304 Stainless Steel Plate

One of the most versatile and commonly used stainless steels on the market, Grade 304 stainless steel is the most standard used alloy of this type. Essentially, Grade 304 is an austenitic chromium alloy which is also known as an “18/8” stainless as the make-up of the steel is 18% chromium and 8% nickel.

The chromium content promotes the material’s considerable resistance to the effects of corrosion and oxidation. The stainless steel alloy resists most oxidizing acids and will withstand ordinary rusting though this does not mean that the steel will not tarnish over time. The steel needs to be cold worked to generate higher tensile strength. For stainless steel sections which are welded heavily, post-weld annealing may be necessary to provide maximum corrosive resistance.

Type 304 Stainless Steel has excellent welding and deep drawing characteristics – it is easy to fabricate, easy to clean and aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

304 Stainless Plate, the most widely used of the stainless and heat resisting steels. 304 stainless plate offers good corrosion resistance to many chemical corrodents as well as industrial atmospheres and marine environments Typical specifications for 304 Plate and 304L. Stainless Steel Plate are ASTM A-240, ASME SA -240 and A666.

304 Stainless Steel Plate has very good formability and can be readily welded by all common methods. 304/304L dual certified.

Chemical composition of 304 stainless

Typical specifications for 304 Plate and 304L Stainless Steel Plate are ASTM A-240, ASME SA -240 and A666.

Mechanical Properties of 304 Stainless

304 Stainless Steel Plate has very good formability and can be readily welded by all common methods.

Specification of 304 stainless steel plate

PMI Test Plate

Positive material identification (PMI) is used to analyse and identify material grade and alloy composition for quality and safety control. A rapid, non-destructive method, positive material identification is performed on a wide range of components and assets, and provides a semi-quantitative chemical analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 304 and 304L?

304L is the ultra low carbon variant of 304 stainless. Lower carbon content is the only chemical difference between these two grades, leading 304L to perform better in corrosive environments and be easier to weld.

Why is 304L better for welding than 304?

The lower carbon content in 304L eliminates chromium carbide precipitation caused during welding, putting 304L at lower risk for intergranular corrosion even in highly corrosive environments.

316 vs 304 Stainless Steel: Which is Better?

When comparing 304 stainless steel vs 316, they both have pros and cons to consider when deciding which one to use for different applications. For instance, 316 stainless steel is more resistant than 304 to salt and other corrosives. So, if you are manufacturing a product that will often face exposure to chemicals or a marine environment, 316 is the better choice.

On the other hand, if you are manufacturing a product that does not need strong corrosion resistance, 304 is a practical and economical choice. For many applications, 304 and 316 are actually interchangeable.

Corrosion Resistance

Alloy 304/304H has good resistance to atmospheric corrosion, foods and beverages and to many organic and inorganic chemicals in moderately oxidizing to moderately reducing environments. The high chromium content of the alloy provides resistance to oxidizing solutions such as nitric acid up to 55% weight and up to 176°F (80°C).

Alloy 304/304H also resists moderately aggressive organic acids such as acetic. The nickel present in the alloy provides resistance to moderately reducing solutions such as pure phosphoric acid, whatever the concentration, in cold solutions and up to 10% diluted hot solutions. The alloy can also operate successfully in caustic solutions free of chlorides or fluorides at moderate temperatures.

Alloy 304/304H does not perform well in more highly reducing environments such as those containing chlorides and sulfuric acid.

Alloy 304/304H performs well in fresh water service with low levels of chlorides (less than 100ppm). At higher chloride levels the grade is susceptible to crevice corrosion and pitting. For successful performance under these more severe conditions, higher molybdenum content is need such as 316/316L. Alloy 304/304H is not recommended for service in marine environments.

In most instances, the corrosion resistance of Alloys 304, 304L and 30H will be roughly equal in most corrosive environments. However, in environments that are sufficiently corrosive to cause intergranular corrosion of welds and heat-affected zones Alloy 304L should be used because of its low carbon content.