In precision manufacturing, the selection of materials can decide directly the quality and functions of parts. 1.4301 is the extremely common grade of stainless steel materials for sheet metal bending. 1.4301 is austenitic stainless steel that exhibits excellent mechanical properties and stable corrosion resistance. Learning the properties and features of 1.4301 for your sheet metal bending project.
What Is 1.4301 Stainless Steel?
1.4301 is an European-standard (EU) austenitic stainless steel grade. It is also called V2A in Germany. It mainly contains 18% chromium and 8-10% nickel. 1.4301 stainless steel containing 18% chromium, and 10% nickel is also called X5CrNi18-10. In engineering applications, 1.4301 is considered as one of the most versatile stainless steels because it is widely used in food devices, chemical containers, and medical equipment, etc.
What Are Other Names of 1.4301?
1.4301 is the formal name assigned by the German/European standard (EN 10088). And V2A is its traditional German term, not formal as 1.4301 nowadays. X5CrNi18-10 or 18/10 stainless steel is the commercial name and it means the stainless steel containing 18% Cr, and 10% Ni.
Is 1.4301 Ideal for Sheet Metal Bending?
Yes, 1.4301 is the most common stainless steel material for metal bending. It has remarkable formability matched with its mechanical properties and work hardening behavior. In sheet metal bending, the materials need to withstand localized plastic deformation without cracking and springback issues.
EN 1.4301 has high elongation ratio, moderate yield strength, and stable work hardening rate, which meets the bending requirements include:
- Acute angle bending
- Small radius bending
- Complex bending shapes
What’s more, 1.4301 stainless steel exhibits low residual stress and dimensional stability, which makes it suitable for mass production. In the following content, we will introduce the chemical composition, physical properties and mechanical properties of EN 1.4301 stainless steel and explain why it perform well during sheet metal bending.
What Are Chemical Composition of 1.4301?
Stainless steel 1.4301 contains about 18%-20% Cr and about 8%-10.5% Ni, which determines its corrosion resistance, work hardening behavior and weldability.
| 1.4301 Chemical Elements | Content | Functional Role in 1.4301 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 18%-20% | Corrosion Resistance |
| Nickel (Ni) | 8.0% – 10.5% | Austenite Stabilizer: provides excellent toughness, ductility, and making it non-magnetic. |
| Manganese (Mn) | ≤ 2.0% | Increase Strength and Stability |
| Silicon (Si) | ≤ 1.0% | Deoxidizer |
| Nitrogen (N) | ≤ 0.11% | Increases the yield strength and enhance the corrosion resistance |
| Carbon (C) | ≤ 0.07% | Increase strength and hardness |
| Phosphorus (P) | ≤ 0.045% | Impurity |
| Sulfur (S) | ≤ 0.015% | Impurity/Machinability |
| Iron (Fe) | Balance (Approx. 66-70%) | Main structural component |
The Cr element can form a protective film on stainless steel surfaces, providing antioxidant and corrosion resistance properties. And Nickel element can stabilize the austenitic microstructure and enhance material plasticity, toughness, and cold forming capabilities. The carbon content less than 0.07% can reduce the sensitivity to intergranular corrosion and guarantee great weldability of 1.4301 stainless steel. Other chemical elements such as Mn, Si, S, P, etc. are maintained at low levels to ensure EN 1.4301 can be bent successfully.
Physical Properties of 1.4301
Physical properties of 1.4301 can influence its thermal conductivity, thermal expansion, and elastic modulus. Below is the typical physical properties of 1.4301 stainless steel for engineering design reference .
| Physical Properties | Typical Value |
| Density | 7.93 g/cm³ |
| Melting Range | 1400 – 1450 °C |
| Thermal Conductivity | 15 W/(m·K)（100°C） |
| Thermal Expansion | 17.2 × 10⁻⁶ /K（20–200°C） |
| Specific Heat Capacity | 500 J/(kg·K)（20°C） |
| Magnetic | Non-magnetic (annealed) |
| Electrical Resistivity | 0.72 μΩ·m（20°C） |
| Elastic Modulus | 200 GPa |
During metal bending, the elastic modulus determines the spingback of materials. The elastic modulus of EN 1.4301 is approximately 200 Gpa, which means it exhibits moderate springback. Engineers can adjust the bending angles to achieve springback compensation.
1.4301 has a relatively high thermal expansion coefficient, which means the material is easy to expand or shrink when the temperature changes. Therefore, it can affect the dimensional accuracy when welding 1.4301. However, it has limited influence on cold bending processing.
What Are Mechanical Properties of 1.4301?
Mechanical property is the key factor for bending 1.4301 stainless steel. As for metal bending, annealed materials are always used because they can provide lower yield strength, better ductility and toughness in this situation, making the stainless steel easier to bend and deform without cracking and fracture.
Here is the simple table of mechanical properties of EN 1.4301 ss.(annealing 1.4301)
| Mechanical Property | Typical Value |
| Tensile Strength | 520 – 720 MPa |
| Yield Strength | ≥ 210 MPa |
| Elongation | ≥ 40% |
| Hardness | ≤ 200 HV |
| Elastic Modulus | 200 GPa |
| Shear Modulus | 77 GPa |
| Poisson’s Ratio | 0.27 – 0.30 |
EN 1.4301 Tensile Strength
Tensile strength reflects the maximum stress a material can withstand under uniaxial tension. For sheet metal bending, higher tensile strength indicates the material can endure greater localized tensile stress during bending and reduce cracking risks. 1.4301 exhibits stable tensile strength range, allowing uniform deformation without easy fracture.
The yield strength of EN 1.4301 is about 210 Mpa, it means that the stainless steel may easily undergo plastic deformation under relatively low forces during metal bending. Meanwhile, the ratio of yield strength to tensile strength is low, which means the stainless steel has good work hardening capability. After bending 1.4301 stainless steel, the load-bearing capacity of the parts can be improved.
1.4301 Hardness
The hardness of the annealed 1.4301 stainless steel doesn’t exceed 200 HV. It is soft stainless steel, and suitable for precision bending parts. Its relatively soft hardness can prolong the lifespan of the bending die.
What Are Equivalent Materials of 1.4301?
In engineering, equivalent materials indicates the materials that have similar chemical composition and properties. Usually, they can be the best alternatives in real applications. In the world, EN 1.4301’s equivalent grades includes:
| Standard | Equivalent Grades |
| EN | 1.4301 / X5CrNi18-10 |
| AISI | 304 |
| ASTM | 304 |
| UNS | S30400 |
| JIS (SUS) | SUS304 |
| GB/T | 06Cr19Ni10 |
| ISO | X5CrNi18-10 |
| DIN (old) | X5CrNi18-10 |
These equivalent grades have almost the same chemical composition, mechanical properties, manufacturing features, and corrosion resistance as 1.4301. In metal bending, they are considered the equivalent substitutes.
Alternatives to 1.4301
However, in some special applications or high-demand scenarios, for example, higher corrosion resistance, higher strength, or lower cost, EN 1.4301 can’t meet the requirements. In such case, 1.4301 should be replaced by other stainless steel. Here we introduce 3 common alternatives to 1.4301 ss.
1.4404 vs 1.4301
1.4404 (equivalent to 316L) is an austenitic stainless steel that contains about 2.0%-2.5% Mo. 1.4301 doesn’t contain Mo. And Mo content significantly improve the corrosion resistance ability. Therefore, due to the better corrosion resistance, 1.4404 stainless steel is more suitable for marine applications and chemical devices. In sheet metal bending, compared with EN 1.4301, 1.4404 ss has higher yield strength and higher work hardening rate, which means it needs larger force when it is bent. However, the cost of 1.4404 is higher than that of 1.4301 stainless steel.
1.4016 vs 1.4301
1.4016 (430 stainless steel) is a ferritic stainless steel containing no nickel and the Cr content is about 16%-18%. 1.4016 is magnetic and the cost is lower than 1.4301 stainless steel. Nevertheless, 1.4016 stainless steel exhibits poor plasticity and low elongation rates, that is to say, 1.4016 is prone to cracking, especially when the radius is small. The same as 1.4404, 1.4016’s corrosion resistance is better than 1.4301, very suitable for high humidity or corrosive environments. It can be a good selection for price-sensitive project.
AA 7075 vs 1.4301
AA 7075 is ultra high-strength AI-Zinc-Copper aluminum alloy. Its density is about 2.8 g/cm³, lower than 1.4301. So AA 7075 is lighter than 1.4301. AA 7075 T6 has extremely high strength, which can easily lead to cracking. It isn’t usually used for bending parts with complex structure. And 7075 aluminum usually needs anodizing treatment because the corrosion resistance of AA 7075 is worse than EN 1.4301. Choosing 7075 aluminum as the alternative to 1.4301 based on the requirement for light weight, but not requirement for corrosion resistance or bendability.
Custom 1.4301 Stainless Steel Parts
En 1.4301 stainless steel is widely used to manufacturing diverse general stainless steel parts, such as device housing, cabinet panels, precision brackets, food machinery components, and medical instrument parts, etc. In some cases,when the general parts can’t meet the requirements for functions or assembly, customization service is needed. In real application, customers need parts with custom design or tolerance. Tuofa custom stainless steel parts service can help customers achieve ultra-high precision and complicated structure. In addition, custom bending service is very suitable for small-batch production.
How to Bend 1.4302 Stainless Steel?
Custom 1.4301 stainless steel sheet metal parts involve laser cutting, precision bending, welding,grinding, surface brushing or polishing. As for bending technique, customized services can pre-compensate bending angles based on the springback feature of the materials and make sure the inner bending radius meets the bending requirement to prevent cracking caused by work hardening.
Conclusione
En 1.4301( V2A/X5 Cr Ni 18-10) is a common austenitic stainless steel for sheet metal bending based on its balanced chemical composition, stable physical properties and excellent mechanical properties. Its moderate yield strength and high elongation make it ideal for various complex bending techniques. Also, its work hardening characteristics should be considered carefully because it may have a bad impact on bending. After leaning its equivalent grades and alternative materials, the engineers can choose ideal materials based on considering the functions and costs.
FAQ
Is stainless steel 1.4301 magnetic?
No, EN 1.4301 is non-magnetic. Because it is austenitic stainless steel with a face-centered cubic (FCC) structure.
Is 1.4301 stainless steel food-safe?
Yes, 1.4301 is not only food-grade stainless steel, but also common standard engineering material for industrial parts and structural parts. In Europe, it is also called V2A. But for kitchenware, it is usually called 18/8 or 18/10 stainless steel.
Is EN 1.4301 V4A?
No, both of them are stainless steel. But V4A is 1.4404. They are different because of the chemical composition. V4A has Molybdenum while 1.4301 doesn’t contain.