AR 
EN 
FR 
DE 
ES 
PT 
JA 
KO مقدمة
Many buyers and specifiers of stainless steel in China have experienced confusion in the last couple of years: they want “national-standard 201 stainless steel” in sheet or strip form, only to find now such aproduct exist. Instead, the market provides a suite of so-called “J-series” grades—J1, J2, J3, J4, J5—all regulated by enterprise (or manufacturer) specifications, not a single mandatory national standard.
كمحترف مصنع أدوات المطبخ الفولاذ المقاوم للصدأ from China, I will authoritatively discuss the following:
- Why and how the original national standards for 200 series steel plates/strips (including 201) were cancelled.
- Reasons why manufacturers adopt J series corporate standards
- Impact on sourcing, quality control and supply chain transparency
- Introduction to Specification and Verification of Material Compliance.
You will receive practical and prudent advice on the topic, supported by China’s steel industry standardization organizations, top research institutions, and corporate communications teams, helping you make smarter purchasing decisions to meet technical specifications and economic feasibility.
What Was “201 Stainless Steel” Under Chinese National Standards?
“201 stainless steel” is an austenitic chromium manganese nickel alloy whose nominal composition originally fell within the limits defined in:
GB/T3280 2000（热轧条和型材）
GB/T4237 2000 (冷轧带钢和箔)
GB/T20878 2007(不锈钢牌号及其化学成分总表)
In accordance with these specifications, the “201” was denoted to the alloy 1Cr17Mn6Ni5N (after that was renumbered to 12Cr17Mn6Ni5N or S35350 in the unified GB/T20878 2024). Key characteristics included:
- Chromium: ~16–18%
- Manganese: ~5–7%
- Nickel: ~4–5.5%
- Nitrogen: Doped into strengthen control
A balance between corrosion resistance, formability, and cost characterized these chemical limits, contributing to the widespread use of 201 in kitchenware, decorative tubing, and numerous light duty applications.
Why the National Standards for 200-Series Sheet/Strip Disappeared
In 2007, when GB/T3280 and GB/T4237 were revised, they both had deleted the sheet/strip designations for 201 and 202. The rationale included:
- Redundant and low market share: Most sheet/strip applications were in the other grades (304, 430, etc.).
- Formability challenges: 200-series alloys have lower work hardening, and their formability requirements varied widely by application, and a single national specification could not meet all of them.
- Industry Feedback: Users and manufacturers asked for greater latitude to customize alloys to unique forming processes (deep drawing, bending, tubing, etc.).
Consequently, as of October 1, 2007, there was no obligatory national or industry standard for corresponding sheet/strip grades called “201” or “202”.
Vacuum period: 2007-2019, no mandatory national standards
In the absence of national or industry regulations, stainless steel mills and processors fell into a compliance gap:
In the absence of national or industry regulations, stainless steel mills and processors fell into a compliance gap:
There are no legal chemical limits for 200 series plate/strip.
Procurement documents must reference technical agreements, temporary company standards or foreign standards (e.g. ASTM, JIS).
Mills published their own draft company standards, i.e. company-specific documents that specified their own chemical and mechanical property requirements. These drafts eventually led to five J-series variants, which gradually became de facto consensus over time.
The Birth of the J-Series Enterprise Standard
Due to the lack of mature national or industry standards, the 201 stainless steel market has derived the J series based on respective needs.
The J-series grades are identified as follows:
| Grade | Copper (Cu) | Carbon (C) | Typical Use Case |
| J1 | Moderate | Low | Shallow drawing, light bending |
| J2 | Minimal | Moderate | Decorative tubing with higher hardness |
| J3 | Low | Higher | Decorative tubing, improved strength |
| J4 | High | Very low | Deep drawing, small angle drawing |
| J5 | Minimal | Highest | Hardest condition, limited forming |
“J series…executed under enterprise and supply contract standards.”
—冶金工业信息标准研究院, 2020
Each steelmaker publishes their own Q‘values or “Q/XXXX YYYY” doc. For example, J1–J4 chemistry and mechanical properties are controlled by Qingtuo Group’s Q/TTIG003’2019.
Key Differences across the J1–J5 Grades
Recognizing these variances is essential for specifying the correct grade.
Copper Content: Increases corrosion resistance and drawability. J4 (up to ~3%) gives you nice deep draw performance.
Increase in carbon content: Raises tensile strength, lowers ductility. By 0.12–0.16% C, J5 gives higher hardness, but lower formability.
Nickel/Nitrogen Balance: Tweaked by mills for deliverability of both austenite types and cold working response.
Mechanical Properties: Tensile: Approx. 450–600MPa; Yield Strength: 210–400MPa; Elongation: 20–40% depending on grade.
During your PO writing process, demand:
- Specify the J brand (e.g. “J4 for deep-drawn kitchenware body”)
- Specify the corresponding enterprise standard number (e.g. Q/ABCD-YYYY)
- Require a quality certificate (MTC) for chemical analysis and mechanical properties
Addressing the Regulatory Gap: 2020 Group Standards
In order to unify the 200 series plate/strip standards, the China Iron and Steel Association issued two group standards in 2020:
- T/CISA045-2020: Hot-rolled 200 series stainless steel plates and strips
- T/CISA046-2020: Cold-rolled 200 series stainless steel plates and strips
Key points:
- Reaffirm the chemical and performance requirements of the 12Cr17Mn6Ni5N (201) series
- Incorporate the J series into the formal framework
- Not mandatory by the state, only valid for participating association members
Although these group standards have been improved, enterprise standards are still the main compliance basis in the actual market.
What This Means for Buyers and Specifiers
- 201 plates/strips without national standards: When specifying “201”, suppliers will quote J series
- Contracts need to be clear: If only “201” is written, chemical composition discrepancies, formability differences or quality disputes may occur
- Quality risks: If corporate standards and testing requirements are unclear, the material may not meet the requirements of forming, welding or corrosion resistance
- Traceability: Ensure that the Q standard or group standard clause is marked in the factory report
Current Best Practices for Specifying 200-Series Stainless Steel
First understand the application requirements:
- Shallow bend → Select J1
- Decorative pipe → Select J2 or J3
Citation of specific standards:
For example: “Material: 12Cr17Mn6Ni5N (S35350), in accordance with Q/ABCD-2023 J4 enterprise standard or T/CISA046-2020 group standard Article 4.2.”
Request for MTC quality certificate:
- Chemical analysis (spectral analysis report)
- Mechanical properties test (tensile strength, yield strength, elongation)
- Including hardness, surface treatment, thickness tolerance and other indicators
Add acceptance criteria:
- Appearance inspection according to ASTM A480
- Ultrasonic testing of internal defects (if necessary)
Review supplier qualifications:
- Request Q corporate standard documents
- Visit the production line or provide factory audit report
- Check laboratory certification (such as CNAS, ILAC)
الخاتمة
The removal of “201” and “202” from mandatory sheet/strip standards by China in 2007 created a regulatory vacuum of a decade. Development of J series enterprise standards (J1–J5) was hastily completed by steelmakers to fill this gap, and they today account for the majority of the market. While 2020 group standards brought back, part way, some coherent agreement, procurement continues to depend on defining J grades and then checking conformance with mill test certs and audit protocols.
Only by fully understanding the market situation, clarifying material needs, citing accurate standards and implementing testing and traceability mechanisms can we ensure that stainless steel components meet performance expectations.