The half hard condition of 301stainless steel is achieved by cold rolling. This tempered condition of 301stainless steel is ideal for excellent strength and formability. 301 1/2H is used to make parts that need strength, require considerable drawing or forming, and have a minimum tensile strength of 135,000 psi.
301 half hard is part of the austenitic stainless steel group. Type 301 has four other temper conditions according to the cold rolling process which include 1/4 hard, 3/4 hard, full hard and spring tempered condition. All temper conditions of this grade can be obtained by cold working, not by heat treating. This grade of stainless steel achieved good strength and ductility by cold working.
What is the Rockwell hardness of 301 half hard stainless steel?
The hardness of stainless steel is defined as the property of the material, which indicates resistance to abrasion, scratching, indentation, or even shaping or localized deformation.
Rockwell hardness testing technique is well known and more accurate than other hardness testing systems. This system can be applied to both small and large parts. We can check the hardness of all temper conditions of 301 stainless steel by using the Rockwell hardness method.
The following table shows the Rockwell hardness values for Type 301 stainless steel for each temper condition.
| Temper condition of 301 | Rockwell hardness C HRC |
| 1/4 hard | 25-32 |
| Half hard | 32-38 |
| 3/4 hard | 38-44 |
| Full hard | 44-48 |
| Spring tempered | 52-56 |
What is the difference between half hard and dead soft stainless steel?
The dead soft stainless steel is the condition in which we can easily bend, twist and draw into sheets. This type of stainless steel is more flexible, pliable and easiest to bending. Dead soft stainless steel is mostly used in wire manufacturing industries due to its flexibility.
On the other hand, the half-hard stainless steel is not easy to bend and form into a shape like dead soft due to its hardness. Half-hard stainless steel’s tensile and yield strength is more than dead soft. Half Hard stainless steel provides resistance to forming and is difficult to mold into naturally occurring spirals or patterns.
The following table shows the differences in mechanical properties of these two 301 half hard and dead soft conditions.
| Mechanical properties | Dead soft | Half hard |
| Tensile strength Min MPa | 515 | 930 |
| Yield strength 0.2% Min MPa | 205 | 510 |
| Elongation Min | 40% | 10% |
| Vickers Hardness HV | 160-200 HV | 310-370 HV |
| Shear strength MPa | 410 | 730 |
| Fatigue strength MPa | 210 | 550 |
The cold rolling of half hard and dead soft stainless steel, in accordance with specifications, usually differentiates between soft and hard materials, making it clear to the seller that both types of materials can be purchased as necessary. Hardness testing can differentiate between half hard and dead soft stainless steel. Soft stainless steel is required if a technique like stretch forming is required and Half hard stainless steel is the best choice if you want more strength and hardness.
301 half hard stainless steel properties
301 stainless steel is a very well-known material due to its outstanding properties. Half hard temper condition has excellent corrosion resistance, welding, drawing and forming properties. This grade of stainless steel is very in demand due to its attractive surface.
Some other useful properties of 301 half hard stainless steel are given in the following tables.
Mechanical properties
| Mechanical properties | Half hard 301 |
| Tensile strength MPa | 930 |
| Yield strength 0.2% MPa | 510 |
| Elongation Min. | 10% |
| Shear strength MPa | 730 |
| Fatigue strength MPa | 550 |
| Poisson’s ratio | 0.28 |
| Shear modulus GPa | 77 |
| Elastic Modulus GPa | 200 |
Thermal properties
| Thermal properties | 301 Half hard |
| Latent heat of fusion J/g | 280 |
| Maximum temperature corrosion °C | 410 |
| Maximum temperature mechanical °C | 840 |
| Specific heat capacity J/kg-K | 480 |
| Thermal conductivity W/m-k | 16 |
| Thermal Expansion µm/m-K | 17 |
Physical properties
| physical properties | 301 Half hard |
| Density g/cm3 | 7.88 |
| Melting range °C | 1399-1421 |
| Modulus of Elasticity GPa | 193 |
| Specific gravity | 8.03 |
Chemical composition
Chemical composition of 301 half hard stainless steel
| Elements | Min | Max |
| Carbon | 0.15% | 0.15% |
| Manganese | 2.0% | 2.0% |
| Silicon | 1.0% | 1.0% |
| Chromium | 16.00% | 18.00% |
| Nickel | 6.00% | 8.00% |
| Phosphorus | 0.045% | 0.045% |
| Sulfur | 0.030% | 0.030% |
| Nitrogen | 0.10% | 0.10% |
| Iron | Balance | Balance |
Applications of 301 half hard stainless steel
The 301 half hard stainless steel has excellent corrosion resistance, strength and toughness; due to these properties, this grade of stainless steel is used in many applications, including:
Wheel covers, conveyor belts, kitchen appliances, roof drainage systems, truck and trailer bodies, springs railway and subway carriages, hose clamps and molding and trim for automobiles.
