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Alloy 303 is a non-magnetic, austenitic stainless steel that is not hardenable by heat treatment. It is the free machining modification of the basic 18% chromium / 8% nickel stainless steel. Alloy 303 was specially designed to exhibit improved machinability while maintaining good mechanical and corrosion resistant properties Due to the presence of sulfur in the steel composition, Alloy 303 is the most readily machineable austenitic stainless steel; however, the sulfur addition does lower Alloy 303’s corrosion resistance to below that of Alloy 304. Like other austenitic grades, Alloy 303 demonstrates excellent toughness, although the sulfur does reduce this a little as well.
Alloy 303 is resistant to mildly corrosive environments. However, the alloy’s corrosion resistance is inferior to 304 in most applications. Its corrosion resistance is superior to 416, another free-machining grade, but is somewhat inferior to other 400 series stainless steels which do not contain higher sulfur levels. In order to obtain optimal corrosion resistance, it is recommended that Alloy 303 be chemically treated to remove sulfides from the final surfaces.
Chemical Composition (%) of 303 Stainless Steel Channel
Chromium |
Nickel |
Carbon |
Manganese |
Phosphorus |
17.0 min.-19.0 max |
8.0 min.-10.0 max. |
0.10 |
2.00 |
0.20 |
Sulfer |
Silicon |
Copper |
Nickel |
Iron |
0.15-0.35 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
0.110 |
Balance |
Mechanical Properties of 303 Stainless Steel Channel
Yield Strengtd 0.2% Offset |
Ultimate Tensile Strengtd |
Elongation in 2 in. |
Hardness |
psi (min.) |
(MPa) |
psi (min.) |
(MPa) |
% (min.) |
(max.) |
45,000 |
310 |
85,000 |
586 |
50 |
202 (HBN) |
Physical Properties of 303 Stainless Channel
Density lb/inᶟ |
0.290 |
Density g/cmᶟ |
7.89 |
Melting Point |
2552°F |
Thermal Conductivity at 212°F (100°C) |
112 BTU/hr/ft²/ft/°F |
Thermal Conductivity at 212°F (100°C) |
16.2 W/m-°K |
Electrical Resistivity |
28.3 Microhm-in at 68°C |
Electrical Resistivity |
72.0 Microhm-cm at 20°C |
Machining Operation Speed for 303 Stainless Channel
Machinability |
High Speed Tooling |
Carbide Tooling |
Deptd, Widtd or
Diameter of Tool |
Speed
(sfm) |
Feed
(in./rev.) |
Speed
(sfm) |
Feed
(in./rev.) |
(in.)
(dia./in.) |
Turning |
115
135 |
0.0150
0.0050 |
375
600 |
0.025
0.007 |
0.005-0.200
0.002-0.004 |
Cut-off |
90
100 |
0.0015
0.0025 |
275
325 |
0.002
0.004 |
1/16
1/4 |
Forming |
100
100 |
0.0020
0.0015 |
375
350 |
0.003
0.002 |
1
2 |
Drilling |
70
85
100 |
0.0060
0.0100
0.0200 |
—
700
800 |
—
0.005
0.007 |
1/4
1/2
1-2 |
Reaming |
90
90 |
0.0050
0.0150 |
—
— |
—
— |
1/4
1-2 |
End Milling |
130
130 |
0.0030
0.0060 |
300
350 |
0.004
0.009 |
1/2
1-2 |
Tapping and tdreading |
10
40 |
—
— |
—
— |
—
— |
7 tdreads/in.
25 tdeads/in. |
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If you are interested in other Stainless Steel Channels, please click 302, 303, 304, 304L, 304H, 309, 309S, 310, 310S, 310H, 316, 316L, 317/317L, 317LMN, 321, 321H, 330, 347, 347H, 904L, 403, 405, 409, 410, 410S, 410/HT, 416, 416HT, 420, 422, 430, 440C, Duplex 2205, Duplex 2304, Duplex 2507.
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