What is 304 wire used for?

Most common stainless steel

Read more

"18/10" redirects here. For the date, see October 18

304 stainless steel pipes.

SAE 304 stainless steel is the most common stainless steel. It is an alloy of iron, carbon, chromium, and nickel. An austenitic stainless steel, it is non-magnetic, less electrically and thermally conductive than carbon steel, has higher corrosion resistance, and is widely used due to its formability into various shapes.

The alloy was developed in 1924 by W. H. Hatfield at Firth Brown, originally marketed as "Staybrite 18/8".

SAE International classifies it within the SAE steel grades. It is also recognized under different names and designations worldwide:

• 4301-304-00-I and X5CrNi18-9 (ISO 15510)
• UNS S30400 (Unified Numbering System)
• A2 stainless steel (ISO 3506, outside the US)
• 18/8 and 18/10 in tableware and fasteners industries
• SUS304 (Japanese JIS G4303)
• 1.4301 (EN 10088)
• 06Cr19Ni10 and ISC S30408 (Chinese GB/T 20878 and GB/T 17616)

Chemical Composition

The chemical composition of Type 304 stainless steel according to ASTM A276/A276M:

Corrosion Resistance

304 stainless steel offers excellent resistance to a variety of atmospheric conditions and many corrosive materials. It is prone to pitting and crevice corrosion in warm chloride environments and stress corrosion cracking above about 60°C (140°F). It can withstand pitting corrosion in water with chloride levels up to about 400 mg/L at ambient temperatures, reducing to about 150 mg/L at 60°C.

At room temperature, it is sensitive to thiosulfate anions released by pyrite oxidation, experiencing severe pitting corrosion when in contact with pyrite- or sulfide-rich clay materials.

In more corrosive conditions, 316 stainless steel is preferable due to its resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion by chlorides. 304 and 302 steels are susceptible to chloride stress fracture failure in tropical salt water environments like oil or gas rigs, making 316 the better choice for these applications.

Mechanical Properties

304 stainless steel cannot be heat treated but can be strengthened through cold working. It is weakest when annealed and strongest in the full-hard condition. Its tensile yield strength ranges from 210 to 1,050 MPa (30,000 to 153,000 psi).

The density is 7,900 kg/m³ (0.286 lb/in³), and its modulus of elasticity ranges from 183 to 200 GPa (26.6×10⁶ to 29.0×10⁶ psi).

Applications

304 stainless steel is widely used for household and industrial purposes, including food processing equipment, screws, machinery parts, utensils, and exhaust manifolds. It is also utilized in architecture for exterior accents like water and fire features and is a common coil material for vaporizers.

Early SpaceX Starships employed SAE 301 stainless steel before switching to SAE 304L for later iterations like the SN7 test tank and SN8 in 2020.

Notably, 304 stainless steel was used to clad the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri.

Explore more:

Stainless Steel Perforated Tubing For Exhaust

Welded Wire Garden Fence - PVC Coated Euro Fence for ...

The Ultimate Guide to Stainless Steel Screens

With competitive price and timely delivery, Kuojiu sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

Carbon Content

Types 304, 304H, and 304L share the same nominal chromium and nickel content, along with similar resistance to corrosion, ease of fabrication, and weldability. The key difference lies in their carbon content, being <0.08%, <0.1%, and <0.035% respectively. Due to their varying carbon contents, 304H (UNS S30409) is ideal for high-temperature strength, while 304L (UNS S30403) prevents sensitization during welding.

Sensitization, which involves forming chromium carbides along grain boundaries at elevated temperatures, reduces corrosion resistance. This makes 304L preferable for corrosive environments involving welding. Conversely, 304H is suitable for high-temperature applications where higher strength is needed. Standard 304 is generally used for items that do not require welding or high-temperature strength, such as kitchen sinks and cookware.

Carbon content significantly influences room temperature strength. However, adding a small amount of nitrogen can produce 304L with the same tensile strength as 304, resulting in dual certified 304/304L that meets the requirements for both grades.