304 Stainless Steel Sheet

Advantages: Higher strength, lower procurement cost (3% - 8% cheaper than 304L), sufficient inventory; excellent bending, stamping and polishing performance.

Shortcomings: There is a risk of intergranular corrosion in corrosive environments after large-scale welding; Use with caution when large components cannot undergo overall heat treatment.

304L Stainless Steel Sheet

Core advantages: All-round welding capability, no need for solution annealing for thick plates, multi-layer welding, and on-site assembly; Stable in low-temperature conditions.

Shortcomings: Slightly lower yield / tensile strength, higher material cost; Poor cost-effectiveness for purely decorative purposes without welding scenarios.

Typical application scenarios:

- Choose 304 (no welding / little welding, dry ordinary environment). For building facades, railings, decorative panels, elevator panels. For household kitchenware, sinks, shells of food single machines (with less spot welding). For dry indoor equipment chassis, ordinary structural supports.

- Thin plate bending parts, polished decorative parts.

- Choose 304L (massive welding, corrosive media, low-temperature equipment). For chemical storage tanks, pipelines, reaction vessels, water treatment equipment. For food entire production lines, brewing, dairy equipment. For pressure vessels, low-temperature liquid nitrogen storage tanks, LNG supporting plates. For large welded steel structures, on-site assembled pipelines, medical equipment. For thick plates that cannot undergo heat treatment after welding (≥6mm thick plates prefer 304L)

Chemical composition of each grade:

Performance data of various grades of metal (for reference only) :