AbstractThe influence of aluminium (0–0·3 wt-%) on the formability and mechanical properties of type 430 stainless steel was evaluated. Also, the effect of thermomechanical parameters such as hot band annealing and coiling temperature was examined at three different aluminium levels. Some comparisons are made between the processing routes for the deep drawing of carbon steel sheet andferritic stainless steel sheet. It is concluded that any influence that aluminium has on the engineering properties of these alloys depends on the thermomechanical processing treatment selected. Low hot finishing temperatures and no hot band annealing are detrimental to texture and sheet metal formability. Finishing temperatures of ~900 to 950°C coupled with relatively low coiling temperatures (~650°) result in the best formability, although the improvement in texture is not marked. The optimum aluminium levelfor the alloys studied appears to be about 0·1%. Fine dispersions of carbide and nitride precipitates are necessary to produce a relatively fine, uniformly equiaxed grain size, which is the optimum for deep drawing and stretching operations.MST/1931