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Stainless Steel Alloy 303 | Product Properties, Composition & Machinability
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Stainless steel alloy 303, also known as UNS S30300, is a free-machining variant of the 18-8 austenitic stainless steel family. Its composition includes approximately 18% chromium and 8% nickel, along with the addition of sulfur or selenium to enhance its machinability. Alloy 303 offers good corrosion resistance, making it suitable for mildly corrosive environments. It is primarily utilized in applications that require excellent machining characteristics, such as screws, bolts, nuts, and fittings. However, its sulfur or selenium content may reduce its overall corrosion resistance compared to other stainless steel alloys. While alloy 303 excels in machinability and certain applications, it may not be the best choice for highly corrosive environments where other stainless steel grades with higher chromium and nickel content are preferred.
Product Properties
Chemical
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Alloying Elements
Chromium: Most important element of stainless steel. An addition of 10% chromium will form an oxide film (passive surface film) which renders the steel corrosion resistant. Chromium also increases resistance to scaling.
Nickel: Second most important element. It increases ductility, corrosion resistance, scaling resistance, and high-temperature strength.
Silicon: Primarily increases resistance to scaling.
Manganese: Improves hot-working properties.
Molybdenum: Increases corrosion and high-temperature strength.
Sulfur-Phosphorus-Selenium: Increases machinability.
Titanium or Columbium-Tantalum: Stabilizes carbon and prevents chromium-carbide precipitation and subsequent intergranular corrosion.
Mechanical
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Physical
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Fabrication
Machinability ratings must be recognized as approximate values. They are a reasonable guide to relative tool life and power required for cutting. Variables of speed, cutting oil, feed, and depth of cut will significantly affect these ratios.
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*Based on Bessemer Screw Stock No. B1112
Machinability ratings must be recognized as approximate values. They are a reasonable guide to relative tool life and power required for cutting. Variables of speed, cutting oil, feed, and depth of cut will significantly affect these ratios.
Disclaimer: The data listed here are recommended starting points. Higher speeds and feeds may be obtainable based on the working environment. Keep in mind that speeds and feeds should always be adjusted in small steps. When using carbide tools; surface speed can be increased 2 to 3 times over the suggested values; feeds can be increased between 50 and 100%.
Characteristics
Phosphorus and sulfur added for easier machining. For heavier cuts in automatic machining operations. Used in repeated machining applications.
Typical Uses
Aircraft components, screw machine products, bolts, and screws.
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