400 Series Precision Stainless Steel Strip
Ferritic and martensitic stainless strip, 0.05 to 1.0 mm, slit 5 to 1250 mm.
What This Grade Range Is For
400 series stainless is ferritic or martensitic rather than austenitic. It is magnetic, it contains little or no nickel, and it holds up well in dry heat and mildly corrosive indoor service. Where a part does not need the chloride resistance of 300 series, this family removes a significant amount of cost. We supply it from 0.05 mm to 1.0 mm in tempers from annealed to full hard.
Specifications
| Quality Designation | 400 series |
| Temper | Annealed to full hard |
| Surface | 2B, BA, 2H |
| Thickness | 0.05 - 1.0 mm |
| Width | 5 - 1250 mm |
Ranges as supplied. Exact grade within the range is confirmed against your application.
Key Benefits
- Materially cheaper than austenitic grades because it carries little or no nickel
- Good resistance to oxidation at elevated temperature
- Magnetic, which some assemblies rely on for sensing or retention
- Lower thermal expansion than 300 series, which helps in hot assemblies
Problems It Solves
- A hot but dry part is specified in 304 and carries corrosion resistance it never uses
- An assembly needs a magnetic stainless part and austenitic grades will not serve
- Thermal cycling distorts a part made from a higher expansion austenitic grade
Who It Is For
- Heating and cooking appliance manufacturers
- Automotive exhaust and thermal component suppliers
- Hardware producers making magnetic retention parts
Application Scenarios
- Cooker, oven and heating appliance panels
- Exhaust and hot gas components in dry service
- Magnetic clips, retainers and shields
- Indoor architectural trim
Technical Features
- Ferritic and martensitic structures, magnetic in all conditions
- Lower coefficient of thermal expansion than the 300 series
- Less ductile than austenitic grades, so bend radius and draw depth need checking early
How This Material Reaches You
Materials
- 400 series ferritic and martensitic stainless steel
Quality Control
- Thickness checked across the width on every coil
- Surface graded against the ordered finish
- Edge condition checked after slitting
Customization Options
- Temper matched to the forming severity of the part
- Slit width from 5 mm
- Finish specified per the visible face
How It Compares With The Alternatives
| Compared With | What Changes |
|---|---|
| 300 Series Stainless Strip | 300 series draws deeper and resists chlorides. 400 series wins on cost and on dry heat, and it is magnetic where that is wanted. |
| 200 Series Stainless Strip | Both reduce nickel content. 200 series stays austenitic and non magnetic; 400 series is magnetic and better in heat. |
Getting The Specification Right First Time
- Check the bend radius against the grade early, because ferritic grades are less forgiving
- Use it where service is hot and dry rather than wet or salty
- Confirm whether the assembly needs the part to be magnetic before substituting either way
- Specify the temper rather than accepting whatever is in stock
What to Include in Your Enquiry
- The part and how it is formed, including the tightest bend radius
- The service environment and expected design life
- The strip width your die or roll former actually needs
- Coil inner diameter and maximum coil weight your decoiler accepts
400 Series Precision Stainless Steel Strip Questions
Is 400 series stainless magnetic?
Can 400 series be deep drawn?
Where does 400 series outperform 300 series?
What gauge range is available?
Related Materials
Related Guides
Material GuideStainless Steel Strip Surface Finishes 2B BA and 2H Explained
Finish is specified in the same breath as grade and temper, and getting it wrong is expensive because it is only visible once the part is formed.
Read The Guide
Material GuideAnnealed to Full Hard Stainless Steel Strip Tempers Explained
Two coils of the same stainless grade can behave completely differently in a press. The variable is temper, and it is the field most often left blank on an enquiry.
Read The GuideGet a Quote on Precision Stainless
Send the specification or just the part drawing. We will confirm what is achievable in gauge, width and temper before anything is priced.