Stainless Steel 303 Bar

The alloying components of stainless steel 303 Bar are sulfur or selenium, in contrast to the austenitic grade 304. Stainless steel 303 round bars are the alloy’s name when sulfur is added. On the other hand, when selenium is added, it is called 303se, where “se” stands for selenium. WNR 1.4305 square bars ‘Machinability is enhanced by these components, which makes it the perfect alloy for uses where excellent machinability is necessary. Cold-finished bars made of 303 steel also have improved galling properties.

However, compared to grade 304, the corrosion resistance of grade 303 is lower. The sulfur content, while beneficial for machinability, introduces certain disadvantages to the ASTM A479 UNS S30300 hex bar. Firstly, it reduces the alloy’s corrosion resistance. Secondly, it slightly impairs toughness. Sulfur-rich regions in the microstructure of ASTM A276 type 303 flat bars can also act as sites for pitting corrosion initiation. Despite these drawbacks, the alloy demonstrates good oxidation resistance for both intermittent and continuous use up to 927°C. However, manufacturers advise against using JIS SUS 303 black bars at temperatures exceeding 760°C due to the higher carbon content, which promotes carbide precipitation.

This precipitation leads to irregular scaling in 303 stainless steel rods. Alloys with lower carbon content are generally less prone to sensitization compared to 303 stainless steel welding rods. Although welding grade 303 is not typically recommended, it can be done using stainless steel grade 310 electrodes. Annealing this alloy offers benefits such as dissolving carbide precipitates and achieving high machining rates. The hardness of SS 303 bright bars ranges between 200 and 240 Brinell, making them suitable for various machining applications.