What is 302 Stainless steel?
302 Stainless Steel Alloy, also known as 18-8, gets its name from its chromium and nickel content. 302 is a member of the Stainless Steel 300 Series and belongs to the Stencil Grade Alloy family, which is known for being easily machinable and corrosion-resistant. This alloy is a one-of-a-kind compromise, with deep drawability and sufficient stretch formability. 302 stainless steel is more stable than 301 stainless steel and exhibits a less noticeable, but still significant, work-hardening response.
Because of its corrosion resistance, this alloy is suitable for use in the food, dairy, and chemical industries. In cold rolled temperatures, 302 is also useful for spring and stamping applications. Bellows, springs, laminated couplings, camera shutter parts, and other items are also used. 302 Stainless Steel Alloy, also known as 18-8, gets its name from its chromium and nickel content. 302 is a member of the Stencil Grade Alloy family, which is known for being easily machinable and corrosion resistant; additionally, 302 has an effective oxidation resistance in temperatures up to 1650 degrees Fahrenheit with continuous exposure; however, this alloy has good resistance up to 1500 degrees Fahrenheit in cases where cyclic heating occurs. We have 302 stainless steel alloys in sheet or coil form, as well as other stencil-grade metals.
Mechanical Properties Of 302 Stainless Steel
As a member of the austenitic stainless steel family, 302 stainless steel shares many of the same mechanical properties as its cousins. It is strong and ductile, capable of withstanding tension and compression without losing its shape or developing holes. However, due to its low nickel and chromium content, it also has some unique characteristics. Its tensile strength is lower than that of other austenitic steel grades, making it particularly suited for applications where toughness is essential rather than sheer strength. Additionally, its corrosion resistance is higher than 304 stainless steel but lower than other steel alloys based on chromium. In conclusion, 302 stainless steel offers both durability and corrosion resistance, making it an ideal material for a variety of applications from aerospace components to kitchenware.
| Properties | Metric | Imperial |
| Tensile strength | 620 MPa | 89900 psi |
| Yield strength (@strain 0.200%) | 275 MPa | 39900 psi |
| Elastic modulus | 193 GPA | 28000 ksi |
| Poisson’s ratio | 0.27-0.30 | 0.27-0.30 |
| Elongation at break (in 50 mm) | 55% | 55% |
| Hardness, Brinell (converted from Rockwell B hardness) | 147 | 147 |
| Hardness, Knoop (converted from Rockwell B hardness) | 164 | 164 |
| Hardness, Rockwell B | 85 | 85 |
| Hardness, Vickers (converted from Rockwell B hardness) | 147 | 147 |
SS 302 Chemical Composition
302 stainless steel contains 17–19% chromium, 8–13% nickel, and 0.15-0.30% carbon. This alloy also contains a small amount of manganese and silicon, which helps to strengthen the metal against corrosion. The chromium content in this alloy provides it with excellent corrosion resistance in comparison to other grades of stainless steel. Additionally, the nickel content enhances its formability while still providing excellent strength against wear and tear.
| Element | Content (%) |
| Chromium, Cr | 17-19 |
| Nickel, Ni | 8 – 10 |
| Manganese, Mn | 2 |
| Silicon, Si | 1.00 |
| Carbon, C | 0.15 |
| Sulfur, S | 0.03 |
| Phosphorous, P | 0.045 |
Equivalent Of 302 Stainless Steel
The closest equivalent grade of 302 stainless steel is 304 SS (AISI 304), which has an even higher chromium content than 302 SS (17–19% versus 17–18%). However, due to its higher nickel content (8–10%), 304 SS has slightly better corrosion resistance than 302 SS at elevated temperatures up to 870°F (470°C). In addition, 304 SS has superior mechanical properties compared to other grades of stainless steel such as 301 or 303 SS due to its higher nickel content.
| AMS 5515 | AISI 302 | AMS 5516 | AMS 5636 | AMS 5637 |
| AMS 5688 | ASME SA240 | ASTM A167 | ASTM A240 | ASTM A276 |
| ASTM A313 | ASTM A314 | ASTM A368 | ASTM A473 | ASTM A478 |
| ASTM A479 | ASTM A492 | ASTM A493 | ASTM A511 | ASTM A550 |
| ASTM A554 | ASTM A666 | FED QQ-S-763 | FED QQ-S-766 | FED QQ-W-423 |
| ASTM A580 | MIL-SPEC MIL-S-862 | SAE 30302 | SAE J230 | SAE J405 |
| AMS 5788 | DIN 1.4319 | MIL S-7720 | QQ S763 | QQ S766 |
Uses Of 302 Stainless Steel
Despite advances in melting technology, availability, and cost, many applications have shifted to 304 and 304L, Alloy 302 is still used in a variety of industries. Here are a few examples:
- Spinning
- Stamping
- Wire bending
- Forming into various washers, springs, screens, and cables
- Applications involving pressure in the food and beverage industries
- Applications in sanitary or cryogenic environments
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