304 Stainless Steel Wire UNS S30400

304 Stainless Steel Wire UNS S30400

304 stainless steel is known for its excellent formability, drawing, and machining characteristics. This stainless steel alloy is widely used in the production of wire mesh products due to its exceptional corrosion resistance, high strength, and light weight. The versatility of 304 stainless steel makes it ideal for various applications across different industries.

Types of 304 Stainless Steel Wire

304 stainless steel is available in different forms including shaped, flat, square, round, fine wire, plated, and bare wire. These forms comply with various standards such as ASTM A240, ASTM A276, ASTM A313, ASTM 479, AMS 5513, AMS 5910, AMS 5911, AMS 5912, AMS 5913, AMS 5501, and ASTM A666.

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304 Steel Alloy Description

Alloy 304 is the standard 18/8 (18% chrome, 8% nickel) austenitic stainless steel wire, widely used in the wire industry. It is non-magnetic when annealed but becomes magnetic when cold worked. Alloy 304 offers excellent weldability and high ductility, making it a preferred choice for deep drawn, spun, or formed parts.

304 Stainless Applications

Chemistry Typical

Carbon: 0.08 max
Manganese: 2.00 max
Phosphorus: 0.040 max
Sulfur: 0.030 max
Silicon: 1.00 max
Chromium: 18.00-20.00
Nickel: 8.00-10.00
Copper: 0.75 max
Molybdenum: 0.75 max

Physical Properties of 304 Stainless Steel

Density: 0.29 lbs/in³ (8.03 g/cm³)
Electrical Resistivity: At 68°F (20°C) - 28.4 (72) microhm-in (microhm-cm)
Specific Heat: 32-212°F (0-100°C) - 0.12 (0.50) BTU/lb/°F (kJ/kg•K)
Thermal Conductivity: At 212°F (100°C) - 9.4 (16.2) BTU/hr/ft²/ft/°F (W/m•K) and at 932°F (500°C) - 12.4 (21.4)

Mean Coefficient of Thermal Expansion: 32-212°F (0-100°C) - 9.4 x 10⁻⁶ (16.9) in/in/°F (µm/m•K)
Modulus of Elasticity: 28.0 x 10³ (193 x 10³) in tension, 11.2 x 10³ (78 x 10³) in torsion
Magnetic Permeability: Annealed - 1.02 max
Melting Range: 2550-2650°F (1399-1454°C)

Mechanical Properties of 304 Stainless at Room Temperature

Ultimate Tensile Strength: 75 KSI min (517 MPA min)
Yield Strength (0.2% Offset): 30 KSI min (205 MPA min)
Elongation: 40% min
Hardness: B92 max

Properties Tempered

1/4 Hard: Ultimate Tensile Strength - 125-150 KSI (861-1034 MPa), Yield Strength (0.2% offset) - 100-130 KSI (689-827 MPa), Elongation - 10% nominal
Full Hard: Ultimate Tensile Strength - 155-170 KSI (1068-1172 MPa), Yield Strength (0.2% offset) - 130-150 KSI (896-1034 MPa), Elongation - 2-8%

Alloy 304 can be supplied in a wide range of rolled tempered conditions. Contact Ulbrich Wire Technical Service for details.

Additional Properties

Corrosion Resistance of 304 Stainless

304 stainless steel wire has excellent corrosion resistance and is widely used in corrosive environments. Refer to the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) for recommendations.

Standard Wire Finishes

Extra Clean: Also referred to as "bright annealed" or "bright annealed and cold rolled"
Grease (round wire only): Drawn in heavy grease for an "Ultra bright" finish, suitable for decorative applications
Soap (round wire only): Used as a lubricant in the drawing process and remains on the surface to act as a lubricant during customer part forming operations, available in tempered products
Plated: Various plating options are available. Contact Ulbrich Wire Sales for special finish and plating requests.

Forms

Continuous Coils
Cut to lengths
Precision cutting

Cold Forming

Alloy 304 is ductile and can be cold worked by stamping, drawing, bending, or forming methods.

Heat Treatment

Alloy 304 cannot be heat treated for hardness.

Stress Relieving

Performed at 300 to 750 degrees Fahrenheit for cold worked parts, typically for no more than 120 minutes.

Welding 304 Stainless Steel

Refer to SSINA’s ‘Welding of Stainless Steels and Other Joining Methods’ for best practices. Limitation of Liability and Disclaimer of Warranty: Ulbrich Stainless Steels and Special Metals, Inc., will not be liable for any damages arising from the use of the information included in this document. The information and data provided are accurate to the best of our knowledge but are intended for reference and general information, not for specification, design, or engineering purposes. Ulbrich assumes no implied or express warranty regarding the creation or accuracy of the data provided.

Common Uses for 304 Stainless Steel Wire Mesh and Sheets

304 SS wire meshes and sheets are used in various applications, including:

• Filtration in liquid filtration, particle sieving, petroleum refining, and chemical processing
• Production of security screens, baskets, and decorations

Industries Served

• Aerospace
• Architecture
• Chemical
• Food production and processing
• Mining
• Petroleum
• Pharmaceuticals

Benefits of 304 Stainless Steel

304 stainless steel has several key properties:

• Durability: Resistant to mechanical and chemical damage
• Chemical Resistance: Withstands corrosion and oxidation, suitable for filters and products in contact with water and chemicals
• Workability: Highly formable, easy to fabricate and clean without damage
• Strength and Mechanical Resistance: Resilient in low-temperature environments
• Nonferrous Properties: Non-magnetic in annealed condition

Products Made From 304 Stainless Steel Wire Mesh

• Architectural and decorative trims
• Chemical handling equipment
• Equipment for commercial textile dyeing operations
• Food processing and handling equipment, such as sieves
• Oil refinery still tubes
• Parts for household appliances
• Steam piping components

Products Made From 304 Stainless Steel Sheets

• Automobile components
• Chemical containers
• Dyeing equipment for textiles
• Food processing equipment
• Heat exchanger parts
• Hollowware such as saucepans and sinks
• General industrial machinery parts
• Water filtration devices

Contact Marlin Steel for Premium Wire and Steel Products

Marlin Steel offers high-quality stainless steel and wire products including meshes, racks, sheets, and custom wire baskets. With over 50 years of experience, we serve Fortune 500 companies and international brands. Our ISO 9001:2015 certification underscores our commitment to quality assurance and excellent customer service.

For more premium wire and steel products and services, explore options such as 316 316L Stainless Steel Spring Wire and Aluminum Wire Mesh on our website.

We provide a wide range of finishing processes, wire forming, sheet metal fabrication, machining, and welding services. Contact us to learn more about our capabilities.