1.4301 steel (1.4301): properties, composition, equivalents
1.4301 (X5CrNi18-10, V2A) is the EN 10088 austenitic stainless with 18 % Cr, 8–10.5 % Ni: 210 MPa yield, 520–720 MPa tensile, non-magnetic. Composition, properties and the 304 / SUS304 equivalence explained.
What is 1.4301?
1.4301 is the material number of X5CrNi18-10, the 18/8 (18/10) austenitic stainless steel that accounts for roughly half of all stainless produced in Europe. In German-speaking industry it is simply "V2A". EN 10088 sets 17.5–19.5 % Cr, 8–10.5 % Ni and ≤ 0.07 % C; solution-annealed sheet has 210–230 MPa yield, 520–750 MPa tensile and 45 % elongation, and the steel is non-magnetic and tough down to cryogenic temperatures.
The pitting resistance equivalent (PREN ≈ 18–19) makes it suitable for kitchens, food processing, architecture and mild chemical service, but not for warm chloride environments — swimming pools and coastal facades move to 1.4404 or 1.4571. Carbon at 0.07 % keeps sensitization low in thin welded sections; heavier welded plate is ordered as 1.4307 (304L).
For cross-referencing, 1.4301 and AISI/ASTM 304 are treated as the same grade: the American limits are a shade wider (C ≤ 0.08, S ≤ 0.030), so 1.4301 material always meets 304, and virtually all coil is dual-certified. The table lists JIS, GB, GOST and old BS/DIN names with the same grading.
1.4301 chemical composition
| Element | Mass % | Note |
|---|---|---|
| C | ≤ 0.07 | |
| Si | ≤ 1 | |
| Mn | ≤ 2 | |
| P | ≤ 0.045 | |
| S | ≤ 0.015 | EN 10088-2 flat products; 0.030 for EN 10088-3 long products |
| N | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Cr | 17.5 – 19.5 | |
| Ni | 8 – 10.5 |
EN 10088-2:2014 Table 3. Compare ASTM A240 304: C ≤ 0.08, Cr 17.5–19.5, Ni 8.0–10.5, S ≤ 0.030 — 1.4301 is slightly tighter on carbon and sulphur.
1.4301 mechanical properties
| Thickness / condition | Yield strength ReH / Rp0.2 MPa (ksi) | Tensile strength Rm MPa (ksi) | Elongation A % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold-rolled strip/sheet (C), ≤ 8 mm, +AT | ≥ 230 (≥ 33.4) | 540–750 (78.3–108.8) | 45 | ≤ 215 HB |
| Hot-rolled strip (H), ≤ 13.5 mm, +AT | ≥ 210 (≥ 30.5) | 520–720 (75.4–104.4) | 45 | ≤ 215 HB |
| Hot-rolled plate (P), ≤ 75 mm, +AT | ≥ 210 (≥ 30.5) | 520–720 (75.4–104.4) | 45 | ≤ 215 HB |
| Bar ≤ 160 mm, +AT (EN 10088-3) | ≥ 190 (≥ 27.6) | 500–700 (72.5–101.5) | 45 | ≤ 215 HB |
| Rp1.0 (all forms, for design) | ≥ 250 (C) / ≥ 250 (P) (≥ 36.3 (C) / ≥ 36.3 (P)) | — | — | — |
Values at +20 °C, solution annealed (+AT, 1050 ± 50 °C, quenched). Transverse for flat products. Work-hardened conditions (+C700, +C850…) available for strip and wire.
Impact toughness
1.4301 requires a minimum Charpy V-notch energy of 60 J at -196 °C (typical, not a standard requirement). Austenitic structure: no ductile-to-brittle transition; 1.4301 remains tough to cryogenic temperatures (KV ≥ 60 J at −196 °C is typical).
1.4301 equivalent grades
| Grade | System | Match | Why / differences |
|---|---|---|---|
| 304 | AISI / SAE | Identical | AISI 304 / UNS S30400 (ASTM A240): same Cr/Ni window; C ≤ 0.08 vs 0.07, S ≤ 0.030 vs 0.015. Dual-certified 1.4301/304 is the norm. |
| 304S31 | BS (superseded British) | Identical | BS 1449 304S31: C ≤ 0.07, Cr 17–19, Ni 8–11. |
| 06Cr19Ni10 | GB/T (China) | Identical | GB/T 20878 06Cr19Ni10 (formerly 0Cr18Ni9): C ≤ 0.08, Cr 18.0–20.0, Ni 8.0–11.0. |
| 08Kh18N10 | GOST (Russia/CIS) | Identical | GOST 5632 08Kh18N10: C ≤ 0.08, Cr 17–19, Ni 9–11. |
| SUS304 | JIS (Japan) | Identical | JIS G4304/G4305 SUS304: C ≤ 0.08, Cr 18.0–20.0, Ni 8.0–10.5. |
| 304L | AISI / SAE | Near | UNS S30403: C ≤ 0.03 — the low-carbon version; EN equivalent is 1.4307 (X2CrNi18-9). |
| 1.4307 | EN (European) | Near | X2CrNi18-9, C ≤ 0.03 — the low-carbon variant for welded heavy sections (304L). |
| 1.4404 | EN (European) | Functional | X2CrNiMo17-12-2 (316L) with 2 % Mo: substitute when chloride pitting resistance is needed. |
| 1.4305 | EN (European) | Functional | Non-free-machining base grade: better corrosion resistance and weldability, poorer machinability. |
Identical = same composition and mechanical limits within rounding. Near = one limit differs (e.g. carbon max or impact temperature). Functional = interchangeable for most uses after an engineering check. Full cross-reference for 1.4301 →
Old and superseded designations
| Old name | Standard | Note |
|---|---|---|
| X5CrNi18-10 | EN 10088 (current name) | The name and number are used together; 1.4301 is the number, X5CrNi18-10 the symbolic name. |
| X5CrNi18 9 | DIN 17440 (withdrawn 1996) | Same number 1.4301. |
| V2A | Krupp trade name (1912) | Colloquial German name for 18/8 austenitic; V4A = 1.4401/1.4571. |
| 304S15 / 304S31 | BS 1449 / BS 970 | 304S31 is the closer match (C ≤ 0.07). |
| Z7CN18-09 | NF A 35-573 |
Product forms and tolerance standards
Product forms: cold-rolled sheet and coil (2B, 2R/BA, brushed), hot-rolled plate (1D), bar, wire and profiles (EN 10088-3), welded and seamless tube (EN 10217-7 / EN 10216-5), fittings, flanges, fasteners.
Dimensional tolerances: cold-rolled: EN ISO 9445-2; hot-rolled plate: EN 10029; bar: EN 10278 / EN 10060; tube: EN ISO 1127.
Key property values
1.4301 yield strength
Rp0.2 ≥ 210 MPa (hot-rolled plate, 30 ksi) and ≥ 230 MPa (cold-rolled strip); Rp1.0 ≥ 250 MPa. Design codes (EN 1993-1-4) use fy = 210 MPa for plate and 230 MPa for cold-rolled sheet.
1.4301 tensile strength
520–720 MPa (plate) / 540–750 MPa (cold-rolled). Work-hardened strip is available at 700, 850 and 1000 MPa minimum (+C700 … +C1000).
1.4301 hardness
Solution annealed max 215 HB (≈ 230 HV, ≈ 92 HRB). Cannot be hardened by heat treatment; cold work raises hardness to 300–400 HV.
Corrosion resistance
PREN = Cr + 3.3 Mo + 16 N ≈ 18–19. Critical pitting temperature in 6 % FeCl₃ ≈ 5–10 °C. Resists nitric acid, organic acids, food media and atmospheric exposure inland; pits in warm chloride solutions above ~200 ppm Cl⁻.
Physical properties
Density 7.9 g/cm³, E = 200 GPa, thermal expansion 16 × 10⁻⁶/K (20–100 °C), thermal conductivity 15 W/m·K, electrical resistivity 0.73 Ω·mm²/m, magnetic permeability ≈ 1.005 (annealed; increases after cold work).
Heat treatment
Solution anneal 1000–1100 °C, rapid cooling (water or forced air). Avoid holding at 500–800 °C (chromium carbide precipitation → sensitization). No stress-relief below 900 °C unless followed by re-annealing.
Weldability
Excellent weldability with all arc processes without preheat; filler 19 9 L / ER308L (EN ISO 14343). Limit heat input and interpass to ≤ 150 °C to reduce distortion (expansion is 50 % higher than carbon steel). Heavy sections (> 6 mm) that will see corrosive service should be ordered as 1.4307 or post-weld pickled. Back-purge with argon for tube roots.
Machining, forming and heat treatment
Machinability index ≈ 45 % (work-hardens; use sharp positive-rake tooling, low speed, high feed). 1.4305 (303) is the free-machining alternative. Deep drawing and spinning are excellent (that is why 1.4301 dominates sinks and cookware); spring-back is higher than carbon steel. Polishing, brushing, bead blasting and electropolishing are all standard finishes.
Typical applications
- Kitchen sinks, cookware, cutlery, catering equipment
- Food, beverage and dairy processing vessels and piping
- Architectural cladding, handrails, street furniture (inland)
- Tanks and containers for mild chemicals, water treatment
- Automotive trim and exhaust components (as 1.4301 or 1.4512)
- Fasteners A2-70 (ISO 3506 = 1.4301/1.4307 group)
1.4301 compared with related grades
Frequently asked questions
Is 1.4301 the same as 304?
Yes in practice. 1.4301 (EN 10088) and 304 (ASTM A240 / UNS S30400) have the same 18 % Cr / 8–10.5 % Ni base; 1.4301 caps carbon at 0.07 % and sulphur at 0.015 % versus 0.08 % and 0.030 % for 304, so 1.4301 material always satisfies 304. Sheet and coil are routinely dual-certified.
What does V2A mean?
V2A is a Krupp trade name from 1912 ("Versuchsschmelze 2 Austenit") that became the colloquial German term for 18/8 chromium-nickel stainless — today 1.4301. V4A refers to the molybdenum-bearing 1.4401/1.4571 group.
Is 1.4301 magnetic?
No in the annealed state (austenitic, permeability ≈ 1.005). Cold forming — bending, deep drawing, machining — produces some martensite and a weak magnetic response, which is normal and not a sign of a wrong grade.
Can 1.4301 be used outdoors or near the sea?
Inland and urban atmospheres: yes, with occasional washing. Coastal or de-icing-salt exposure: expect tea staining and pitting; specify 1.4404/1.4571 (316) or 1.4462 (duplex).
What is the difference between 1.4301 and 1.4307?
1.4307 (X2CrNi18-9, 304L) limits carbon to 0.03 %, preventing sensitization in thick welded sections. Its strength minimums are 10–20 MPa lower. Most mills supply 1.4301/1.4307 dual-certified with C ≤ 0.03 %.
Related grades
Verified against EN 10088-2:2014; EN 10088-2:2014 Tables 3 and 12; EN 10088-3:2014 (bar); EN 1993-1-4:2006. Last checked: September 2026.