201 stainless steel

201 stainless steel is a 200 series austenitic stainless steel that replaces nickel with elements such as manganese and nitrogen. It is part of the chromium-manganese-nickel-nitrogen alloy system. It is an economical alternative to traditional 304 stainless steel. Its chemical composition usually includes about 16-18% chromium, 3.5-5.5% manganese, 3-4% nickel, and small amounts of nitrogen and other elements. Wanzhi Steel is a professional manufacturer of 201 stainless steel and other stainless steel series. We have 201 stainless steel plates/strips/coils in stock and accept customized sizes. Feel free to contact us for more details.

201 stainless steel Specification

Item	201 stainless steel
Length	1000-6000mm
Width	24-2000mm
Technique	Cold Rolled
Surface	2B,BA(bright annealed) NO.1 NO.2 NO.3 NO.4,8K HL(Hair Line) PVC
Length	1-12m or as your requirements
MOQ	5 Tons
Thickness	0.2-80mm or as your requirements
Shape	Flat Steel Plate
Delivery time	15-22 days after receiving the deposit

Physical properties

Physical properties	Value
Density	7.93 g/cm³
Melting point	1400 – 1450°C
Yield strength	＞275MPa
Tensile strength	＞520MPa
Elongation	55~60%
Appearance	Due to the high manganese content, the surface color is darker than 304 stainless steel (difficult to distinguish with the naked eye)
Thermal expansion co-efficient (@ 20-100°C/68-212°F)	16.6 µm/m°C (Metric), 9.22 µin/in°F (Imperial)

Chemical composition

201 stainless steel is mainly composed of chromium, nickel, manganese and other elements. Specifically, its chemical composition usually includes:

Chromium (Cr): 16.0~18.0%

Nickel (Ni): 3.50~5.50%

Manganese (Mn): 5.5~7.50%

Carbon (C): ≤0.15%

Silicon (Si): ≤0.75% (or ≤0.10% according to some sources)

Nitrogen (N): ≤0.25%

Other impurities such as phosphorus (P) ≤0.06% and sulfur (S) ≤0.03% and the rest is iron.

The summary table is:

Chromium (Cr)	Ni(Ni)	Manganese (Mn)	Carbon (C)	Silicon (Si)	Nitrogen (N)	Phosphorus (P)	Sulfur (S)
16.0~18.0%	3.50~5.50%	5.5~7.50%	≤0.15%	≤0.75% ( or≤0.10%)	≤0.25%	≤0.06%	≤0.03%

Mechanical properties

1. Tensile Strength: 201 stainless steel has a relatively high tensile strength, typically around 520 – 750 MPa. This makes it suitable for applications where the material needs to withstand tensile or pulling forces. For example, in the production of kitchen utensils such as cutlery, tensile strength ensures that the cutlery does not easily deform during normal use.

2. Yield Strength: Yield strength is approximately 275 – 450 MPa. Yield strength indicates the point at which a material begins to deform plastically. In applications such as manufacturing stainless steel furniture frames, yield strength is critical to ensure that the frame can support the expected load without permanent deformation.

3. Elongation at Break: It has an elongation of 40 – 60%. This ductility allows the material to be formed into a variety of shapes through processes such as bending and stretching. For example, when producing decorative stainless steel panels, the high elongation allows the panels to be molded into curved or contoured designs.

4. Corrosion Resistance: 201 stainless steel has moderate corrosion resistance. It is corrosion resistant in normal atmospheric conditions and some mild chemical environments. However, it is not as corrosion-resistant as 304 stainless steel. It is more susceptible to pitting and crevice corrosion in environments with high chloride content, such as coastal areas or in the presence of certain industrial chemicals. Outdoor railings made of 201 stainless steel at the seaside will develop rust over time, while 304 stainless steel will be relatively unaffected.

Performance characteristics

1). Low nickel and high manganese: 201 stainless steel is a low nickel, high manganese austenitic stainless steel, and its grade is usually 1Cr17Mn6Ni5N (Cr stands for chromium, Mn stands for manganese, Ni stands for nickel, and N stands for nitrogen). This chemical composition makes 201 stainless steel a substitute for stainless steel alloys with higher nickel content in some aspects.

2). Good plasticity and toughness: As a type of austenitic stainless steel, 201 stainless steel has good plasticity and toughness, as well as excellent hot and cold processing properties.

3). Acid and alkali resistance: 201 stainless steel has a certain corrosion resistance. However, due to the low nickel and chromium content, its corrosion resistance is still a certain distance compared with high-end stainless steel materials such as 304.

4). High strength: The tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation are relatively high, and it can withstand large external forces without being easily deformed or broken.

5). Work hardening: 201 stainless steel will harden during processing, which sometimes limits further forming, but it has advantages in some applications that require high strength and hardness.

6). Thermal stability and cold stability: It can maintain good performance in various environments, including high and low temperature environments.

Application

201 stainless steel is relatively low in cost and has good corrosion resistance in low-corrosion environments. It is widely used to produce various decorative pipes, industrial pipes and shallow-drawn products. Specific applications include:

Kitchenware: It is widely used in the production of kitchenware such as sinks, countertops and small kitchenware. For example, a stainless steel sink made of 201 stainless steel can withstand the daily wear and tear of washing dishes and is rust-resistant to a certain extent.

Architectural decoration: Elevator interiors, handrails and decorative panels. For example, decorative panels made of 201 stainless steel can be embossed or engraved to create unique patterns for interior walls.

Automotive parts: For example, interiors and some non-critical exterior parts, in some applications that do not require a high level of corrosion resistance, for example, the interior door handles of some economy cars are made of 201 stainless steel. Application examples are listed:

Other brands of the same grade

Other equivalents to 201 grade stainless steel include:

What is its Production process?

The production process of 201 stainless steel generally includes the following steps:

Which is better 304 or 201 stainless steel?

Corrosion resistance: 304 stainless steel has superior corrosion resistance due to its higher nickel and chromium content.

Cost: 201 stainless steel is generally cheaper than 304 stainless steel due to its lower nickel content.

Hardness and brittleness: 201 stainless steel is harder and more brittle than 304 stainless steel due to its higher carbon content.

In summary, 201 stainless steel has good corrosion resistance in low-corrosion environments, and 304 stainless steel or other higher grades of stainless steel are more suitable in high-corrosion environments or applications that require high corrosion resistance.

Summary

201 stainless steel has good plasticity, corrosion resistance, and a long service life. It is a cheap alternative to high-grade stainless steel. It is similar to 301 stainless steel. All stainless steels are high-alloy steels and contain a lot of chromium, so they have a higher degree of corrosion resistance than other steels.

Wanzhi Steel has a large stock of 0.1-3mm thickness, and a full range of stainless steel in any length and width. We provide a variety of forming processes, whether embossed plates, perforated plates or steel strips, steel bars, or steel pipes, We are always able to meet your needs, with a strict quality control system and perfect after-sales service, and are your trustworthy partner.

304, 430, 316 stainless steel is one of our most popular products.