MOQ. Additional variables apply depending on material thickness, width, and additional processing.

Production Process

740x455_0002_Stainless-Steel
1

Raw materials are melted together in an electric arc furnace for 8-12 hours, tuning the chemical composition

2

The molten steel is cast into forms

3

The semi-finished steel is heated and passed through rollers (hot rolled)

4

Slabs are formed into sheets and strips

5

An annealing heat treatment relieves internal stresses and softens the metal

6

The metal is cold rolled, further reducing its thickness

7

The metal undergoes a final annealing and descaling before being cold rolled again

Pros/Cons

Pros:

  • Easy to sterilize
  • Corrosion-resistant
  • Rust resistant
  • Stain-resistant
  • 100% recyclable

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Vulnerable to staining in inclimate conditions
  • Poor electrical conductivity
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Applications

Food-Processing

Food Processing & Handling

Stainless steel is the gold standard in the food processing industry. Its impermeable surface makes the metal anti-microbial and a blank slate for food-safe use. It's easy to clean and reduces the risk of cross-contamination from one food product to the next. 

Medical

Medical

Stainless steel continues its gold standard streak as it crosses over into the medical industry, where its widely known attributes uphold rigorous standards. From surgical tools and equipment to functional design of healthcare environments, stainless steel is the right metal for the job.

Architecture

Architecture

Architecture and infrastructure alike relies on stainless steel for its uncompromisable foundation. It's commonly present in bridges, monuments, sculptures, and airport roofs. Stainless steel is also prevalent in automotive and aerospace applications which include vehicle bodies, rail cars, and aircraft.

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Stock Items

Looking for Stock Stainless Steel?

Mead Metals stocks 301 and 302/304 stainless steel in gauges from 0.004 up to 0.125. We offer annealed, quarter hard, half-hard, 3/4 hard, and full hard tempers. All our stainless steel products are available in sheet and coil.

See a full list of 301 stainless steel stock items here.
See a full list of 302/304 stainless steel stock items here.