What Is the Melting Point of Stainless Steel? – A Complete Guide

1.0 Melting Point Range of Stainless Steel

Austenitic Stainless Steels (e.g., 304, 316): These have slightly lower melting points but offer excellent ductility and corrosion resistance.

• Ferritic Stainless Steels: Characterized by higher melting points, they exhibit outstanding oxidation resistance and stress corrosion resistance.
• Martensitic Stainless Steels:With high melting points and strong hardness, they are ideal for high-strength, wear-resistant applications such as cutting tools and automotive parts.

The melting point of stainless steel varies depending on its composition, but most grades fall within the range of 1400°C – 1530°C (approximately 2550°F – 2790°F).

Tip: Despite their high melting points, actual working temperatures are much lower. For example, Type 304 is recommended for use in air up to 870°C (1598°F), while Type 310 can withstand up to 1050°C (1922°F).

1.1 Table of melting temp of stainless steel grades

2.0 Melting Point Differences Between 304 and 316 Stainless Steel

304 and 316 are the most common austenitic stainless steels, both featuring a face-centered cubic (FCC) crystal structure that remains stable from the solidification point to the melting point.

• 304 stainless steel melting range: approximately 1400–1450°C (2552–2642°F)
• 316 stainless steel melting range: approximately 1375–1400°C (2507–2552°F)

The difference in melting points is mainly due to their chemical composition—316 contains a higher percentage of nickel and added molybdenum, which slightly lowers its melting point.

3.0 Key Factors Affecting the Melting Point of Stainless Steel

3.1 Effect of Alloying Elements

 Stainless steel is primarily composed of iron, chromium, and nickel. Chromium increases corrosion resistance and raises the melting point; nickel enhances toughness but lowers the melting point; carbon increases hardness, and higher carbon content generally correlates with a higher melting point.

Melting points of key alloying elements:

• Iron (Fe): 1535°C
• Chromium (Cr): 1890°C
• Nickel (Ni): 1453°C

The combination of these elements improves oxidation resistance and high-temperature strength. However, certain combinations can cause a melting point depression, meaning stainless steel, despite containing high-melting-point elements, doesn’t always have a higher overall melting point than regular steel—it depends on the alloy ratio.

3.2 Crystal Structure

The crystal structure of stainless steel also impacts its melting point.

• Austenitic (FCC): good ductility, relatively lower melting point
• Ferritic (BCC): higher melting point
• Martensitic: formed through heat treatment, complex structure, melting point influenced by processing methods

3.3 External Conditions:

• Pressure: higher pressure increases melting point
• Atmosphere: gases such as oxygen and sulfur can affect material behavior at high temperatures
• Impurities: higher levels of impurities (e.g., sulfur, phosphorus) reduce the melting point

3.4 Effects of Heat Treatment on Melting Point and Performance:

While heat treatment does not significantly change the melting point, it alters material structure and performance.

• Annealing: improves ductility, reduces residual stress
• Quenching: increases strength, enhances thermal shock resistance
• Stress Relief: improves material stability, reduces deformation risk

4.0 Why Doesn’t Stainless Steel Have a Fixed Melting Point?

Stainless steel is an alloy composed of iron, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, and other elements, each with a different melting point. Unlike pure metals that melt at a single temperature, stainless steel melts over a temperature range as it gradually transitions from solid to liquid.

This melting range is defined by two key terms:

• Solidus Temperature: the temperature at which melting begins
• Liquidus Temperature: the temperature at which the material is fully molten

5.0 Why Is It Important to Know the Melting Point of Stainless Steel?

When using metals in high-temperature environments, understanding their melting point is critical. Choosing a material with too low a melting point can lead to deformation, failure, or catastrophic accidents. Therefore:

Design engineers must ensure the material can withstand the highest operating temperatures

Processes such as welding and heat treatment must consider the melting range to ensure safe and consistent quality

Melting and Processing:

The melting range is crucial for steel manufacturers: controlling melting and casting within the proper temperature window; determining suitable processing methods (rolling, forging, etc.). While the melting point may not directly impact end users like designers or engineers, it indirectly affects manufacturability and heat treatment characteristics.

6.0 High-Temperature Performance and Creep Strength

Even below the melting point, high temperatures can cause: reduced tensile strength (e.g., 100% strength at 870°C may drop to 50% at 1000°C); structural deformation leading to reduced load-bearing capacity and bending; increased oxidation, damaging the protective oxide film and raising corrosion risk; thermal expansion, loosening welds and compromising structural integrity.

Oxidation and Sulfidation Resistance:

Chromium enhances oxidation resistance in stainless steel; alloys with high nickel content may lose oxidation resistance at elevated temperatures; melting point indirectly affects corrosion resistance in extreme environments.

7.0 Considerations in Manufacturing and Welding

The melting point determines the suitability of stainless steel for casting, welding, and other thermal processing methods.

• 304 stainless steel: higher melting point and good heat retention, suitable for medium to high-temperature environments
• 316 stainless steel: better ductility and superior corrosion resistance, ideal for marine or chemical environments

The following list incorporates various common metals and their corresponding melting points.

8.0 FAQ: Melting Point of Stainless Steel