Stainless Steel, Austenitic201-201L-202-204 Stainless Steel Sheet & Plate

The 200 series of low nickel austenitic stainless steels.

Traditionally only popular in the United States, the 200 series of stainless steels are becoming more popular worldwide due to the significantly lower nickel content than the 300 series. As the price of nickel has risen, this has driven more interest in the 200 series as a viable and cost-effective alternative.

With this increased interest, producers of stainless steels have been refining the 200 series with enhanced grades and new grades. Although typically to fulfil a specific requirement for a particular application, these new grades are often simply improvements to existing grades.

Talk to an expertDownload PDF

Range Enquiry

To enquire about our range or your specific requirements, please contact your local service centre.

Related Specifications

AISI 201 stainless steel corresponds to the following specifications:

  • UNS20100/EN1.4372/JIS SUS 201

AISI 201L stainless steel corresponds to the following specifications:

  • UNS20103/EN1.4371

AISI 202 stainless steel corresponds to the following specifications:

  • UNS20200/EN1.4373

AISI 204C stainless steel corresponds to the following specifications:

  • UNS20400/EN1.4597

Properties

Chemical Composition

Applications

200 series austenitics are typically used to replace types 304 and 301 as well as carbon (chrome-manganese) steels mainly for indoor use for low corrosion applications at room temperature.

  • Cooking utensils
  • Restaurant equipment
  • Appliances
  • Automotive trim
  • Architectural applications
  • Windows & channel spacers
  • Doors
  • Railway cars
  • Trailers
  • Hose clamps
  • Furniture

  • Bins

  • Safety Shoes (mid-sole protector)

  • Industrial Strapping

  • Railway Rolling Stock

There is also grade 201LN for welded constructions, structural uses and low temperature applications. Examples include:

  • Sides & roofs of trains

  • Liquified gas storage vessels

  • Structural members/chassis of railway rolling stock, trucks & trailers

  • Coal handling equipment

Characteristics

  • Lower nickel than 300 series – with it being replaced by manganese
  • Lower cost than 300 series
  • Similar mechanical & physical properties to 300 series
  • Similar fabrication performance to 300 series, including deep-drawing
  • Corrosion resistance similar to 430 (i.e. not nearly as good as 300 series)
  • High carbon may cause stress corrosion cracking, especially after welding thicker material
  • Non Magnetic

    Performance Comparison:
  • Formability: Similar to 304, better than 430
  • Strength: Stronger than 304 (and 430)
  • Corrosion Resistance @20 C: Similar to 304, better than 430 but susceptible to stress corrosion cracking/intergranular corrosion especially after welding

Additional Information

Weldability

Find your local Service Centre

An extensive UK network of Service Centres, backed up by a central distribution facility.

  • Experienced multi-product specialists

  • In-house state of the art processing facilities

  • Large fleet of bespoke delivery vehicles

RBL Truck Retouched