304 Stainless Steel Plate

Overview of 304 Stainless Steel Plate

AISI 304 is the most widely used austenitic stainless steel grade in the world, accounting for over 50% of global stainless steel production and consumption. Specified under ASTM A240 / EN 10088-2 standards with UNS designation S30400, 304 stainless steel plate offers an excellent combination of corrosion resistance, formability, weldability, and aesthetic appeal at a moderate cost. The grade contains nominally 18% chromium and 8% nickel, providing the characteristic austenitic microstructure with non-magnetic properties and exceptional toughness across a wide temperature range from cryogenic to 870°C.

304 stainless steel plate resists corrosion in atmospheric environments, fresh water, food and beverage processing chemicals, organic acids at moderate temperatures, and many industrial chemicals. The grade has become the international benchmark for general-purpose stainless steel applications requiring reliable corrosion resistance combined with cost-effective fabrication. For applications involving chloride exposure or higher operating temperatures, the molybdenum-bearing 316/316L grades or higher alloyed duplex stainless steels should be specified. 304 plate is supplied in a comprehensive thickness range from 3mm to 200mm with multiple surface finishes to meet diverse end-use requirements.

Key Features and Surface Finishes

304 stainless steel plate is manufactured through hot rolling for thicker gauges (typically over 6mm) or cold rolling for thinner sheets, followed by solution annealing at 1010-1120°C with rapid cooling to dissolve carbides and achieve optimal corrosion resistance. The plate is supplied in multiple surface finishes including No.1 (hot rolled, annealed, descaled — typical for thicker plates), 2B (cold rolled, annealed, pickled, light cold rolled — most common for general use), No.4 (brushed satin finish for architectural applications), BA (bright annealed mirror-like finish), and No.8 (mirror polish for decorative applications).

The plate is available in thickness from 3mm to 200mm and width up to 2500mm with standard length of 6 meters, with custom dimensions and cut-to-length service available. Each plate undergoes mandatory chemical composition analysis, mechanical property testing, intergranular corrosion testing per ASTM A262, and dimensional inspection to ensure full compliance with ASTM A240 / EN 10088-2 latest revision. PMI (Positive Material Identification) testing is available to verify grade composition for critical applications. The non-magnetic austenitic structure provides excellent formability for deep drawing, bending, and complex fabrication operations without losing corrosion resistance.

Main Applications of 304 Stainless Steel Plate

304 stainless steel plate is the primary material for food and beverage processing equipment including dairy processing tanks, brewery fermentation vessels, wine making equipment, food storage containers, commercial kitchen equipment, and meat processing systems where excellent corrosion resistance, easy cleaning, and FDA compliance are essential. The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries use 304 plate for clean room equipment, sterile processing tanks, biopharmaceutical reactors, and laboratory workstation surfaces requiring CIP/SIP cleanability.

The chemical processing industry employs 304 plate for storage tanks handling dilute organic acids, mild alkalis, urea solutions, and many industrial chemicals at moderate temperatures. Architectural applications include building facades, decorative panels, elevator interiors, restaurant kitchens, public restroom fixtures, and exterior cladding for commercial buildings. Other major applications include water treatment plant equipment, swimming pool components, marine hardware (in non-chloride environments), automotive exhaust system components, household appliance bodies, hospital surgical equipment, sanitary ware, and a comprehensive range of consumer goods requiring corrosion-resistant stainless steel construction. The grade is also widely used in nuclear power plant non-pressure components, petrochemical heat exchanger shells, and renewable energy equipment manufacturing.

Why Choose Us for 304 Stainless Steel Plate

Shandong Tanglu Metal Material Co., Ltd. supplies premium 304 stainless steel plate sourced from major Chinese stainless steel mills including Tisco (Taiyuan Iron & Steel), Baosteel Stainless, and Lisco with proven international project experience and certified production facilities meeting ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ASME, and PED requirements. Every 304 plate undergoes mandatory chemical composition analysis (PMI verification available), mechanical property testing including tensile, yield, elongation, and hardness verification, intergranular corrosion testing per ASTM A262 Practice A or E, surface finish quality inspection, and dimensional inspection per ASTM A240 / EN 10088-2 latest revision.

We offer comprehensive thickness range from 3mm to 200mm in multiple surface finishes (No.1, 2B, No.4, BA, No.8) with standard widths up to 2500mm and lengths up to 12 meters, plus custom cutting service for specific project requirements. With monthly supply capacity of 5,000 tons of stainless steel plates and established export experience to food processing, pharmaceutical, chemical, architectural, and OEM clients in over 50 countries, we support both small trial orders and large project supply contracts. Each shipment includes original mill test certificate (MTC) conforming to EN 10204 3.1 standard, with EN 10204 3.2, PMI report, and third-party inspection (SGS, BV, ABS, DNV, LR) available for critical applications requiring enhanced documentation.