SS 301 & 301LN Stainless Steel Sheet: Composition, Properties & Supply (Jindal MoU Partner)
Jindal Stainless 301 sheet, sold as 301 stainless steel, SS 301, AISI 301, Type 301 stainless steel, or UNS S30100, is the lean-nickel austenitic grade built to work-harden fast, reaching very high strength. So what is 301 stainless steel, in short? It's an 18-8-lean austenitic alloy, nominally 17% chromium and 7% nickel, with a work-hardening rate set deliberately higher than 304. Cold roll it to temper and it moves from a soft annealed sheet all the way to spring-hard strip.
Two lower-carbon, nitrogen-strengthened variants take this further. 301L stainless steel (UNS S30103) and 301LN stainless steel (UNS S30153, EN 1.4318 / X2CrNiN18-7) add weldability and higher yield strength. That's the reason 301LN has become the standard railway coach grade stainless for rail-car and metro body structures.
Relinox operates as a Jindal SS 301 sheet supplier, an authorized MoU-partner channel for genuine Jindal Stainless (JSL) 301 sheet, strip and coil, each shipment backed by mill test certificates (MTC). Coverage runs pan-India, out of our base at Ajmeri Gate, one of Delhi's main stainless steel markets. All composition and property figures given here follow ASTM A240 and IS 6911, cross-checked against Jindal Stainless published data.
By the Relinox Technical Team · figures drawn from ASTM A240, IS 6911 and published Jindal Stainless data.
Jindal Stainless means Jindal Stainless Limited (JSL) in this context, and the reference covers stainless flat products only. Relinox is an authorized MoU partner of JSL. It's not Jindal SAW, JSPL, or JSW Steel, which deal in carbon steel and pipes, and it's not SAIL Salem either.
What is SS 301 stainless steel?
SS 301 (also called 301 stainless steel, AISI 301, or type 301 stainless steel) is an austenitic 18-8-lean grade, running nominally around 17% chromium and 7% nickel, built to work-harden faster and reach higher strength than 304. The nickel and chromium sit at the lower end of the austenitic range, so the austenite ends up less stable. Cold work transforms part of it and pushes tensile and yield strength up sharply. That controlled work-hardening is the whole point of the grade. Annealed 301 comes out as a soft, formable sheet. Temper-rolled 301 is something else entirely: a genuine high-strength spring material.
With the leaner nickel and chromium content that gives it that extra strength, 301 trades away some corrosion resistance compared with 304. It's built for mild atmospheric and structural service, not aggressive chloride environments. The designations run as AISI 301 / Type 301 / UNS S30100; a low-carbon variant, 301L (UNS S30103), exists alongside a nitrogen-strengthened version, 301LN (UNS S30153 / EN 1.4318).
Stainless steel starts the branch, then splits into austenitic (the 300-series), then narrows again into the high-work-hardening 301 family. Within that family sit 301 itself, 301L (low-carbon) and 301LN (low-carbon plus nitrogen, the rail grade). From there the material takes shape: sheet, strip or patta, coil. Tempers follow next, annealed, quarter-hard up through full-hard, and spring temper. Applications close the chain: springs, formed structural parts, rail coach bodies.
In the Hindi market, buyers don't always use the technical names. They ask for 301 patta, 301 patti, or 301 ki sheet. It's the same grade every time, just phrased differently, and on the order itself it usually gets written as an 8x4 301 sheet.
Designations & equivalents
| Variant | AISI / Type | UNS | EN / other |
|---|---|---|---|
| 301 (standard) | AISI 301 / Type 301 | S30100 | 1.4310 (spring-related) |
| 301L (low-carbon) | Type 301L | S30103 | — |
| 301LN (low-C + N, rail) | Type 301LN | S30153 | EN 1.4318 / X2CrNiN18-7 |
For an equivalent grade on a spec sheet, quote UNS S30100 for standard 301, UNS S30103 for 301L and UNS S30153 / EN 1.4318 for 301LN. The mill test certificate confirms conformance to ASTM A240 and IS 6911; check ASTM A240 and IS 6911 for the standard scope.
SS 301 chemical composition
The IS 6911 requirement calls for 18-8-lean austenitic grades, and the ss 301 chemical composition shown below meets that spec, per ASTM A240. Three columns lay out the differences within the family. 301L cuts carbon to improve weldability. 301LN, on the other hand, gains controlled nitrogen to boost yield strength.
| Element | 301 (S30100) % | 301L (S30103) % | 301LN (S30153) % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 0.15 max | 0.030 max | 0.030 max |
| Manganese (Mn) | 2.00 max | 2.00 max | 2.00 max |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.75 max | 1.00 max | 1.00 max |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.045 max | 0.045 max | 0.045 max |
| Sulphur (S) | 0.030 max | 0.030 max | 0.030 max |
| Chromium (Cr) | 16.0–18.0 | 16.0–18.0 | 16.0–18.0 |
| Nickel (Ni) | 6.0–8.0 | 6.0–8.0 | 6.0–8.0 |
| Nitrogen (N) | 0.10 max | 0.20 max | 0.07–0.20 |
| Iron (Fe) | Balance | Balance | Balance |
The lean nickel and chromium (versus 304's ~8–10.5% Ni / 18–20% Cr) do two things: they make 301 more economical, and they leave the austenite metastable so it work-hardens rapidly. 301L simply caps carbon at 0.030% to resist sensitisation during welding. 301LN keeps that low carbon but adds a controlled 0.07–0.20% nitrogen, which strengthens the austenite in solid solution, the basis of its higher yield strength for welded rail structures. These are standard published ranges per ASTM A240; exact heat chemistry is confirmed on the JSL mill test certificate.
SS 301 mechanical & physical properties
Jindal Stainless's 301 tensile strength climbs sharply with each temper step, which explains why the grade gets so much attention. Annealed 301 stays formable, but the mechanical properties shift fast once you move past that state. The figures below are standard published minima per ASTM A240 for sheet and strip. 301LN annealed values come from Jindal and standard published data.
Mechanical properties by temper
| Property | 301 Annealed | 301 ¼-Hard | 301 ½-Hard | 301 Full-Hard | 301LN Annealed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength, min (MPa) | 515 | 860 | 1035 | 1275 | ~550 |
| 0.2% yield strength, min (MPa) | 205 | 515 | 760 | 965 | ~310 |
| Elongation, min (%) | 40 | 25 | 18 | 9 | ~45 |
| Hardness (approx.) | ≤217 HB | ~25 HRC | ~32 HRC | ~41 HRC | ≤217 HB |
Cold rolling this alloy from annealed to full-hard roughly doubles tensile strength, but ductility pays the price. That's the logic behind the 301 full hard / half hard / quarter hard / spring temper ladder. Worth noting: 301LN annealed already carries a higher yield (~310 MPa) than plain 301 annealed (205 MPa), and nitrogen is why. That matters when a part needs welding but still has to carry load. Hardness follows the same curve. Ss 301 hardness climbs from ≤217 HB annealed to roughly 41 HRC at full-hard.
Physical properties
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| ss 301 density | ~7.88–7.90 (≈7,900) | g/cm³ (kg/m³) |
| ss 301 melting point (range) | ~1,395–1,420 | °C |
| Elastic modulus | ~193 | GPa |
| Magnetic response | Non-magnetic annealed; magnetic after cold work | — |
So the ss 301 density is about 7.9 g/cm³ (≈7,900 kg/m³) and the ss 301 melting point sits in the ~1,395–1,420 °C range, per Jindal Stainless / standard published data. To turn these into ss 301 sheet weight per sheet in kg, use our SS sheet weight chart or the stainless steel weight calculator at density ~7.9.
Corrosion resistance & magnetic response
301's corrosion resistance sits in the moderate range. It holds up fine in mild atmospheric and structural service, but it falls short of 304 because of lower nickel and chromium content. That means it's not the right choice for aggressive chloride or marine environments. When general corrosion resistance matters most, move up to SS 304.
Fully annealed 301 is essentially non-magnetic. But it work-hardens fast, and forming or temper-rolling turns some of that austenite into martensite, so the material becomes magnetic after cold work. That's the real answer to the "is ss 301 magnetic" question, and it explains the 301 magnetic response people notice on finished parts. None of this signals a wrong or fake grade; it's normal behavior for 301. Trust the mill test certificate for grade confirmation, not a magnet test.
301 vs 301L vs 301LN: the family
The three grades all start from the same 17Cr/7Ni base. Carbon and nitrogen are what set them apart. That's really the heart of the difference between 301 and 301LN that buyers keep asking about.
| Attribute | 301 (S30100) | 301L (S30103) | 301LN (S30153) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon | 0.15% max | 0.030% max | 0.030% max |
| Nitrogen | 0.10% max | 0.20% max | 0.07–0.20% (added) |
| Key trait | High work-hardening, high temper strength | Low-C, better weld sensitisation resistance | Low-C + N: higher yield, weldable |
| Typical use | Springs, clips, formed structural parts | Welded high-strength formed parts | Railway coach / metro car body structures |
301L stainless steel (low-carbon)
301L stainless steel (UNS S30103) cuts carbon to 0.030% max, which keeps welded joints from suffering chromium-carbide precipitation, or sensitisation. It holds onto the strong work-hardening behavior of 301, yet it's the better pick whenever a high-strength formed part also needs welding.
301LN stainless steel: the railway coach grade
301LN stainless steel (UNS S30153 / EN 1.4318 / X2CrNiN18-7) is a low-carbon, nitrogen-strengthened version of 301. Nitrogen pushes up yield strength, and the low carbon content keeps weldability intact. High strength you can actually weld: that's exactly what rail-vehicle bodies call for, and it's why 301LN has become the standard railway coach grade stainless and rail car body steel for railway coaches, metro cars, and other transport structures. Because its annealed yield runs higher, designers can spec thinner sheet for the same load, which trims the weight of the car.
Work-hardening, tempers & stainless spring grade
301's rapid work-hardening makes it a spring steel stainless, sometimes called a stainless spring grade. In the temper-rolled conditions, quarter-hard through full-hard, up to spring temper, the grade reaches very high tensile and yield strength (see the mechanical table above). That's why it shows up so often in stainless springs, clips, retainers and formed structural parts that need to hold shape under load. Order these by temper: 301 full hard, half hard, quarter hard or spring temper, matching the strength and formability your part needs.
Available forms, finishes & sizes
Relinox supplies and cuts Jindal 301 across the standard Indian flat-product range: ss 301 plate, 301 stainless steel coil, and 301 strip, alongside 301 stainless steel sheet, plus 301 patta / patti in Hindi-market terms. The 4x8 / 8x4 ss 301 sheet is the workhorse size most buyers ask for. Longer runs come in 4x10 and 5x10 ft as well.
| Form | Finishes | Standard sizes | Thickness (mm + gauge) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheet (CR) | 2B, BA, No.4 | 1250×2500 (8x4 / 4x8), 1250×3050 (4x10) mm | ~0.3–6 mm (26G–~7G) |
| Strip / Patta / Patti | 2B, No.4, temper-rolled bright | Slit widths | ~0.3–4 mm |
| Coil | 2B, BA | Slit to width | ~0.3–4 mm |
| Plate (HR) | No.1 | 1500×3000 (5x10) mm | ~4–6 mm |
- Sizes: the ss 301 sheet 8x4 (1250×2500 mm) is the size most people ask for; we also cut 4x8, 4x10 and 5x10 sheets to your list.
- Forms & product pages: SS 301 sheet, 301 coil and 301 patta / patti strip. Trying to decide between HR and CR? Check HR vs CR stainless sheet. Finish details live in SS finishes explained, and the sizes & thickness chart covers dimensions. We confirm exact stocked 301 sizes, tempers and finishes on RFQ.
Applications of SS 301 / 301LN
what is 301 stainless steel used for: this grade earns its place wherever high strength from work-hardening matters more than maximum corrosion resistance.
Springs, clips and retainers, temper-rolled 301 works as a spring steel stainless for stainless springs and formed high-strength parts. See fabrication & engineering.
- Conveyor & structural formed parts, half-hard to full-hard 301 for load-bearing formed components.
Metro cars and railway coaches use 301LN, the railway coach grade stainless, for rail-car and metro body structures. See automotive & railway and bus body & transport.
- Automotive / transport trim, high-strength formed and structural transport parts.
When to choose 301 (vs 304 / 201)
SS 301 vs SS 304 comes down to a trade-off between strength and corrosion resistance. Pick 301 when you need high strength from work-hardening: springs, clips, formed structural parts. Pick SS 304 when corrosion resistance matters more than anything else. 304 carries more nickel and chromium, stays austenitic, and holds up better against corrosion, but it won't match 301's temper strength. Need high strength on a budget, with manganese standing in for nickel? Compare SS 201 and SS 202. For the full range, browse the grades hub.
SS 301 sheet price in India (indicative)
We publish a dated, indicative rate here rather than quoting numbers on this page. Looking for the ss 301 sheet price, ss 301 sheet price per kg, or 301 rate today? For the ss 301 sheet price list, request the current indicative rate on RFQ. Nickel and LME movements shift the price, and so do temper (annealed vs full-hard), finish, thickness, quantity and freight. Today's rate gets confirmed on reply.
| Thickness band | Common 301 form | Indicative rate | Where to confirm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3–1.0 mm | 301 strip, patta / patti | Indicative rate on RFQ | RFQ + prices hub |
| 1.2–3.0 mm | 301 sheet | Indicative rate on RFQ | RFQ + prices hub |
| 3–6 mm | 301 sheet / plate | Indicative rate on RFQ | RFQ + prices hub |
For the baseline austenitic rate, see the prices hub and SS sheet price by thickness. GST / HSN details sit in the SS HSN codes & GST reference. Want a quote? Send your grade, temper, size, finish and quantity through the RFQ form. We'll confirm today's rate and the MTC on reply.
Buy genuine Jindal SS 301 from Relinox (supplier / stockist / dealer)
Relinox is an authorized MoU-partner channel for anyone hunting for a jindal ss 301 sheet supplier, jindal ss 301 sheet distributor, stockist, trader or dealer. We deal in genuine jindal 301 sheet, original jindal 301 sheet, meaning JSL-melted material rather than re-rolled bazaar stock, and every order comes with MTC and CR. As an ss 301 sheet supplier, stockist and trader in india, we serve fabricators, OEMs and resellers across the country.
On supply status, honestly: 301 sits within our verified Jindal core range. The low-carbon and nitrogen variants, 301L and 301LN, come on request or against indent. Current availability and MTC get confirmed on RFQ before you commit to anything. Jindal Stainless melts and rolls the steel itself at its mills. Relinox is the MoU-partner distributor and stockist, not the maker of the steel.
Why Relinox for 301 / 301LN:
- Jindal Stainless MoU partner, we work as an authorized channel, and the material comes straight from JSL's own melt. See Jindal MoU partnership.
- MTC on every order, the mill test certificate that ships with dispatch backs up chemistry and temper, in writing. See quality & mill test certificates.
- Full range + processing, sheet, strip/patta and coil in tempers; cut-to-size / shearing job-work.
- Delhi base + pan-India dispatch, an Ajmeri Gate stock point shipping anywhere in India, with GST invoice.
For an ss 301 sheet supplier near me, dealer or stockist enquiry, check the Delhi stainless steel sheet dealer page, or try the locations hub. Want to confirm genuine jindal 301? The MTC is your surest bet, the general method is laid out in how to identify real SS 304. Send your requirement through the RFQ form; include sizes, tempers, finishes and MTC.
Frequently asked questions
What is SS 301 stainless steel?
SS 301 is an austenitic 18-8-lean grade (UNS S30100), running roughly 17% chromium and 7% nickel, and it work-hardens fast to reach high strength. Nickel content is leaner than 304, which gives up some corrosion resistance in exchange for strength, per ASTM A240.
What is the chemical composition of SS 301?
Under ASTM A240, 301 stainless runs 16–18% chromium and 6–8% nickel, with carbon capped at 0.15%; iron makes up the rest. Carbon drops further in 301L, which holds it to 0.030% max. 301LN goes a step beyond that: it keeps the low carbon but adds 0.07–0.20% nitrogen, which boosts yield strength.
Is SS 301 magnetic?
Fully annealed 301 is essentially non-magnetic. Once you cold-work or form it, though, it picks up magnetism, since part of the austenite converts to martensite. That's normal behavior for 301, so confirm the grade from the mill test certificate rather than reaching for a magnet.
Is 301 a spring steel?
Yes, in temper-rolled conditions from half-hard to full-hard, 301 reaches very high tensile and spring strength. That's why it's widely used as a stainless spring grade for springs, clips and formed structural parts, per ASTM A240.
What is SS 301LN and why is it called a railway coach grade?
301LN (UNS S30153 / EN 1.4318) is a low-carbon, nitrogen-strengthened version of 301 that delivers higher yield strength along with good weldability. That pairing of strength and weldability is why it's become the standard austenitic railway coach grade for rail-car and metro coach body structures.
What is the difference between 301 and 301LN?
Both share the 17Cr/7Ni base, but they diverge from there. Standard 301 allows carbon up to 0.15% and leans on work-hardening for its strength. 301LN takes a different route: carbon is capped at 0.030%, and controlled nitrogen (0.07–0.20%) is added instead, which pushes weldable yield strength higher for railway coach structures.
What is the difference between 301 and 304?
304 has more nickel and chromium in it, so it stays austenitic and holds up better against general corrosion. 301 gives up some of that corrosion resistance in exchange for much higher strength through work-hardening. That trade-off is exactly why it gets picked for springs and high-strength formed parts. See the SS 304 grade page.
What are the mechanical properties of SS 301?
Annealed 301 runs about 515 MPa in tensile strength and 205 MPa in yield, with elongation near 40%. Push it to full-hard temper, though, and that's a different story: tensile strength climbs past roughly 1275 MPa, with yield around 965 MPa, per ASTM A240. Hardness follows the same climb, from 217 HB or lower annealed to roughly 41 HRC full-hard.
What are the density and melting point of SS 301?
Jindal Stainless notes that SS 301 comes in with a density around 7.88–7.90 g/cm³, or roughly 7,900 kg/m³, and it melts somewhere between 1,395 and 1,420 °C. That's the standard published range for this grade.
Does Jindal / Relinox supply 301 and 301LN sheet?
Relinox partners with Jindal Stainless under an MoU. Standard 301 sits within our verified Jindal core range. 301L and 301LN, though, go out on request or against indent, so we confirm current availability and MTC at the RFQ stage.
Do you provide a mill test certificate (MTC)?
Yes, genuine JSL-melted material comes with a mill test certificate that verifies chemistry and temper. Request a sample MTC via the RFQ form.
What sizes and thicknesses of 301 sheet are available?
Standard 8x4 (1250×2500), 4x10 (1250×3050) and 5x10 (1500×3000) mm sheet, plus strip/patta and coil, with thickness running from about 0.3 mm up to 6 mm (mm and gauge). The exact 301 range held in stock, along with temper, gets confirmed on RFQ.
What is the price of SS 301 sheet per kg?
SS 301 gets priced per kilogram, tied to nickel and LME movements along with temper, finish, thickness, quantity and freight. We can share an indicative rate and lock in today's number once you send an RFQ. Check the prices hub for the baseline figure.
Which cities do you deliver to?
Pan-India dispatch from our Ajmeri Gate, Delhi stock point, with GST invoice included. Just send us your requirement and delivery city through the RFQ form.
Related links
- Grades: Grades hub · SS 304 · SS 201 · SS 202 · SS 204Cu · SS 430 · Duplex 2205
- Products: SS sheets · SS coils · Patta / patti strips
- Guides: HR vs CR stainless sheet · SS finishes explained · Identify real SS
- Standards: ASTM A240 · IS 6911
Applications: Automotive & railway · Bus body & transport · Fabrication & engineering
Prices & resources: Prices hub · SS sheet price by thickness · Weight chart · Weight calculator · Sizes & thickness · HSN & GST
Trust & enquiry: Jindal MoU partnership · Mill test certificates · Delhi dealer · Locations · Request a quote
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Send your requirement once, we reply the same working day with today's rate, availability and dispatch time. Mill test certificate with every dispatch. GST invoice on every sale.