The 301 stainless steel strip is a metastable austenitic stainless steel with a fully austenitic structure under fully dissolved conditions. Among the stainless steels, 301 is the most easily cold-strengthened steel grade. The cold deformation process can improve the strength and hardness of the steel, and retain sufficient plasticity and toughness. In addition, the steel has good rust resistance under atmospheric conditions. However, in the reducing medium, the corrosion resistance is not good, and the chemical medium such as acid-base salt is poor in corrosion resistance, so it is not recommended for corrosive environments. The 301 is mainly used in cold working conditions for equipment parts that are subjected to higher loads and that are expected to reduce the weight of equipment and rust. In addition, the steel is prone to work hardening when impacted by external forces to absorb more impact energy, which will provide more reliable safety for equipment and personnel.

301 is prone to work hardening during deformation and is used in places requiring high strength.