What is the minimum yield strength of SUS304 stainless steel round bars?

JIS G4305:2015 mandates a minimum yield strength of 205 MPa for SUS304 stainless steel round bars (annealed condition). Yield strength refers to the stress at which the material begins to deform plastically, a key parameter for load-bearing applications. Unlike carbon steels, SUS304's yield strength can be increased through work hardening-for example, cold-drawn bars may have a yield strength of 310 MPa or higher, depending on the degree of cold working. This work hardening makes SUS304 suitable for applications requiring higher strength without heat treatment, such as fasteners or springs. To verify compliance, manufacturers conduct tensile tests on samples from each batch, with yield strength results documented in the material certificate. The 205 MPa minimum ensures annealed SUS304 round bars have sufficient ductility for fabrication while providing baseline strength for structural use.