Stainless Steel 309S · supply condition
Stainless Steel 309S Cold Drawn
Properties of the Cold Drawn condition, compared with the other 309S tempers.
Choose for small-diameter bar and fasteners needing higher strength and better surface/straightness than hot-finished bar.
What is 309S Cold Drawn?
309S Cold Drawn is 309S supplied in the Cold Drawn condition — choose for small-diameter bar and fasteners needing higher strength and better surface/straightness than hot-finished bar. 309S Cold Drawn has a yield strength of 480 MPa (69.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 75% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi). 309S Cold Drawn has a density of 7.9 g/cm³ (0.285 lb/in³), heavier than 67% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F). Solution Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Cold Drawn is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Tough — resists crack growth — 200 MPa·√m (182 ksi·√in), better than 84% of stainless steel grades
- High service temperature — 900°C (1,652 °F), better than 84% of stainless steel grades
- Easy to machine — 45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades
- Readily welded — 80/100, better than 79% of stainless steel grades
- High strength — 480 MPa (69.6 ksi), better than 75% of stainless steel grades
309S Cold Drawn properties
Typical room-temperature values for 309S Cold Drawn — 13 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 309S temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the stainless steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
309S Cold Drawn has a density of 7.9 g/cm³ (0.285 lb/in³), heavier than 67% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Mechanical16
309S Cold Drawn has a yield strength of 480 MPa (69.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 75% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
309S Cold Drawn is rated for continuous service to 900°C (1,652 °F). It conducts heat at 15.5 W/m·K (8.96 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 53% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 15 µm/m·K (8.33 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
309S Cold Drawn conducts electricity at 2.2 % IACS, worse than 61% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (68/100), better than 63% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 309S Cold Drawn takes about 62 MJ of energy and emits 4.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 75% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability7
309S Cold Drawn's machinability is fair (45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades); weldability very good (80/100); formability fair (40/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 309S tempers and conditions
309S is also supplied in 5 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 309S overview.
- Solution AnnealedDefaultStandard stocked condition for plate and sheet destined for high-temperature furnace and welded fabrication work.280 MPa yield · 165 HB
- 1/4 HardLightly cold-rolled strip where extra spring/stiffness is wanted and forming demands are modest.520 MPa yield · 240 HB
- Cold DrawnChoose for small-diameter bar and fasteners needing higher strength and better surface/straightness than hot-finished bar.480 MPa yield · 220 HB
- Cold Rolled Annealed 2BThin sheet (<3 mm) with a smoother 2B surface for fabricated liners, ducting and shielding.300 MPa yield · 170 HB
- Hot Rolled AnnealedMost common heavy-plate form (3 mm and up) for furnace hearths, retorts and baffles.275 MPa yield · 160 HB
- AnnealedGeneral softened supply condition for bar, forgings and tube where full solution treatment is not separately certified.270 MPa yield · 160 HB
Working with 309S Cold Drawn
Is 309S easy to machine?
Work-hardens rapidly — use rigid setups, positive-rake carbide, heavy constant feed, low-to-moderate speed and flood coolant; avoid dwell and re-cutting.
Can 309S be welded?
Readily welded by GTAW/GMAW/SMAW with 309/309L (or 310 for hottest service) filler; no preheat, keep interpass low and avoid long holds at 600–900 °C to limit sigma phase.
Can 309S be formed, bent or molded?
Cold forms like 304 but with higher force and springback; hot work at 1150–1200 °C and re-anneal at 1050–1120 °C with rapid cooling.
What surface finishes work on 309S?
Pickle and passivate after hot work or welding to restore the oxide film; can be ground, polished or electropolished — anodizing does not apply.
309S 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CS30908; EN 1.4833 allows up to 0.15 % | ≤ 0.08 | 0.05 |
| SiEN 1.4833 up to 1.00 % | ≤ 0.75 | 0.5 |
| Mn | ≤ 2 | 1.3 |
| P | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Cr | 22 – 24 | 23 |
| Ni | 12 – 15 | 13.5 |
| N | ≤ 0.1 | 0.05 |
| Fe | balance | — |
309S Cold Drawn — frequently asked
What is 309S Cold Drawn used for?
309S Cold Drawn is typically used for welded furnace fittings, boiler baffles, heat-treatment fixtures and baskets, furnace muffles and liners, radiant tubes and burner parts and kiln and oven conveyor components. In short: high-temp austenitic stainless.
What is the yield strength of 309S Cold Drawn?
309S Cold Drawn has a typical yield strength of 480 MPa (69.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 75% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 309S Cold Drawn easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades). Work-hardens rapidly — use rigid setups, positive-rake carbide, heavy constant feed, low-to-moderate speed and flood coolant; avoid dwell and re-cutting.
Can 309S Cold Drawn be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (80/100). Readily welded by GTAW/GMAW/SMAW with 309/309L (or 310 for hottest service) filler; no preheat, keep interpass low and avoid long holds at 600–900 °C to limit sigma phase.
What surface finishes work on 309S Cold Drawn?
Pickle and passivate after hot work or welding to restore the oxide film; can be ground, polished or electropolished — anodizing does not apply.
Can 309S Cold Drawn be formed, bent or molded?
Cold forms like 304 but with higher force and springback; hot work at 1150–1200 °C and re-anneal at 1050–1120 °C with rapid cooling.
What is the maximum service temperature of 309S Cold Drawn?
309S Cold Drawn is rated for continuous use to about 900°C (1,652 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in 309S Cold Drawn?
Yes — 309S 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 A240/A240M — Chromium and Chromium-Nickel Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet, and Strip (UNS S30908) — ASTM International (2023)
- EN 10095 / EN 10088-1 — Heat resisting steels and nickel alloys (X12CrNi23-13, 1.4833) — CEN (2018)
- JIS G 4304/G 4305 — Hot/Cold rolled stainless steel plate, sheet and strip (SUS309S) — JISC (2021)
- GB/T 4237 / GB/T 24511 — (06Cr23Ni13) — SAC (2015)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Stainless Steels — ASM International (1994)
- Heat resistant stainless steel 4833/309S datasheet — Outokumpu (2022)
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.