Stainless steel sheet refers to flat alloy steel thin plates with smooth surfaces, corrosion resistance, heat resistance, good plasticity and weldability.
1. Basic Specifications
Material: Iron-based alloy with chromium content ≥ 10.5%, added with alloy elements such as nickel, molybdenum and titanium.
Thickness range: Sheets with thickness from 0.4mm to 6mm; medium and heavy plates refer to those thicker than 6mm.
Standard sizes
Cold rolled: 1000×2000mm, 1219×2438mm (4×8ft)
Hot rolled: 1250×3000mm, 1500×3000mm, etc.
Surface finishes
2B: Industrial matte finish (most commonly used)
BA: Bright annealed finish
#4: Brushed finish (widely used for household appliances and kitchenware)
Mirror (8K): Mirror polished finish
2. Main Grades and Properties
304 (universal grade)Composition: 18% chromium + 8% nickelFeatures: non-magnetic, corrosion-resistant, easy to process, cost-effectiveApplications: indoor decoration, kitchen equipment, food machinery, general structural parts
316 / 316L (high corrosion resistance grade)Contains molybdenum (Mo), resistant to chloride corrosion (seawater and salt spray resistance)Applications: coastal buildings, chemical equipment, medical devices, ships
430 (economical ferritic stainless steel)Contains 17% chromium, no nickel, magneticApplications: indoor decoration, home appliance shells, automotive ornaments
3. Production Processes
Cold RolledThickness: 0.2-3mmHigh surface precision, good luster and relatively soft materialSuitable for: decoration, precision stamping, electrical appliance shells
Hot RolledThickness: 3mm and aboveHigh strength, low cost, rough surfaceSuitable for: industrial structures, pressure vessels, bridges, mechanical bases
4. Main Applications
Architectural decoration: exterior walls, elevators, suspended ceilings, metal curtain walls
Kitchen & household appliances: water sinks, cabinet panels, ovens, refrigerator shells
Food & medical industry: food processing equipment, pharmaceutical machinery, surgical instruments
Chemical industry: storage tanks, pipelines, pressure vessels, environmental protection equipment
Transportation: automotive ornaments, high-speed rail interiors, ship components
304 stainless steel coil is the most commonly used austenitic stainless steel, corresponding to AISI 304 / EN 1.4301 / SUS304. It features excellent corrosion resistance, formability, weldability and heat resistance, widely used in both civil and industrial fields.
5.Chemical Composition (typical, wt%)
| Element |
C |
Si |
Mn |
P |
S |
Cr |
Ni |
| Range |
≤0.07 |
≤1.00 |
≤2.00 |
≤0.045 |
≤0.030 |
18.00-20.00 |
8.00-11.00 |
6.Standard Tensile Properties (ASTM A240 / EN 10088-2)
| Property |
Min Value (Typical) |
Unit |
| Tensile Strength (UTS) |
≥ 515 (75 ksi) |
MPa |
| Yield Strength (0.2% Proof, Rp 0.2) |
≥ 205 (30 ksi) |
MPa |
| Elongation (A50 / 2-inch Gauge) |
≥ 40% |
% |
| Modulus of Elasticity (E) |
190 - 200 |
GPa |
Hardness (Annealed State)
Brinell Hardness (HBW): ≤ 201
Rockwell Hardness (HRB): ≤ 92
Vickers Hardness (HV): 150 - 200
Key Physical & Mechanical Notes
Condition: The above values are for soft/annealed (solution treated) coils (standard supply state: 1010-1150°C quench).
Cold-Rolled / Hardened State:
Tensile/Yield Strength: 550 - 800 MPa (increases with cold work)
Elongation: 10 - 30% (decreases with hardening)
Hardness: 220 - 300 HV (higher for full hard)
Magnetism: Non-magnetic when annealed; slightly magnetic after cold work.
Density: 7.93 g/cm³
Impact Toughness: Good (excellent at cryogenic temps, no brittle transition down to ~-196°C).
7. Common Grades Equivalent
ASTM: 304 (UNS S30400)
EN: 1.4301 (X5CrNi18-10)
JIS: SUS304
GB: 06Cr19Ni10 (S30408)
Surface & Finish
Common surface types for stainless steel coil:
2B Finish: cold rolled, annealed, pickled, skin passed - general purpose
BA Finish: bright annealed, mirror-like luster
No.1, No.4, HL (brushed), mirror polish, etc.
Key Features
Good corrosion resistance in atmospheric, water and mild chemical environments
Excellent formability: bending, deep drawing, stamping, rolling
Good weldability without preheating
Usable temperature range: -196°C ~ 800°C
Non-magnetic in annealed condition
8.Chemical Composition & Mechanical Properties of 304, 316, 321 Stainless Steel Sheets
(Standard: ASTM A240 / ASME SA240, fully annealed condition, all values in mass percentage %)
1. Chemical Composition (Element Limit, %)
| Element |
304 (S30400) |
316 (S31600) |
321 (S32100) |
| Carbon (C) |
≤ 0.08 |
≤ 0.08 |
≤ 0.08 |
| Chromium (Cr) |
18.0 - 20.0 |
16.0 - 18.5 |
17.0 - 19.0 |
| Nickel (Ni) |
8.0 - 10.5 |
10.0 - 14.0 |
9.0 - 12.0 |
| Molybdenum (Mo) |
None |
2.0 - 3.0 |
None |
| Titanium (Ti) |
None |
None |
5×C min. ≥ 0.40 |
| Manganese (Mn) |
≤ 2.00 |
≤ 2.00 |
≤ 2.00 |
| Silicon (Si) |
≤ 1.00 |
≤ 1.00 |
≤ 1.00 |
| Phosphorus (P) |
≤ 0.045 |
≤ 0.045 |
≤ 0.045 |
| Sulfur (S) |
≤ 0.030 |
≤ 0.030 |
≤ 0.030 |
| Iron (Fe) |
Balance |
Balance |
Balance |
Key Composition Differences
304: Classic 18-8 Cr-Ni stainless steel, no Mo / Ti; universal corrosion resistance.
316: Added Molybdenum (Mo); superior chloride/seawater & acid corrosion resistance.
321: Stabilized with Titanium (Ti); eliminates chromium carbide precipitation, resists intergranular corrosion at high temperatures.
9. Mechanical Properties (Annealed State, ASTM Standard)
| Property |
304 Stainless Steel |
316 Stainless Steel |
321 Stainless Steel |
| Yield Strength (Rp0.2) |
≥ 205 MPa |
≥ 205 MPa |
≥ 205 MPa |
| Tensile Strength (Rm) |
≥ 515 MPa |
≥ 515 MPa |
≥ 515 MPa |
| Elongation (A, in 50mm gauge) |
≥ 40 % |
≥ 40 % |
≥ 40 % |
| Hardness (HBW) |
≤ 201 |
≤ 217 |
≤ 201 |
| Hardness (HRB) |
≤ 90 |
≤ 95 |
≤ 90 |
| Hardness (HV) |
≤ 210 |
≤ 220 |
≤ 210 |
| Microstructure |
Austenitic (non-magnetic) |
Austenitic (non-magnetic) |
Austenitic (non-magnetic) |
| Max Continuous Service Temp |
815 °C |
870 °C |
900 °C |
10. Performance Summary & Core Advantages
304
Most cost-effective general-purpose grade.
Good atmospheric, mild acid/alkali corrosion resistance; excellent weldability & formability.
Widely used for decoration, kitchenware, food equipment, ordinary structural parts.
316
Mo-alloyed grade; outstanding resistance to chloride corrosion, seawater, chemical media, pitting & crevice corrosion.
Slightly higher high-temperature resistance than 304; ideal for marine, chemical, pharmaceutical, medical equipment.
321
Ti-stabilized heat-resistant grade.
Excellent anti-intergranular corrosion after welding & long-term high-temperature exposure; best creep resistance among the three.
Mainly for boiler components, exhaust pipes, heat exchangers, high-temperature pipelines & thermal equipment.
11. Supplementary Note (Common Low-Carbon Variant)
304L: C ≤ 0.03% (low-carbon 304, better weldability, less intergranular corrosion)
316L: C ≤ 0.03% (low-carbon 316, most widely used industrial corrosion-resistant grad
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