You have touched grade 430 without knowing it. The trim on an older car, the back of a dishwasher, the drum of a dryer, all ferritic stainless. Straight chromium at 16 to 18 percent, no nickel at all, which is what makes this grade magnetic, cheaper than 304, and steady when the nickel price swings the way it always eventually does. USA Piping Solution supplies SS 430 ERW pipes and tubes for appliances, automotive trim, and mild chemical service such as nitric acid handling. Where the part must be welded and stay corrosion-tight, our SS 439 ERW page covers the stabilized grade.
What 430 Is, and What It Is Not
Grade 430 is the workhorse ferritic stainless: straight chromium, no nickel, non-hardenable by heat treatment. That chromium gives it good resistance to nitric acid and to ordinary atmospheric and food-contact corrosion, plus a bright finish that made it the traditional choice for appliance trim. What it is not is a welding grade. Heating 430 through the welding cycle lets chromium and carbon combine at grain boundaries, which locally strips the corrosion resistance and can embrittle the weld zone. For a bracket, a trim strip, or a formed part that is not welded into service, that does not matter. For a welded assembly that must stay corrosion-tight, it matters a great deal, and the stabilized grades exist for exactly that reason.
Specifications
| Grade / UNS | 430 / UNS S43000 |
| Type | Ferritic straight-chromium stainless, non-hardenable |
| Chromium | 16.0 – 18.0% (typical) |
| Nickel | None (this is the point: cost-stable, magnetic) |
| Tube Standard | ASTM A268 for ferritic stainless tube; confirm against order |
| Construction | ERW welded |
| Key Property | Good nitric acid resistance, bright finish, formable |
Applications
- Appliance Components: dishwasher and refrigerator parts, dryer drums, and trim.
- Automotive Trim: the traditional bright-trim ferritic.
- Nitric Acid Service: mild chemical handling where 430's chromium suits the acid.
- Architectural & Interior Trim: non-welded decorative applications.
When to Step Up the Grade
Three common reasons to move off 430: the part must be welded and stay corrosion-tight (go to 439), the service adds exhaust or salt corrosion (go to 436 for its molybdenum), or fabrication needs easier welding at lower chromium (see 429). For high-temperature exhaust entry duty, 409 is the classic choice.
Testing and certification follow ASTM A268 with mill certificates and traceability; see our Quality Policy page. Send OD, wall, and length for availability.
Related Products
- SS 439 ERW Pipes & Tubes
- SS 429 ERW Pipes & Tubes
- SS 425 ERW Pipes & Tubes
- Stainless Steel 409 Pipes & Tubes
- Stainless Steel Pipes & Tubes
Frequently Asked Questions
Can grade 430 be welded?
It can be welded, but the weld zone loses corrosion resistance and can embrittle, because chromium and carbon combine during the heat cycle. For welded assemblies that must stay corrosion-tight, use a stabilized grade like 439 instead. For non-welded formed parts, 430 is fine.
Why does 430 have no nickel, and why does that matter?
Ferritic stainless gets its corrosion resistance from chromium alone. No nickel makes 430 magnetic, lower in cost than austenitic 304, and crucially stable in price when the nickel market moves, which is a real procurement advantage for high-volume parts.
Is 430 suitable for outdoor or marine use?
For mild outdoor atmospheres, moderately; for marine or chloride-heavy exposure, no, it will pit. Step up to a molybdenum-bearing grade like 436 or an austenitic grade for those conditions.