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304L Stainless Steel Pipes & Tubes

 

Type 304L is a lower carbon variant of Grade 304-the steel can be welded without the resulting issue of carbon precipitation (precipitation of chromium carbide as heat is applied during the welding process which depletes the chromium element of the steel thus reducing its anti-corrosive/oxidation effectiveness). 

As a result, Type 304L stainless steel is a sort after material for use in severely corrosive conditions. Weld annealing is only necessary in applications where stress loads are excessive. 

This steel Grade is found in a variety of commercial sectors, particularly in the chemical industry. 

 Benefits of using 304L Stainless Steel

    Low carbon content eliminates carbon precipitation in the welding process
     Can be used in severe corrosive environments
     Weld annealing only required in high stress applications
     Very similar to Type 304

 304 & 304L plate and pipes have similar properties and in certain cases are stocked with Dual Certification, where it is    concluded that each item has properties and a composition which comply with both steel types. Grade 304H cannot be included    in this equation due to the steel's higher carbon content which is intended for use in elevated temperature applications. 

 304L Stainless Steel Pipes and Tubes Product Range 
 304L Stainless Steel Pipes and Tubes Specifications: ASTM A/ASME SA213/A249/A269/A312/A358 CL. I to V ASTM    A789/A790
 304L Stainless Steel Pipes and Tubes Sizes (Seamless): 1/2" NB - 24" NB
 304L Stainless Steel Pipes and Tubes Sizes (ERW): 1/2" NB - 24" NB

 304L Stainless Steel Pipes and Tubes Sizes (EFW): 6" NB - 100" NB  

 304L Stainless Steel Pipes and Tubes Wall Thickness available:
    Schedule 5S - Schedule XXS (heavier on request)

 Other Materials Testing:

    NACE MR0175, H2 SERVICE, OXYGEN SERVICE, CRYO SERVICE, etc.

 304L Stainless Steel Pipes and Tubes Dimensions:

    All Pipes is manufactured and inspected/tested to the relevant standards including ASTM, ASME and API etc.  

 Background 304L Stainless Steel

Grade 304 is the standard "18/8" stainless; it is the most versatile and most widely used stainless steel, available in a wider range of products, forms and finishes than any other. It has excellent forming and welding characteristics. The balanced austenitic structure of Grade 304 enables it to be severely deep drawn without intermediate annealing, which has made this grade dominant in the manufacture of drawn stainless parts such as sinks, hollow-ware and saucepans. For these applications it is common to use special "304DDQ" (Deep Drawing Quality) variants. Grade 304 is readily brake or roll formed into a variety of components for applications in the industrial, architectural, and transportation fields. Grade 304 also has outstanding welding characteristics. Post-weld annealing is not required when welding thin sections.

Grade 304L, the low carbon version of 304, does not require post-weld annealing and so is extensively used in heavy gauge components (over about 6mm). Grade 304H with its higher carbon content finds application at elevated temperatures. The austenitic structure also gives these grades excellent toughness, even down to cryogenic temperatures.


 304L Stainless Steel Pipes and Tubes Composition

    Typical compositional ranges for grade 304 stainless steels are given in table 1.

    Table 1. Composition ranges for 304 grade stainless steel

Grade C Mn Si P S Cr Mo Ni N
304 min.
max.		 -
0.08		 -
2.0		 -
0.75		 -
0.045		 -
0.030		 18.0
20.0		 - 8.0
10.5		 -
0.10
304L min.
max.		 -
0.030		 -
2.0		 -
0.75		 -
0.045		 -
0.030		 18.0
20.0		 - 8.0
12.0		 -
0.10
304H min.
max.		 0.04
0.10		 -
2.0		 -
0.75		 -0.045 -
0.030		 18.0
20.0		 - 8.0
10.5		 -


 304L Stainless Steel Pipes and Tubes Mechanical Properties

    Typical mechanical properties for grade 304 stainless steels are given in table 2.

    Table 2. Mechanical properties of 304 grade stainless steel


Grade Tensile Strength (MPa) min Yield Strength 0.2% Proof (MPa) min Elongation (% in 50mm) min Hardness
Rockwell B (HR B) max Brinell (HB) max
304 515 205 40 92 201
304L 485 170 40 92 201
304H 515 205 40 92 201
304H also has a requirement for a grain size of ASTM No 7 or coarser.


 304L Stainless Steel Pipes and Tubes Physical Properties

    Typical physical properties for annealed grade 304 stainless steels are given in table 3.

    Table 3. Physical properties of 304 grade stainless steel in the annealed condition

Grade Density (kg/m3) Elastic Modulus (GPa) Mean Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (m/m/0C) Thermal Conductivity (W/m.K) Specific Heat 0-1000C (J/kg.K) Electrical Resistivity (n.m)
0-1000C 0-3150C 0-5380C at 1000C at 5000C
304/L/H 8000 193 17.2 17.8 18.4 16.2 21.5 500 720


 304L Stainless Steel Pipes and Tubes Grade Specification Comparison

   Approximate grade comparisons for 304 stainless steels are given in table 4.

  Table 4. Grade specifications for 304 grade stainless steel

Grade UNS No Old British Euronorm Swedish SS Japanese JIS
BS En No Name
304 S30400 304S31 58E 1.4301 X5CrNi18-10 2332 SUS 304
304L S30403 304S11 - 1.4306 X2CrNi19-11 2352 SUS 304L
304H S30409 304S51 - 1.4948 X6CrNi18-11 - -
These comparisons are approximate only. The list is intended as a comparison of functionally similar materials not as a schedule of contractual equivalents. If exact equivalents are needed original specifications must be consulted.


 304L Stainless Steel Pipes and Tubes Corrosion Resistance

    Excellent in a wide range of atmospheric environments and many corrosive media. Subject to pitting and crevice corrosion in
   warm chloride environments, and to stress corrosion cracking above about 600C. Considered resistant to potable water 
    with up to about 200mg/L chlorides at ambient temperatures, reducing to about 150mg/L at 600C.

 304L Stainless Steel Pipes and Tubes Heat Treatment

    Solution Treatment (Annealing) - Heat to 1010-11200C and cool rapidly. These grades cannot be hardened by thermal
    treatment.

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