What is 304 stainless steel?

304 stainless steel is a common material in stainless steel, with a density of 7.93 g/cm³; it is also called 18/8 stainless steel in the industry, which means it contains more than 18% chromium and more than 8% nickel; it can withstand high temperatures of 800 ° C and has good processing performance,high toughness characteristics, widely used in industry and furniture decoration industry and food medical industry.

What is the chemical Composition of 304 Stainless Steel?

The most important elements in 304 stainless steel are Ni and Cr, but they are not limited to these two elements.According to the standard regulations, the common judgment in the industry is that as long as the Ni content is greater than 8% and the Cr content is greater than 18%, it can be considered as 304 stainless steel. 

A typical composition of 18% chromium and 8% nickel, 304 stainless steel contains 18-20.5% chromium and 8-10.5% nickel. It also contains about 0.08% carbon, 2% manganese, 0%.5 phosphorus, 0%.03 sulfur, 16-18% molybdenum, and 10-14% silicon.

What are the properties of 304 Stainless Steel？

304 stainless steel is an austenitic grade that can be severely deep drawn. This property has resulted in 304 being the dominant grade used in applications like sinks and saucepans.

The properties of 304 stainless steel also make it ideal for many fabrication processes. A major advantage of 304 over other grades is that it can be easily welded without becoming susceptible to intergranular corrosion. Other benefits of 304 stainless steel include:

- Excellent resistance to a wide range of corrosive environments

- Good formability and weldability

- Outstanding toughness, even at cryogenic temperatures

- Low thermal expansion coefficient

What are the advantages of 304 stainless steel?

304 stainless steel is one of the most popular and versatile types of steel on the market. Its many benefits include rust resistance, durability, and ease of fabrication.

This type of steel is easy to weld, cut, and machine, making it ideal for a wide range of applications. It can be used in both indoor and outdoor environments thanks to its resistance to corrosion. 304 stainless steel is also a cost-effective material when compared to other types of steel.

What are the disadvantages of 304 stainless steel?

304 stainless steel is susceptible to corrosion from a variety of environmental conditions. The most common type of corrosion is known as pitting, which occurs when small holes form in the surface of the metal. This can be caused by exposure to high levels of humidity or chemical pollutants. In addition, 304 stainless steel is not immune to stress corrosion cracking, which can occur when the metal is exposed to high levels of tension or stress.

What is the processing method of 304 stainless steel?

fold etch

The etching processing method is to screen-print an acid-resistant protective film on the surface of stainless steel, and then etch it with ferrous chloride solution to form an artistic pattern.

Fold spray paint method

The spray color method is to spray the pigment particles after screen printing to form a pear skin-like surface and form an artistic pattern.

Folding process

The technological process of the color spray art processing method of stainless steel products is: stainless steel products → silk screen → etching → alkali treatment → silk screen → oxidation coloring → alkali treatment → finished product.

The process of etching art processing method of stainless steel products is: stainless steel products → silk screen → etching → alkali treatment → oxidation coloring → finished product.

The chemical coloring method of stainless steel does not use pigments and dyes, but immerses stainless steel in a heated concentrated chromium sulfate solution for chemical coloring, which is characterized by good food resistance. The inks used in this processing method must have very strong acid resistance, and generally use UV vulcanized inks with special properties that are compatible with the processing technology.

Folding stamping

For stainless steel products, especially stainless steel strips, the most primitive processing method in factories is to use punching machines to stamp products. Stamping includes two methods: direct punching and stretching. Generally, stretching and bending are used if the hardness is lower than 1/2. If the hardness is higher than 1/2, it will be hard, which is straight punching.

Is 304 stainless steel divided into food grade and non-food grade?

304 stainless steel is often seen in our daily life. It contains more than 8% nickel, also known as 18-8 stainless steel. It is mainly used in the food field to make pots and pans, tableware, kettles, etc., but not all 304 are It is food-grade stainless steel. Only those that meet the national GB9684-2011 standard are food-grade stainless steel. 304 stainless steel is also used for industrial purposes, that is, non-food grade.

Where is 304 stainless steel applied?

304 stainless steel is the most widely used chromium-nickel stainless steel. As a widely used steel, it has good corrosion resistance, heat resistance, low temperature strength and mechanical properties; it has good hot workability such as stamping and bending. 304 stainless steel is suitable for food processing, storage and transportation. Has good processability and weldability. Plate heat exchangers, corrugated pipes, household goods (category 1 and 2 tableware, cabinets, indoor pipelines, water heaters, boilers, bathtubs), auto parts (windshield wipers, mufflers, molded products), medical appliances, building materials, chemicals, food industry , agriculture, ship parts, etc.