303 Stainless Steel Round Bar

Sanjivini Steel Centre is a leading producer, distributor, and exporter of stainless steel 303 round bars in India. Stainless steel 303 is distinguished by its sulfur or selenium additions, which enhance its machinability compared to the austenitic grade 304. Specifically, stainless steel 303 with sulfur is simply known as 303, while the variant alloyed with selenium is referred to as 303Se, where “Se” denotes the addition of selenium.

The inclusion of these elements significantly improves the machinability of stainless steel 303 round bars, making them ideal for applications requiring enhanced machinability. In addition to better machinability, 303 steel cold-finished bars also exhibit improved galling resistance.

However, the corrosion resistance of stainless steel 303 is generally lower than that of 304. While sulfur enhances machinability, it also decreases the alloy’s corrosion resistance and toughness. The ASTM A479 UNS S30300 Hex Bar, for example, shows reduced resistance to corrosion and some decrease in toughness. Sulfur-containing areas in the alloy can act as initiation points for pitting corrosion. Despite this, stainless steel 303 has good oxidation resistance at temperatures up to 927 °C for both intermittent and continuous use. However, due to the increased carbon content that promotes carbide precipitation, it is not recommended to use the JIS SUS 303 Black Bar at temperatures exceeding 760 °C, as this can lead to irregular scaling.

Generally, lower-carbon alloys are less susceptible to sensitization compared to stainless steel 303. Although welding this material is not ideal, it can be done using electrodes made from stainless steel grade 310. Annealing stainless steel 303 can help dissolve carbide precipitates and achieve a high machining rate. The hardness of SS 303 Bright Bars typically ranges from 200 to 240 Brinell.