PRODEC® Type 304/304L Plate - AMS 5511, 5513
PRODEC® Type 304P/304LP is an improved machinability version of standard 304/304L offering faster machining speeds, longer tool life, improved part surface quality, and lower total cost of machined parts. 304P/304LP is a unique version of austenitic stainless steel which is produced with advanced ladle metallurgy techniques and processed for exceptional uniformity. PRODEC Type 304/304L maintains excellent impact toughness even at cryogenic temperatures. 304P/304LP is the modern evolution of the original 18-8 austenitic stainless steel. It is an economical and versatile corrosion resistant stainless steel suitable for a wide range of general purpose applications.
PRODEC® Type 304/304L Inventory Size Ranges
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Characteristics of PRODEC® Type 304/304L
These materials offer faster machining speeds, longer tool life, improved part quality, and lower total cost of machined parts. They are nonmagnetic in the annealed condition but may become slightly magnetic as a result of cold working or welding. 304P/304LP are versatile, general purpose stainless steels with good resistance to atmospheric corrosion, to many organic and inorganic chemicals, and to foods and beverages. They have also been used in vacuum processing equipment and specialized instruments where high integrity is essential.
PRODEC® Type 304/304L permits higher machining speeds, longer tool life, and superior part quality with reduced total cost for finished parts.
At UPM, we utilize precision cold saw cutting to minimize labor time and tooling expense. Eliminate plasma or heat affected zones and receive square, parallel and machine ready parts.
Click here to learn more about our Precision Cold Saw Cutting process.
Standard Inventory Specifications
- ASM 5511
- AMS 5513
- UNS S30403
- ASTM A 240
Other industry standards we comply with:
All of our PRODEC® Type 304/304L plate is ordered to specific decimal thicknesses. Please contact us for more details.
Common Trade Names
- T-304/L PRODEC®
- Type 304/304L (™New Castle Stainless Plate LLC)
- 304P/304LP
Common Applications of PRODEC® Type 304/304L
- Cutting instruments
- Knife blades
- Surgical instruments
- Chisels
- Ball bearing and valves
- Fasteners
- Pressure fittings
- High vacuum processing equipment
Chemical Composition
| Element | Percent by Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| C | Carbon | 0.030% |
| Mn | Manganese | 2.00% max |
| P | Phosphorus | 0.045% max |
| S | Sulfur | 0.03% max |
| Si | Silicon | 0.75% max |
| Cr | Chromium | 18.0 - 20.0% |
| Ni | Nickel | 11.0 - 15% |
| Mo | Molybdenum | 3.00 - 4.00 |
| N | Nitrogen* | 0.10% max |
Physical Properties of PRODEC® Type 304/304L
|
Density, lb/in3 |
0.285 |
|
Modulus of Elasticity, psi |
29 x 106 |
|
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion, 68-212°F, /°F |
8.9 x 10-6 |
|
Thermal Conductivity, Btu/ft hr°F |
8.7 |
|
Heat Capacity, Btu/lb°F |
0.12 |
|
Electrical Resistivity, Ω-inch |
33.5 x 10-6 |
Mechanical Properties of PRODEC® Type 304/304L
| Hardening | This product cannot be hardened by heat treatment. However, PRODEC® 304/304L can be hardened by cold working. |
| Heat Treatment - Annealing | PRODEC® Type 304/304L should be heated to 1900°F minimum, then water quenched or rapidly cooled by other means. |
| *0.375 inch plate | Typical* | ASTM 304 | ASTM 304L |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Tensile Strength | 99 | 75 min | 70 min |
| 0.2% Offset Yield Strength | 48 | 30 min | 25 min |
| Elongation in 2 inches % | 52 | 45 min | 40 min |
| Reduction in Area % | 61 | - | - |
| Hardness, Rockwell B | 85 | 96 max | 92 max |
Machinable Advantages of PRODEC® Plate
Today’s manufacturers are on a constant search for savings. While most manufacturers quickly turn to material costs as a primary means of lowering their price, these short-term accommodations are not always sustainable. According to United Performance Metals, PRODEC® Plate has become one solution for tangible cost reduction that is maintainable in the long run. Produced exclusively by New Castle Stainless, PRODEC® Plate, which stands for production economy, is a premium quality of stainless steel designed for enhanced machinability and processed to provide uniform consistency of properties from plate to plate and heat to heat.
Meeting all the requirements of ASTM and ASME specifications, New Castle Stainless product literature states that PRODEC® grades maintain the same yield strength, tensile strength, elongation, hardness, and toughness as conventionally produced plate, while also providing corrosion resistance as good or better than conventional stainless steel. Advanced ladle metallurgy allows for fine adjustments of the composition, amount, size, shape and distribution of the nonmetallic inclusions normally occurring within standard stainless steel. The company also states that the enhanced chemistry and treatment methods enable PRODEC® Plate to maintain tighter dimensional tolerances and produces a superior surface finish.
United Performance Metals suggests that compared with conventionally produced stainless steel, PRODEC® machinable stainless steel offers significant benefits to manufacturers beginning with faster machining, allowing higher speeds and feeds of at least 25% with carbide tooling.
One San Francisco Bay supplier has been touting the benefits of PRODEC® for over a decade. United Performance Metals is the largest PRODEC® Plate distributor on the West Coast.
“We have found tremendous success with this product. It’s absolutely sought-after in our market,” remarked Josh Gondkoff, Branch Manager of United Performance Metals in Benicia, CA. “We do quite a lot of business in the semiconductor market, mostly in Northern California, but we’re able to ship across the country with competitive prices typically in three business days.”
United Performance Metals’ Benicia facility carries PRODEC® Type 304/304L and PRODEC® Type 316/316L in thickness of 0.1875" - 3.500" and specializes in saw cut plate, using carbide tipped blades under flood coolant to produce a better edge.
PRODEC® Type 304/304L is a versatile, general purpose stainless steel with good resistance to atmospheric corrosion, to many organic and inorganic chemicals, and to foods and beverages. It has also been used in vacuum processing equipment and specialized instruments where high integrity is essential. PRODEC® 316/316L provides improved resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in environments containing chlorides and other halides.
PRODEC® Plate is designed to cut more economically and with significantly better straightness and final surface quality. Both the edge quality produced and shape tolerance of PRODEC® Plate parts that are precision sawed are above average and maintain standard tolerance of +.060-.000 or better. The outcome equals considerably longer tool life, increased productivity, better chip breaking, better dimensional tolerances, superior machined surface quality, reduced scrap losses, and consistent performance which translates to a reliable production schedule. Find out more by contacting us at 888.282.3292 today!
PRODEC® is a registered trademark of New Castle Stainless Plate LLC. For more information on PRODEC® Plate, visit New Castle Stainless Plate LLC.
To learn more about the machinable advantages of PRODEC® Plate, read our white paper on the topic.
*The technical data provided is for information only and not for design purposes. It is not warranted or guaranteed.