304L

Applications

Grade 304L Stainless Steel is used in a wide variety of commercial and industrial applications, including:

· Food processing equipment, particularly in beer brewing, milk processing, and wine making

· Architectural trim and molding

· Automotive and aerospace structural use

· Construction material in large buildings

· Chemical containers, including for transport

· Heat exchangers

· Nuts, bolts, screws, and other fasteners in the marine environment

· Woven or welded screens for mining, quarrying & water filtration

Standards

· ASTM/ASME: S30403

· EURONORM: 1.4303

· AFNOR: Z2 CN 18.10

· DIN: X2 CrNi 19 11

Corrosion Resistance

· Resistance to corrosion in oxidizing environments is a result of the 18 to 19% chromium that the 304 alloys contain.

· Resistance to moderately aggressive organic acids is a result of the 9 to 11% nickel that the 304 alloys contain.

· At times, grade 304L may show a lower corrosion rate than the higher carbon Alloy 304; otherwise, the 304, 304L, and 304H may be considered to perform uniformly in most corrosive environments.

· Grade 304L is preferred for use in environments sufficiently corrosive to cause intergranular corrosion of welds and heat-affected zones on susceptible alloys.

Heat Resistance

· Good oxidation resistance in intermittent service to 1600°F and in continuous service to 1690°F.

· Continuous use of 304 in the 800-1580°F range is not recommended if subsequent aqueous corrosion resistance is important.

· Grade 304L is more resistant to carbide precipitation and can be heated into the above temperature range.

Welding Characteristics

Excellent welding properties; post-weld annealing is not required when welding thin sections. Two important considerations in producing weld joints in the austenitic stainless steels are:

1. preservation of corrosion resistance

2. avoidance of cracking

Processing - Hot Forming

· To forge, heat uniformity to 2100 / 2300 °F

· Do not forge below 1700 °F

· Forging can be air cooled without danger of cracking

Processing - Cold Forming

· Its austenitic structure allows it to be deep-drawn without intermediate annealing.

· These grades work harden rapidly. To relieve stresses produced in severe forming, parts should be full annealed or stress relief annealed as soon as possible after forming.

Machinability:

· The use of chip breakers is advised since the chips can be stringy. Stainless steel work harden rapidly, heavy positive feeds, sharp tooling, and a rigid set-up should be used.

Chemical Properties

Mechanical Properties

Physical Properties