General Properties of 304 Stainless Steel
Alloys 304 S30400 , 304L S30403, and 304H S30409 stainless steel tubing are variations of the 18 percent chromium – 8 percent nickel austenitic alloy, the most familiar and most frequently used alloy in the stainless steel family. These alloys may be considered for a wide variety of applications where one or more of the following properties are important:
- Resistance to corrosion
- Prevention of product contamination
- Resistance to oxidation
- Ease of fabrication
- Excellent formability
- Beauty of appearance
- Ease of cleaning
- High strength with low weight
- Good strength and toughness at cryogenic temperature
- Ready availability of a wide range of product forms
Each alloy represents an excellent combination of corrosion resistance and fabricability. This combination of properties is the reason for the extensive use of these alloys which represent nearly one half of the total U.S. stainless steel production. The 18-8 stainless steel, principally Alloys 304, 304L, and 304H, are available in a wide range of product forms including sheet, strip, and plate. The alloys are covered by a variety of specifications and codes relating to, or regulating, construction or use of equipment manufactured from these alloys for specific conditions. Food and beverage, sanitary, cryogenic, and pressure-containing applications are examples.
Alloy 304 is the standard alloy since AOD technology has made lower carbon levels more easily attainable and economical. Alloy 304L is used for welded products which might be exposed to conditions which could cause intergranular corrosion in service.
Alloy 304H is a modification of Alloy 304 in which the carbon content is controlled to a range of 0.04-0.10 to provide improved high temperature strength to parts exposed to temperatures above 800°F.General Properties
Chemical Composition
Resistance to Corrosion
Physical Properties
Mechanical Properties
Welding
Heat Treatment
Cleaning
304/304L/304LN/304H Tubing and Pipe
