304 & 316 Stainless Steel Plate

Characteristics

Stainless Steel Plate in 304 & 316 stainless steels, which are considered austenitic grades of steel plate. Stainless steel plate is used to manufacture products in a variety of industries where extreme conditions may exist such as marine, oil & gas, chemical processing, power generation, food processing, wastewater, nuclear, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, architecture, and chemical transportation and other applications. An extremely versatile material, it exhibits high strength, toughness, temperature- and corrosion-resistance. Stainless steel plate can be a hot rolled or a cold rolled stainless steel product. Hot rolled plate has a dull gray, mill finish and cold rolled has a smooth, brighter finish.

Steel carries plate in 304 / 304L and 316 / 316L stainless steel alloys. These grades are part of the austenitic family of stainless. Austenitic stainless steel is one of the most widely used and versatile type of steel. While 304L stainless steel plates have excellent corrosion resistance, 316/316L plates have higher nickel content than 304 and 304L giving them even better corrosion resistance especially in marine applications.

304 / 304L Stainless steel plate

304 stainless steel plate is a commercial grade of stainless steel and the most widely used stainless steel. 304 stainless steel plate is a versatile, anti-rusting and heat resistant steel for general use. 304 stainless steel plate is austenitic, meaning it will not attract or hold a magnet.304 Stainless Plate offers good corrosion resistance to many chemical corrodents as well as industrial atmospheres and marine environments. 304 Stainless Plate may become slightly magnetic when worked and is not heat treatable. 304 and 304L stainless steel plates are part of the austenitic family of stainless steel and they are one of the most versatile and widely used varieties of stainless plate. They are a relatively low cost stainless product and used in a variety of applications. 304 grades have excellent low temperature properties and respond well to hardening by cold working. 304 grades have good welding characteristics and post weld annealing is not normally required to restore performance. 304 SS has excellent corrosion resistance in a variety of different media. Typical specifications for 304 and 304L are ASTM A-240, ASME SA -240 and A666.

Applications

304 / 304L plate is used for storage, pressure and processing tanks, pipe and tubing, enclosures, cabinets, and housings for all industries, especially the marine, transportation, architectural, chemical and  food processing industries. 304 / 304L plate is a low-cost, versatile product that is used for applications that require:High strength and toughness, High corrosion resistance, High temperature resistance, High workability, including machining, stamping, fabricating and welding

316 / 316L Stainless Steel Plates

316L stainless steel offer better corrosion and higher strength at elevated temperatures than 304 stainless steel. 316L stainless steel is used in marine applications, along with being used for pumps, valves, textile and chemical equipment, and general uses where 300 series stainless steel is used. 316 / 316L stainless steel plates are part of the austenitic family of stainless steel and are the most widely used varieties of stainless plate. 316 grades contain a higher level of Nickel than 304 giving it an improved corrosion resistance over 304 grades. 316/316L plate is a good option for marine applications due to a good atmospheric corrosion resistance. 316L is a low carbon modification to 316 grades. 316 / 316L stainless steel plate provides more effective corrosion and pitting protection than 304 stainless steel due to increased levels of molybdenum and nickel in the alloy.  It exhibits the same high strength, toughness, high temperature and high workability as 304 stainless alloys.

Applications

316 / 316L plate is used to manufacture products for applications that are exposed to salt water, acids such as sulfuric acid and chloride, petrochemicals and chemicals and high-heat such as engines and motors.  Products include  tanks, supports and frames, enclosures and housings, engine, motor and machinery components and parts, Food processing, Marine, Chemical process vessels, Pharmaceutical equipment.

304 & 316 Stainless Steel Plate  Pictures