Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weightThermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources4 documents: Cleveland-Cliffs, Outokumpu, Steel Construction Institute, Carpenter Technology
Stainless Steel 17-4PH
Cleveland-Cliffs 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, sheet/strip, transverse (Product Data Bulletin, May 2021)
Stainless Steel 303
1.4305 / UNS S30300, Outokumpu typical values (hot rolled, solution annealed) from 'Steel Grades, Properties and Global Standards'; max service from Carpenter CarTech 303 datasheet
1
17-4 PH Stainless Steel Product Data Bulletin (2021)Cleveland-CliffsStainless Steel 17-4PH · Yield strength: typical, transverse, sheet/stripStainless Steel 17-4PH · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, transverse, sheet/stripStainless Steel 17-4PH · Elongation at break: typical, transverse, in 2 in. (50.8 mm)Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Young's modulus (stiffness): H 900Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Density: H 900Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Poisson's ratio: H 900 (column)Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Thermal conductivity: at 149 °C (300 °F), H 900Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Thermal expansion: mean, 21–93 °C (70–200 °F), H 900Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Specific heat: mean, 0–100 °C, H 900Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Max service temperature: strength-retention limit (not oxidation)
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Steel Grades, Properties and Global StandardsOutokumpuarchived copyStainless Steel 303 · Yield strength: Outokumpu typical (product P = hot rolled plate, transverse)Stainless Steel 303 · Ultimate tensile strength: Outokumpu typicalStainless Steel 303 · Elongation at break: Outokumpu typical, A5Stainless Steel 303 · Young's modulus (stiffness): at RT (Table 12)Stainless Steel 303 · Density: at RTStainless Steel 303 · Thermal conductivity: at RTStainless Steel 303 · Thermal expansion: mean, 20–100 °CStainless Steel 303 · Specific heat: at RT
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Design Manual for Structural Stainless Steel, 4th Edition (P413)Steel Construction Institutearchived copyStainless Steel 303 · Poisson's ratio: design value (structural stainless steels)
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Carpenter Stainless Type 303 Data SheetCarpenter Technologyarchived copyStainless Steel 303 · Max service temperature: continuous, scaling limit
Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
Questions
Mechanical
Is Stainless Steel 17-4PH stronger than Stainless Steel 303?
Stainless Steel 17-4PH is stronger: its yield strength is 1,275 MPa against 275 MPa for Stainless Steel 303 (4.64x).
Which is lighter, Stainless Steel 17-4PH or Stainless Steel 303?
Stainless Steel 17-4PH is lighter: 7,800 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for Stainless Steel 303.
Which is stiffer, Stainless Steel 17-4PH or Stainless Steel 303?
Stainless Steel 303 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 197 GPa for Stainless Steel 17-4PH, so the same part in Stainless Steel 303 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Stainless Steel 17-4PH or Stainless Steel 303?
For the same stiffness or strength: Stainless Steel 17-4PH is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
Stainless Steel 17-4PH
Stainless Steel 303
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
about equal
about equal
Stiff beam (bending)
about equal
about equal
Stiff panel or plate
about equal
about equal
Strong rod or tie
lighter
4.7x heavier
Strong beam
lighter
2.82x heavier
Strong panel or plate
lighter
2.18x heavier
For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).
Which is more ductile, Stainless Steel 17-4PH or Stainless Steel 303?
Stainless Steel 303 stretches further before it breaks: 35% elongation at break against 9% for Stainless Steel 17-4PH.
Thermal
Which handles higher temperatures, Stainless Steel 17-4PH or Stainless Steel 303?
Stainless Steel 303 does: 871 °C against 316 °C for Stainless Steel 17-4PH.
Which conducts heat better, Stainless Steel 17-4PH or Stainless Steel 303?
Stainless Steel 17-4PH conducts heat better: 17.9 W/m·K against 15 W/m·K for Stainless Steel 303.
Which expands less with temperature?
Stainless Steel 17-4PH expands less: 10.8 µm/m·K against 16 µm/m·K for Stainless Steel 303.