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300 Series Stainless Steel

Properties & Advantages of Stainless Steel Grades 300-316L

Corrosion-resistant and heat-resistance stainless steel investment casting are differentiated and graded by their carbon content. Aero Metals can create castings from most stainless steel grades ranging from Austenitic Stainless Steel to Precipitation Hardening (PH) Martensitic Stainless Steel to Austenitic And Ferritic (Duplex) Stainless Steel. We can create fully customized “air melted” stainless steel to your exact specifications and application requirements. Our skilled machinists have experience forming mission-critical components from multiple grades of 300 Series Stainless Steel (ANSI). Our selection of 300 Series Stainless Steel allows us to create durable, high precision parts for multiple industries.

Learn more about our Series 300 Stainless Steel Casting Alloys below or contact Aero Metals for more information.

Stainless Steel Alloy Castings, Cargo System Component, Aerospace Industry - 1300 Series Stainless Steel Differences By Grade

300 Series austenitic stainless steels are a set of iron-based chromium nickel alloys. The specific alloy that is ideal for your application depends on required corrosion resistance, formability, wear, strength, temperature resistance, cost and additional factors. We have broken down our 300 Series Stainless Steels by grade below.


303 (CF165) Stainless Steel | UNS S30300

A303 Stainless steel is a non-magnetic steel that is not hardenable by heat treatment. Alloy 303 consists of 18% chromium / 8% nickel stainless steel. This is the most readily machinable austenitic stainless steel. Alloy 303 has lower corrosion resistance and toughness than higher grade steel.

303 Stainless Steel Applications

Frequent uses are parts that need to be heavily machined, such as nuts, bolts, gears, bushings and more.


304 (CF8)Stainless Steel | UNS S30400

304 stainless steel is noted for cleanliness and corrosion resistance in food & beverage and medical applications. It is much easier to work with and form than 316 stainless steel and resists oxidation and rust. 304 alloy can be machined “as-cast” and is easy to clean and fabricate.

304 Stainless Steel Applications

Specific uses include surgical equipment, brewing & wine making equipment and dyeing equipment.

304L (CF3)Stainless Steel | UNS S30403

304L stainless steel has a lower carbon and is less susceptible to carbine precipitation in the Heat Affected Zone (HAZ). It consists of higher percentages of nickel than its standard counterpart. 304 alloy is considered the most versatile stainless steel due to its excellent corrosion resistance and formability. Applications include food processing, automotive and aerospace structural use and cooking equipment.


309 (CH20)Stainless Steel UNS S30900/S30908

Alloy 309/309S has a high chromium and low nickel content and can resist oxidation up to 1900°F (1038°C) under non-cyclic conditions. It was developed for use in applications requiring superior heat resistance and oxidation resistance. It is not designed for wet corrosive environments or highly carburizing atmospheres.

309 Stainless Steel Applications

Uses include furnaces, petroleum refining components, waste treatment applications and more.


310 (CK20)Stainless Steel | S31000

310 stainless steel is resistant to oxidation under mildly cyclic conditions through 2000°F. It has moderate strength and offers toughness at cryogenic temperatures.

310 Stainless Steel Applications

Frequent uses include heat exchangers, radiant tubes, tube hangers, cryogenic structures, kilns and more.


316 (CF8M)Stainless Steel | UNS S31600

316 stainless steel offers superior corrosion resistance for use in marine applications. 316 alloy is slightly magnetic and demonstrates a high resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion. It is resistant to salt and chlorides.

316 Stainless Steel Applications

  • Automotive
  • Marine Environments
  • Petrochemical

316L (CF3M)Stainless Steel | UNS S31603

316L stainless steel has higher nickel and molybdenum content than 304 stainless steel for increased corrosion resistant properties. 316L has outstanding formability and is immune from sensitization.

316L Stainless Steel Applications

316L alloys are frequently used in heavy gauge welded parts. Applications include chemical processing equipment in chloride environments, food preparation equipment, boat fittings and more.


300 Series Stainless Steel Applications

Material 316: Stainless Steel Alloy Castings, Electrical Industry - 2

Aero Metals works with a number of these metal alloys in our stainless steel casting process. Based on your performance and application requirements, our expert metallurgists can help you choose the best alloy for your stainless steel investment casting needs. Frequent industries served include:

Contact Us Today to Learn More About Steel Investment Casting Alloys

Aero Metals is dedicated to delivering reliable investment casted parts from high-quality metals that provide outstanding benefits. With top-tier metal casting quality, testing and inspection standards, Aero Metals is a trusted source for premium grade precision investment casting services for a variety of industries.