Hardness and tensile strength can be increased by cold working, but modified by lowered carbon content providing good resistance to corrosion in welded construction where subsequent heat treatment is not practical.

Grade 304L (L= low carbon) is the same as the above except it has an extra-low-carbon analysis. The advantage of this is that it precludes any harmful precipitation in the 800º F to 1500º F range, which might otherwise occur in welding healer sections.