303 Stainless Steel is an “18-8″ chromium-nickel stainless steel modified by the addition of selenium or sulphur, as well as phosphorus, to improve machinability and non-seizing properties. It is the most readily machinable of all the chromium-nickel stainless grades and has good corrosion resistance, although less than other chromium-nickel grades (304/316). It is non-magnetic in the annealed condition and not hardenable by heat treatment.
Properties
303 is typically bought to meet chemistry requirements rather than physical requirements. For that reason, physical properties are generally not provided unless requested prior to production. Any material can be sent to a third party after production to be tested for physical properties.
Typical Uses
Typical uses for 303 include:
- Aircraft Parts
- Shafts
- Gears
- Valves
- Screw Machine Products
- Bolts
- Screws
