Stainless Steel 304Cu · supply condition
Stainless Steel 304Cu Cold Drawn
Properties of the Cold Drawn condition, compared with the other 304Cu tempers.
Pick for wire and bar that must hold size and give higher strength while still allowing moderate forming or threading.
What is 304Cu Cold Drawn?
304Cu Cold Drawn is 304Cu supplied in the Cold Drawn condition — pick for wire and bar that must hold size and give higher strength while still allowing moderate forming or threading. 304Cu Cold Drawn has a yield strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 79% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 193 GPa (28 Msi). 304Cu Cold Drawn has a density of 7.93 g/cm³ (0.286 lb/in³), heavier than 76% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Cold Drawn is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 82/100, better than 95% of stainless steel grades
- Easy to machine — 50/100, better than 90% of stainless steel grades
- High strength — 520 MPa (75.4 ksi), better than 79% of stainless steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 70/100, better than 78% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 22%, worse than 76% of stainless steel grades
304Cu Cold Drawn properties
Typical room-temperature values for 304Cu Cold Drawn — 13 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 304Cu temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the stainless steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
304Cu Cold Drawn has a density of 7.93 g/cm³ (0.286 lb/in³), heavier than 76% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Mechanical14
304Cu Cold Drawn has a yield strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 79% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 193 GPa (28 Msi).
Thermal6
304Cu Cold Drawn is rated for continuous service to 750°C (1,382 °F). It conducts heat at 16.2 W/m·K (9.36 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 64% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 17.3 µm/m·K (9.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
304Cu Cold Drawn conducts electricity at 2.4 % IACS, better than 67% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (62/100), worse than 53% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 304Cu Cold Drawn takes about 55 MJ of energy and emits 4.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 51% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 65%.
Manufacturability7
304Cu Cold Drawn's machinability is fair (50/100, better than 90% of stainless steel grades); weldability very good (72/100); formability very good (70/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 304Cu tempers and conditions
304Cu is also supplied in 4 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 304Cu overview.
- AnnealedDefaultDefault stock condition for cold heading, riveting and deep drawing where maximum ductility is needed.210 MPa yield · 145 HB
- 1/4 HardUse when a modest strength increase is needed but the part still has to be bent or roll-formed.550 MPa yield · 25 HRC
- Cold DrawnPick for wire and bar that must hold size and give higher strength while still allowing moderate forming or threading.520 MPa yield · 20 HRC
Working with 304Cu Cold Drawn
Is 304Cu easy to machine?
Gummy and work-hardening like 304 — use sharp, positive-rake carbide, heavy feed, rigid setup and flood coolant; avoid dwelling to prevent a hardened skin.
Can 304Cu be welded?
Weldable by GTAW/GMAW/resistance methods with 308L filler; keep heat input low and avoid hot-crack-prone dilution because copper widens the solidification range.
Can 304Cu be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent for multi-station cold heading, upsetting and deep drawing thanks to the low work-hardening rate; anneal between severe reductions and use chloride-free lubricants.
What surface finishes work on 304Cu?
Passivate (nitric or citric) after forming, or electropolish for best appearance; mechanically polishes well to a bright finish, and no anodizing is applicable.
304Cu chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Csome mills hold ≤0.06 for better formability | ≤ 0.08 | 0.05 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.5 |
| Mn | ≤ 2 | 1.2 |
| P | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Skept low for cold heading | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Cr | 17 – 19 | 18 |
| Ni | 8 – 10 | 9 |
| Culowers work-hardening rate | 3 – 4 | 3.4 |
| Fe | balance | — |
304Cu Cold Drawn — frequently asked
What is 304Cu Cold Drawn used for?
304Cu Cold Drawn is typically used for cold-headed screws and bolts, drawn enclosures, cookware liners, stainless rivets, deep-drawn cups and shells and sink bowls. In short: cold-heading copper-bearing stainless.
What is the yield strength of 304Cu Cold Drawn?
304Cu Cold Drawn has a typical yield strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 79% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is 304Cu Cold Drawn easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (50/100, better than 90% of stainless steel grades). Gummy and work-hardening like 304 — use sharp, positive-rake carbide, heavy feed, rigid setup and flood coolant; avoid dwelling to prevent a hardened skin.
Can 304Cu Cold Drawn be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (72/100). Weldable by GTAW/GMAW/resistance methods with 308L filler; keep heat input low and avoid hot-crack-prone dilution because copper widens the solidification range.
What surface finishes work on 304Cu Cold Drawn?
Passivate (nitric or citric) after forming, or electropolish for best appearance; mechanically polishes well to a bright finish, and no anodizing is applicable.
Can 304Cu Cold Drawn be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent for multi-station cold heading, upsetting and deep drawing thanks to the low work-hardening rate; anneal between severe reductions and use chloride-free lubricants.
What is the maximum service temperature of 304Cu Cold Drawn?
304Cu Cold Drawn is rated for continuous use to about 750°C (1,382 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in 304Cu Cold Drawn?
Yes — 304Cu Cold Drawn is available for CNC machining and sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM A493 — Stainless Steel Wire and Wire Rods for Cold Heading and Cold Forging — ASTM (2022)
- ASTM A314 / UNS S30430 (XM-7) chemistry — ASTM (2021)
- GB/T 1220 / 06Cr18Ni9Cu3 — SAC (2007)
- ISO 3506-1 Fasteners — Stainless steel, property class A2-70 — ISO (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties of Wrought Stainless Steels — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.13B — Corrosion of Stainless Steels — ASM International (2005)
- 302HQ / S30430 cold-heading wire datasheet — Sandvik / Suzuki Garphyttan (2021)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.