Stainless Steel — 304 · 316 · 430 | Xeon NC Material Catalog

// Grade Comparison

Pick the Right Stainless

Not all stainless is the same. Each grade carries unique corrosion, strength, and fabrication trade-offs. Compare them side-by-side to choose the right alloy for your application.

Austenitic

$$$$$

304 Stainless

Industry workhorse. Excellent all-around performance for most applications.

Pros

✓Outstanding corrosion resistance in most environments

✓Excellent weldability — no pre/post heat needed

✓Easy to sanitize — FDA food-contact compliant

✓Widest available thickness range at Xeon NC

Cons

✗Work-hardens aggressively during machining

✗Not marine-grade — pitting in saltwater long-term

Density

8.00 g/cm³

Tensile

73 ksi

Finish

2B Mill

Weldable

Yes

Austenitic · Marine Grade

$$$$$

316 Stainless

Superior chemical and marine resistance with added molybdenum.

Pros

✓Marine-grade — resists chlorides and saltwater

✓Pharmaceutical / chemical environment rated

✓Marginally more ductile than 304 for forming

✓Better pitting resistance at elevated temperatures

Cons

✗15–20% more expensive than 304

✗Fewer in-stock thickness options

Density

8.00 g/cm³

Tensile

75 ksi

Finish

2B Mill

Weldable

Yes

Ferritic · Budget

$$$$$

430 Stainless

Economical magnetic stainless with good oxidation resistance.

Pros

✓Most economical stainless grade

✓Magnetic — useful for fixture-held assemblies

✓Good oxidation resistance at moderate temps

Cons

✗Cannot be reliably welded (carbide precipitation)

✗Significantly lower corrosion resistance than 304/316

✗Limited thickness availability

Density

7.70 g/cm³

Tensile

65 ksi

Finish

2B Mill

Weldable

Limited

// Stock Availability

Thickness & Gauge Options

All stainless sheet is stocked in 48″ × 96″ full sheets. Laser cutting tolerance is ±0.005″ on all gauges.

304 Stainless

316 Stainless

430 Stainless

Gauge	Thickness	Decimal (in)	Metric (mm)	Sheet Size	Stock

💡 Click any row for full specs, bend limits, and laser tolerances.

Gauge Position — Thin to Thick

Material

Thickness
Thickness Tolerance i
Material
Type
Alloy
Finish i
Protective Film

Post Operations

Design Rules

Max Part Size i
Min Part Size
Min Recommended Hole i
Min Hole Size (absolute)
Min Channel Width i
Min Wall Thickness i
Max Aspect Ratio i
Kerf (Laser Cut Width) i
Cut Tolerance	±0.005"
Assist Gas i	N₂ (Nitrogen)

Common Applications

Material Photos

Stainless Steel · Laser Cut Part · #2B Finish XEON NC SHOP PHOTO

Stock Availability

Sheet size: 48″ × 96″ · Lead time: 3–5 business days

Material Properties

* Properties not guaranteed. For reference comparison only — not for design-critical specifications.

Tensile Strength (Ultimate) i
Tensile Strength (Yield) i
Shear Strength i
Shear Modulus i
Fatigue Strength i
Brinell Hardness i
Elongation at Break i
Elastic Modulus i
Poisson's Ratio i
Density

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// Material Science

304 Stainless Steel Properties

Mechanical, thermal, and physical characteristics. Data reflects annealed condition per ASTM A240.

Tensile Strength

ksi (505 MPa)

Yield Strength

ksi (215 MPa)

Elongation

40%

in 2 inches

Hardness

Rockwell B

Density

8.00

g/cm³ (0.289 lb/in³)

Melting Point

2,550

°F (1,399 °C)

Thermal Conductivity

9.4

BTU/hr·ft·°F

Max Use Temp

1,600

°F continuous

Grade Comparison

// Fabrication Services

Available for Stainless Steel

Every secondary service we offer is compatible with stainless steel. Select services during the quoting process.

⚡

Fiber Laser Cutting

High-speed precision cutting on our TRUMPF fiber laser with nitrogen assist for oxide-free edges.

↗

CNC Bending

Precision press brake forming up to 1/8″ stainless. Tight radii available on thin gauges.

⊙

Countersinking

82° and 90° countersinks for flush-mount fastener hardware.

◎

Tapping

Thread holes directly into the sheet for blind or through-hole hardware attachment.

▣

Hardware Insertion

PEM press-fit nuts, studs, and standoffs pressed into the sheet during fabrication.

◆

Deburring

Edge smoothing to remove sharp burrs left from the laser cutting process.

🎨

Powder Coating

Electrostatically applied powder coat in 10+ colors. Stainless requires primer for adhesion.

⟐

Welding

TIG welding on 304 and 316 grades. 430 has limited weldability — consult engineering.

// Metallurgy

Chemical Composition

The elemental makeup of each grade directly determines its corrosion resistance, weldability, and cost. Understanding the chemistry helps you pick the right alloy — not the most expensive one.

Elemental Breakdown by Grade (% Weight, nominal)

Iron (Fe)

Chromium (Cr)

Nickel (Ni)

Molybdenum (Mo)

Other (Mn, Si, C…)

Chromium is the key to stainless. All three grades contain 16–18% chromium — it reacts with oxygen to form the passive oxide layer that prevents rust. Drop below ~10.5% and it's no longer stainless.

316 adds 2–3% Molybdenum. This single addition dramatically improves chloride and pitting resistance — making 316 the standard for marine, pharmaceutical, and chemical environments.

430 contains no Nickel. Nickel stabilizes the austenite crystal structure, enabling better ductility and weldability. Without it, 430 becomes ferritic — lower cost, magnetic, but more brittle.

Element	304	316	430	Role
Iron Fe — Base	Bal.	Bal.	Bal.	Matrix & structural base
Chromium Cr — 18–20%	18–20%	16–18%	16–18%	Passive oxide layer — corrosion resistance
Nickel Ni — Austenite	8–10.5%	10–14%	None	Austenite stabilizer — ductility, weldability
Molybdenum Mo — Marine	None	2–3%	None	Chloride/pitting resistance — marine environments
Manganese Mn — Deoxidizer	≤ 2.0%	≤ 2.0%	≤ 1.0%	Deoxidizer, improves hot workability
Silicon Si — Deoxidizer	≤ 0.75%	≤ 0.75%	≤ 1.0%	Deoxidizer, oxidation resistance
Carbon C — Low	≤ 0.08%	≤ 0.08%	≤ 0.12%	Controlled — high C reduces weld resistance
Phosphorus P — Trace	≤ 0.045%	≤ 0.045%	≤ 0.040%	Controlled — excess causes brittleness
Sulfur S — Trace	≤ 0.030%	≤ 0.030%	≤ 0.030%	Low sulfur = better corrosion resistance

* Composition ranges per ASTM A240 (sheet/plate). Actual values may vary within ASTM limits.

304 STAINLESS

General Purpose

18% Cr + 9% Ni
No Mo — indoor/mild outdoor only

316 STAINLESS

Marine / Chemical

17% Cr + 12% Ni + 2.5% Mo
Mo blocks chloride pitting

430 STAINLESS

Budget / Decorative

17% Cr — no Ni, no Mo
Ferritic, magnetic, limited weldability

// Common Questions

Stainless Steel FAQ

Frequently asked questions about our stainless steel fabrication capabilities.

What thicknesses of stainless steel do you stock?+

We stock 304 stainless in seven thicknesses from 24 gauge (0.024″) through 1/8″ (0.125″). 316 is available in four thicknesses from 22 gauge through 1/8″. 430 is stocked in 22 gauge and 16 gauge. All sheets are 48″ × 96″ full sheets.

Can you laser cut stainless steel?+

Yes — our TRUMPF fiber laser cuts all stainless grades we stock. We use high-pressure nitrogen assist gas on stainless steel to produce clean, oxide-free edges that don't discolor. Cutting tolerance is ±0.005″ across all gauges.

What is the difference between 304 and 316 stainless?+

316 contains 2–3% molybdenum, which dramatically improves resistance to chlorides and saltwater pitting. If your parts will be exposed to marine, chemical, or pharmaceutical environments, 316 is the safer specification. For general-purpose corrosion resistance in indoor or mild outdoor environments, 304 is more economical and equally reliable.

How does stainless steel behave when bending?+

Stainless steel has a high springback factor — the metal partially springs back after the punch retracts. Our press brake programs automatically over-bend to compensate. 304 and 316 bend well in thin gauges (up to ~16 ga). Minimum inside bend radius is typically 1× material thickness. 430 is more brittle and requires wider radii.

Can stainless steel be powder coated?+

Yes, but stainless requires a bonding primer before the powder coat will adhere properly. The smooth 2B finish on stainless does not provide enough surface profile for direct powder adhesion. We apply a conversion coating or primer as part of our standard powder coating process for stainless parts.

Is 430 stainless weldable?+

430 has limited weldability. It is a ferritic stainless that is prone to grain coarsening and carbide precipitation in the HAZ during welding, which reduces ductility and corrosion resistance in the weld zone. For projects that require welding, we strongly recommend upgrading to 304 or 316.

What edge quality should I expect from laser-cut stainless?+

With nitrogen assist gas, laser-cut stainless edges are clean, bright silver, and oxide-free. Edge roughness is typically 125 Ra or better on gauges through 16 ga. Thicker material (14 ga and above) will show slightly more striation on the cut face. If cosmetic edge quality is critical, we recommend our deburring service as a secondary operation.

StainlessSteel

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Grade Comparison

Stainless
Steel