What material category does SUS304 stainless steel round bar belong to?

SUS304 stainless steel round bar is classified as an austenitic stainless steel under Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS). Austenitic stainless steels are characterized by their face-centered cubic (FCC) crystal structure, which delivers excellent corrosion resistance, ductility, and non-magnetic properties at room temperature. Unlike martensitic or ferritic stainless steels, SUS304 does not harden significantly through heat treatment (except for work hardening), making it ideal for applications requiring formability-such as machining, bending, and welding. Its austenitic structure also provides good toughness at low temperatures, avoiding brittle fracture in cold environments. This combination of properties makes SUS304 the most widely used stainless steel globally, suitable for food processing equipment, architectural components, and industrial machinery parts.