301 vs 630 / 17-4PH: 48% composition overlap. Significantly different materials serving different application areas.
301 vs 630 / 17-4PH
Side-by-side chemical composition and mechanical property comparison.
Overview
301
1.4310
Austenitic stainless steel with the highest work-hardening rate of all 300-series grades. Lower Cr and Ni (17/7 vs 18/9 for 304) makes it metastable — cold working induces martensite transformation for extreme strength (UTS >1300 MPa in full-hard temper). THE stainless spring steel. Used for stainless springs, washers, clips, structural components requiring high strength + corrosion resistance, and railway car bodies.
630 / 17-4PH
1.4542
Precipitation-hardening martensitic stainless steel — the highest-strength stainless in common use. Solution anneal at 1040°C then age at 480-620°C for UTS >1300 MPa. Corrosion resistance similar to 304. Cu+Nb precipitation hardening. Trade names include 17-4PH, SUS630. Used for aerospace structural parts, turbine blades, valve components, nuclear waste casks, medical instruments, and oil/gas equipment.
| 301 | 630 / 17-4PH | |
|---|---|---|
| Material Number | 1.4310 | 1.4542 |
| Category | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Standard | EN 10088-2 | EN 10088-3 |
Chemical composition (wt%)
| Element | 301 | 630 / 17-4PH | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 0.05–0.15% | 0–0.07% | Partial |
| Si | 0–2% | 0–0.7% | OK |
| Mn | 0–2% | 0–1.5% | OK |
| P | 0–0.045% | 0–0.04% | OK |
Mechanical properties
| Property | 301 | 630 / 17-4PH | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| tensile_strength | 520–720 | ≥ 1310 | MPa |
| yield_strength | ≥ 205 | ≥ 1170 | MPa |
| elongation | ≥ 45 | ≥ 10 | % |
Compatibility Assessment
301 and 630 / 17-4PH have significantly different compositions (48% overlap). These materials are not interchangeable and serve different application areas.
Automated assessment based on composition analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 301 the same as 630 / 17-4PH?
301 and 630 / 17-4PH have a 48% composition overlap. They are generally not directly interchangeable.
Can I replace 301 with 630 / 17-4PH?
Generally not recommended. The compositions differ significantly (48% overlap). These materials have different alloying concepts and are intended for different applications.
What is the difference between 301 and 630 / 17-4PH?
The main differences are in the following elements: C, Cr, Ni. 301 is a Stainless Steel grade, while 630 / 17-4PH is a Stainless Steel grade.
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Data provided for reference only. Always verify against the applicable specification for critical applications.
All data is for reference only. Equivalents indicate similarity, not identity. Always verify against the applicable specification for safety-critical applications. materialref.com accepts no liability for decisions based on this data.