304 / 304L Stainless Steel

Steel Grade 304 / 304L | UNS S30400 / UNS S30403 | 1.4301 / 1.4307

These types of steel are some of the most regularly specified and have come to represent the embodiment of the basic stainless product. They are part of the 300 Series of steels (as defined in SAE specifications) which covers a range of austenitic chromium-nickel alloys. They are also known as 18/8 stainless due to their chemical composition which includes approximately 18% chromium and 8% nickel by weight. The steels are easy to form, weld, and fabricate and their resistance to corrosion from, amongst other things, acids naturally contained in food has resulted in them being used widely in the food and drink processing industries.

Type 304 and Type 304L have very similar chemical and mechanical properties and are often included on a single material test certificate when the actual properties of a stainless steel plate meet the criteria of both types. This is a very common occurrence. Type 304L is a variation of Type 304 and has a lower carbon content which improves weldability and lowers the risk of reduced corrosion resistance around the weld. Type 304L also has a slightly lower yield and tensile strength than Type 304.

As with most steel plate products a number of different designations are used for these steels. The most common are:

Type 304              1.4301 (EN Steel Number)            S30400 (UNS)

Type 304L             1.4307 (EN Steel Number)            S30403 (UNS)

Industrial Sectors

Food Processing

Chemical Industry

Brewing

Pharmaceuticals

Petrochemicals

Product Applications

Heat Exchangers

Pipelines

Pressure Vessels

Flanges and fittings

Valves

Condensers.

If you have any other requirement for steel plate, please feel free to contact us.