Stainless Steel - Grade 305 (UNS S30500)

Stainless steel was a miraculous invention. It changed the way many industries work. With its incredible corrosion resistance, durability, and strength, it has found its way into multiple processes across various industries. Owing to its numerous use cases, various variations were done to the chemical composition of stainless steel to form different grades. 

In this article, we will read about one such prominent stainless steel; UNS S30500 or SS grade 305.

About Grade 305 Stainless Steel - Grade 305

Grade 305 is an austenitic chromium-nickel alloy steel grade. Due to its lower strength and work hardening rate, it can be easily formed and deeply drawn into complex structures. SS grade 305 shows high non-magnetism and excellent corrosion resistance. It is commonly used in industrial and domestic applications, such as heat exchangers, pipes and valves. It is also suitable for applications that require high corrosion resistance.

AISI - Grade 305 Chemical Composition

Let’s start with the most important aspect of grade 305 stainless steel, its chemical composition. It is its chemical composition that imparts it with its unique properties. AISI 305 contains a good amount of chromium and nickel making it highly corrosion resistant, strong, and temperature tolerance.

Iron, Fe

67%

Chromium, Cr

18%

Nickel, Ni

12%

Manganese, Mn

≤ 2%

Silicon, Si

≤ 1%

Carbon, C

0.12%

Phosphorous, P

0.045%

Sulfur, S

0.030%

Physical Properties

Considering the physical properties of stainless steel is the key element in deciding its use in various applications. If you are considering SS grade 305 for your application, have a look at its physical properties and check if they align with your use case. 

 

Density

8 g/cm3

Melting point

1454°C

 

Mechanical Properties

Apart from the physical properties, it is crucial to understand and analyze the mechanical properties of UNS S30500 including hardness, tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation. Knowing the properties of the material will help you determine if it is suitable for use in your application.

Tensile strength, ultimate

585 MPa

Tensile strength, yield (@0.2%)

260 MPa

Modulus of elasticity

193 GPa

Shear modulus

86 GPa

Elongation at break (in 50 mm)

50

Hardness, Brinell

80

Hardness, Knoop (converted from Brinell hardness)

97

Hardness, Rockwell B (converted from Brinell hardness)

45

Hardness, Vickers (converted from Brinell hardness)

82

 

Thermal Properties

If you need an ideal element to bear extreme temperatures, then it becomes crucial to know about its thermal properties. Let us go through the thermal properties of SS grade 305, to know its performance in extreme temperatures.

 

Thermal expansion coefficient (@0-100°C/32-212°F)

17.3 µm/m°C

Thermal conductivity

(@0-100°C/32-212°F)

16.3 W/mK

 

Applications

The following are the major applications of grade 305 stainless steel:

  • Spun or deep-drawn eyelets
  • Barrels
  • Shells
  • Cold-headed rivets or screws