304

Grade 304 is the most widely used stainless steel alloy. It offers good performance across the board for commercial and industrial products:

• Corrosion resistance: Thanks to its chromium and nickel content, 304 stainless offers excellent resistance to mainstream corrosive acids and oxidation.
• Weldability: Because it is an austenitic stainless steel, grade 304 is easy to weld and compatible with any kind of resistance or fusion welding. 
• Ductility: The high ductility of grade 304 means fasteners endure significant stress, vibrations, and impacts without breaking.
• Durability: This stainless steel grade provides long-lasting performance in exposed and indoor environments. 
• Thermal resistance: Grade 304 stainless performs well in continuous processes up to 1690 degrees Fahrenheit, or 1,600 degrees for intermittent applications.
• Attractive appearance: Fasteners made with this bright stainless steel grade have a pleasant sheen, making them a good choice for consumer-facing manufacturing and construction needs.

In addition to these performance benefits, 304 stainless steel offers excellent formability. This translates into lower costs for fasteners compared to harder grades or specialized nickel alloys, as the enhanced formability reduces production time and material waste. Manufacturers using 304 fasteners can produce high-quality products while reducing overhead.

The excellent formability of grade 304 stainless steel makes it a good candidate for the majority of fasteners used in manufacturing and commercial construction. One limitation is low hardness, which rules out thread-forming fasteners or self-piercing rivets for metal surfaces.

At Valley Fastener Group, we produce many standard and special 304 stainless steel rivets, including solid, blind, semi-tubular, and collar styles. It’s common to see grade 304 used for countersunk heads, machine screws, SEMs, and U-drive bolts
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Grade 304 weld studs are another popular option. Keep in mind that post-weld annealing is required for maximum corrosion resistance.

Few metals see as much usage in manufacturing sectors. Grade 304 stainless steel fasteners show up in consumer goods such as appliances and decor, in automotive and aerospace assemblies, and especially in food and beverage manufacturing. This alloy is easy to clean and disinfect, so it also shows up frequently in medical settings and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

At Valley Fastener Group, we have over 40 years of experience engineering and manufacturing 304 stainless steel fasteners. We never sacrifice quality, but we also offer competitive pricing to meet the needs of every project. Request a quote right away.