301 Stainless Steel Sheet & Coil - AMS 5901

Inventory Size Ranges for 301

Type	Thickness	AMS Standards	ASTM	UNS	ASME	Get a Quote
Coil	0.020" - 0.125"	AMS 5901	ASTM A 240, ASTM A 666	UNS S30100	ASME SA 240, ASME SA 666	Get a Quote
Sheet	0.020" - 0.125"	AMS 5901	ASTM A 240, ASTM A 666	UNS S30100	ASME SA 240, ASME SA 666	Get a Quote
Precision Reroll Strip	0.0008" - 0.015"					Get a Quote

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Characteristics of 301

301 is corrosion resistant to a variety of environmental conditions but is not as good as the 18-8 chromium nickel steels. This alloy possesses good resistance to oxidation at temperatures up to  1550°F (840°C). At 1600°F (871°C), alloy 301 exhibits an oxidation weight gain of 10mg/cm² in 1,000 hours. Due to this factor, 301 is not suggested for use at 1600°F or above. As the rate of oxidation is greatly affected by the atmosphere to which the metal is exposed by the heating and cooling cycle, and by the structural design, no data can be presented which will apply to all service conditions. 

Working with 301

Alloy 301 is used in the annealed and cold-rolled conditions. In the work-hardened condition, this alloy develops higher tensile strength than the other stable austenitic grades. Annealed austenitic stainless steels exhibit high resistance to impact even at low temperatures. This property, in combination with strength and fabricability, has led to their use in cryogenic applications. 

The endurance limit of annealed 301 is 30-45% of the tensile strength. Cold rolling increases the endurance limit as compared with annealed material. Stress relieving increases the endurance limit of cold rolled material. The primary purposes of annealing are to remove the stresses, recrystallize the structure if the material has been previously cold worked, and to take the carbides into solution. Rapid cooling through the carbide precipitation range is necessary to keep the carbides into solution. For thin sections, air cooling is sufficient for this purpose while heavier sections have to be water quenched. When properly annealed, 301 stainless is austenitic. It is possible that small quantities of delta ferrite are present. Cold rolling promotes the formation of martensite and exposure in the 800-1500°F (427-816°C) range results in grain boundary carbide precipitation.