301-1/4 Hard Tempered Stainless Steel Sheet & Coil - AMS 5517
301-1/4 Hard stainless steel is a lightly cold‑worked temper that offers an excellent balance of strength and formability, making it one of the most versatile conditions in the 301 family. With higher tensile and yield strength than annealed 301 but far more ductility than 1/2 Hard or Full Hard, this temper is ideal for parts that require moderate shaping, bending, or drawing while still benefiting from increased mechanical strength. The controlled cold work introduces a small amount of strain‑induced martensite, giving the alloy partial magnetism and improved fatigue resistance without compromising its corrosion performance. Because of this combination of properties, 301‑1/4 Hard is widely used for brackets, formed components, architectural trim, appliance parts, and light‑duty springs where both strength and manufacturability matter.
301-1/4 cuts cleanly with the right tools. The best methods for cutting include laser cutting (for precision and minimal distortion), waterjet cutting (when avoiding heat is important), and shearing (works well for thin gauges; moderate tonnage requirements). This temper is often supplied with a bright finish and responds well to mechanical polishing, brushing, and passivation, especially after welding or heavy forming.
- Inventory & Specs
- Chemical Composition
- Physical Properties
- Mechanical Properties
- Datasheet
- Additional Info
- FAQs
Inventory Size Ranges for 301-1/4
| Type | Thickness | AMS Standards | ASTM | UNS | ASME | Get a Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coil | 0.016" - 0.1250" | AMS 5517 | ASTM A 666 | UNS S30100 | ASME SA 666 | Get a Quote |
| Sheet | 0.016" - 0.1250" | AMS 5517 | ASTM A 666 | UNS S30100 | ASME SA 666 | Get a Quote |
| Precision Reroll Strip | 0.0008" - 0.015" | Get a Quote |
Characteristics of 301-1/4
301‑1/4 Hard is strengthened through a light amount of cold work, giving it higher strength than annealed 301 while still maintaining excellent formability. 301-1/4 demonstrates moderate strength with good ductility, with a tensile strength of ~125–140 ksi and yield strength of ~75–95 ksi. This makes it a “sweet spot” temper—stronger than annealed, but far easier to shape than ½ Hard or Full Hard. Cold work introduces a small amount of strain-induced martensite, giving the alloy light magnetism. It is less magnetic than 1/2 Hard or Full Hard, but more magnetic than annealed 301. 301‑1/4 Hard retains the corrosion resistance of the 300‑series family. It performs well in atmospheric and mildly corrosion environments and has slightly lower corrosion resistance than 304 due to its lower nickel content. 301-1/4 has moderate heat resistance and resists oxidation up to about 1550°F (843°C). It is not recommended for continuous service above 1600°F.
Working with 301-1/4
301-1/4 Hard offers excellent formability while still providing elevated strength. This alloy can handle moderate bends, roll-forming, shallow-to-moderate drawing, and multi0stage forming operations. Machining 301-1/4 is easier than 1/2 Hard or Full Hard, but still more demanding than annealed 301. It is recommended to use sharp carbide tolling, keep feeds firm and speeds moderate, avoid tool dwell or rubbing, and use coolant to control heat and reduce galling. Welding 301-1/4 is possible, but there are tradeoffs that come with it. When welded, the heat-affected zone will lose the 1/4 Hard strength and corrosion resistance may decrease due to carbide precipitation. If welding is required, use low heat input processes, cleaning and passivate after welding, and consider designing joints to avoid relying on welded strength in critical areas.
Other industry standards we comply with:
- PWA-LCS
- GE Aircraft Engine (GT193)
- GE Aviation S-SPEC-35 AeDMS S-400
- RR SABRe Edition 2
- DFARS Compliant
Common Trade Names
- ATI 301 (™ Allegheny Technologies)
Industry Applications for 301-1/4
- Aircraft structural parts
- Trailer bodies
- Architectural (roof drainage/door frames, etc.)
- Auto body trim and wheel covers
- Utensils and tablewear
- Conveyor parts
Chemical Composition
| Element | Min | Max | |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | Carbon | - | 0.15 |
| Mn | Manganese | - | 2.00 |
| P | Phosphorus | - | 0.045 |
| S | Sulfur | - | 0.030 |
| Si | Silicon | - | 1.00 |
| Cr | Chromium | 16.00 | 18.00 |
| Ni | Nickel | 6.00 | 8.00 |
| N | Nitrogen | - | 0.10 |
Physical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.2850 lb/in3 (7.88g/cm3) |
| Melting Range | 2250 - 2950°F (1399 - 1421°C) |
| Specific Gravity | 8.03 |
| Modulus of Elasticity in Tension | 28x106 psi (193 GPa) |
| Magnetic Permeability | H/m Annealed 1.02 Max @ 200 H |
| Temperature Range | Coefficients | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| °C | °F | cm/cm°C | in/in/°F |
| 20-100 | 68-212 | 16.6·10-6 | 9.2·10-6 |
| 20-300 | 68-572 | 17.6·10-6 | 9.8·10-6 |
| 20-500 | 68-932 | 18.6·10-6 | 10.3·10-6 |
| 20-700 | 68-1292 | 19.5·10-6 | 10.8·10-6 |
| 20-871 | 68-1600 | 19.8·10-6 | 11.0·10-6 |
| Temperature Range | Coefficients | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| °C | °F | W/m·K | Btu/(hr/ft²/hr/°F/ft) |
| 20-100 | 68-212 | 16.30 | 9.40 |
| 20-500 | 68-932 | 21.40 | 12.4 |
| Temperature Range | J/kg°K | Btu/lb/°F | |
|---|---|---|---|
| °C | °F | ||
| 0-100 | 32-212 | 500 | 0.12 |
| Temperature Range | microhm-cm | microhm-in | |
|---|---|---|---|
| °C | °F | ||
| 20 | 68 | 72 | 28.3 |
| 100 | 212 | 78 | 30.7 |
| 200 | 392 | 86 | 33.8 |
| 400 | 752 | 100 | 39.4 |
| 600 | 1112 | 111 | 43.7 |
| 800 | 1472 | 121 | 47.6 |
| 900 | 1652 | 126 | 49.6 |
Mechanical Properties
| Condition | Tensile Strength, Min. | 0.2% Yield Strength, Min. | Elong. In 2" (50mm) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ksi | MPa | Ksi | MPa | %, Min. | |
| Annealed | 75 | 515 | 30 | 205 | 40 |
| 1/4 Hard | 125 | 862 | 75 | 517 | 25 |
| 1/2 Hard | 150 | 1034 | 110 | 758 | 18* |
| 3/4 Hard | 175 | 1207 | 135 | 931 | 12* |
| Full Hard | 185 | 1276 | 140 | 965 | 9* |
* Value shown for thickness greater than 0.015 in. (.038mm).
Datasheet
Additional Info
A Brief History of 301-1/4 Hard Stainless
301 stainless steel emerged in the mid‑20th century as part of the expanding 300‑series austenitic stainless family—materials engineered to offer corrosion resistance, strength, and formability in a single alloy. As industries began demanding stainless steels that could be strengthened without heat treatment, manufacturers developed controlled cold‑worked tempers. Among these, 301‑1/4 Hard quickly became a favorite because it provided a meaningful boost in strength while preserving the excellent formability that made 301 so versatile. This balance positioned 301‑1/4 Hard as a go‑to material for formed components, light structural parts, and decorative stainless applications.
How 301-1/4 was Developed
301‑1/4 Hard was created by applying a specific, limited amount of cold reduction to standard 301 stainless steel. This controlled cold work increases tensile and yield strength while maintaining enough ductility for bending, shaping, and moderate drawing. Key factors in its development included cold-work engineering, austenitic chemistry, and advances in precision rolling. Metallurgists determined the precise reduction needed to achieve a “quarter‑hard” condition—stronger than annealed material but far more workable than 1/2 Hard or Full Hard. The alloy’s composition (16–18% chromium, 6–8% nickel, and up to 0.15% carbon) allows strain‑induced martensite to form during cold work. This transformation is what gives 301‑1/4 Hard its increased strength and slight magnetism. Modern rolling mills made it possible to produce consistent, repeatable tempers, enabling 301‑1/4 Hard to become a standardized product across multiple industries.
Early Applications of 301-1/4
When first introduced, 301‑1/4 Hard was quickly adopted in sectors that needed a stainless steel strong enough to hold shape but ductile enough to form easily. Early applications included architectural trim and panels, appliance components, light-duty springs and clips, automotive and rail hardware, brackets, housings, and conveyor components. Its bright finish, good corrosion resistance, and excellent formability made it especially popular in consumer goods and architectural design.
How 301-1/4 is Used Today
Today, 301‑1/4 Hard remains one of the most widely used tempers in the 301 family because it offers a rare combination of strength, ductility, corrosion resistance, and manufacturability.
- Transportation: Brackets, supports, trim, reinforcements, railcar components
- Architecture: Elevator panels, decorative trim, formed panels
- Industrial: Conveyor parts, springs, clips, clamps, precision-formed components
- Consumer Products: Appliance housings, handles, trim, decorative parts
Your Trusted Supplier for 301-1/4 Hard Stainless
United Performance Metals supplies coil and sheet sizes 0.016" - 0.125" and precision rerolled strip sizes 0.0008" - 0.015".
Product FAQs
It refers to 301 stainless steel that has been lightly cold‑worked to reach the quarter‑hard temper. This increases strength while preserving excellent formability.
Yes, 301-1/4 is slightly magnetic. The light cold work introduces a small amount of martensite, giving it mild magnetism.