Stainless Steel Plate 304 304L ASTM A240

304 and 304L ASTM A240 Stainless Steel Plate Overview

304 and 304L ASTM A240 stainless steel plate is a standard 18-8 material – meaning it contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel. 304 Stainless steel plate is one of the most versatile stainless steel materials available. It has excellent forming and welding characteristics. Grades 304 and 304L stainless steel plate is dominant in the manufacture of stainless steel fabrications. 304 stainless steel plate can be braked formed into a variety of components for applications in the industrial, architectural, and transportation sectors. 304L is the low carbon version of 304.

Grades 304 and 304L stainless steel plate is available in coil plates and plate mill plates at Penn Stainless Products. A wide range of plate sizes are available for purchase. We typically stock 304 and 304L stainless steel coil plates in widths including 36”, 48”, 60”, 72” and 2 meters (78.74”). Stainless steel plate coil is typically inventoried in lengths of in 96”, 120”, 144”, and 240”. Non-standard lengths of plate coil can be custom leveled. 304 and 304L plate mill plate is also available for purchase, in widths 48”, 60”, 72” and 2 meters, along with 84”, 96” and 120”.  The plates are in 96”, 120”, 144”, and 240” in length but custom lengths are commonly available.

Chemical Composition of 304 and 304L ASTM A240 Stainless Steel Plate

Although both 304 and 304L stainless steel plate have similar chemical properties, there are a few noticeable differences. To begin, 304 stainless steel plate is comprised of at most 0.08% carbon. 304 stainless steel plate also includes at most 2.0% manganese and 0.75% silicon. it also contains no more than 0.045% phosphorous, 0.03% sulfur and between 18.0% and 20% chromium. 304 stainless steel plate also is made of between 8.0% and 10.5% nickel and at most 0.10% nitrogen. There are some key differences between 304 and 304L stainless steel plate. One of these key characteristics is the amount of carbon. 304 stainless steel plate is comprised of no more than 0.08% carbon while 304L stainless steel plate contains a maximum of 0.03% carbon. The other main difference in chemical composition between these two stainless steel plates grades is the amount of nickel. 304L stainless steel plate can have a maximum of 12.0% nickel while 304 stainless steel plate can only contain up to 10.5%. These are the main differences between the two stainless steel plates. They both contain the same amount of manganese, silicon, phosphorus, sulfur, and nitrogen.

Mechanical Properties of 304 and 304L ASTM A240

Stainless Steel Plate

It is important to understand the mechanical properties of 304 and 304L stainless steel plate, ASTM A240. 304 stainless steel plate has a minimum tensile strength of 75 ksi and a minimum yield strength at 0.2% of 30 ksi. 304 stainless steel plate has an elongation of 40%. This type of stainless steel plate has a maximum Brinell hardness of 201 and a Rockwell B hardness of 92. 304L stainless steel plate has a minimum tensile strength of 70 ksi and a yield strength at 0.2% of 25 ksi. This stainless steel plate also has an elongation of 40%, a maximum hardness of 201 on the Brinell scale and a hardness of 92 on the Rockwell B scale.

Physical Properties of 304 and 304L ASTM A240 Stainless Steel Plate

The density of 304 and 304L stainless steel plate is 0.285 Ibm/In3 at 68 ℉. The thermal conductivity of grade 304 and 304L stainless steel plate is 9.4 BTU/ h ft. at 212 ℉ and at 932 ℉ the thermal conductivity is 12.4 BTU/ h ft. The electrical resistivity of 304 and 304L stainless steel plate at 68 ℉ is 28.3in x 10^-6, at 752 ℉ is 39.4in x 10^-6 and at 1,652 ℉ the electrical resistivity of this stainless steel plate is 49.6in x 10^-6. Grades 304 and 304L stainless steel plate have a module of elasticity of 28 psi x 10^6. Both stainless steel plates have a coefficient of thermal expansion of 9.4 in x 10^-6 at 32℉ – 212℉, 10.2 in x 10^-6 at 32℉-1,000℉ and 10.4 in x 10^-6 at 32℉-1,500 ℉. The specific heat of the 304 and 304L stainless steel plate is 0.1200 Btu/IBM at 68℉ to 212℉ and the melting range of 304 and 304L stainless steel plate is from 2,500℉ to 2,590 ℉.

Specifications of 304 and 304L ASTM A240 Stainless Steel Plate

Stainless Steel Plate 304 and 304L ASTM A240 Applications & Usage

There is a wide range of uses for 304 and 304L stainless steel plate. It is used extensively for home and commercial appliances, including use in kitchen benches, sinks, troughs, and frying pans. It can also be used to store and transport chemicals. 304 and 304L stainless steel plate has a wide range of application in the food processing industries as well, including use in equipment, particularly seen in beer brewing, wine making and milk processing. 304 and 304L stainless steel plate is also frequently used in the pharmaceutical, medical, and chemical processing industry. Heat exchangers, architectural trim and molding is also a common place in which 304 and 304L stainless steel plate is used. 304 and 304L stainless steel plate is also frequently used in woven or welded screens for mining, in the petroleum refining process, quarrying and in water filtration systems. This material is also well suited for the automotive and aerospace industries for structural use. 304 and 304L stainless steel plate is also used to produce nuts, bolts, screws, and other fasteners. 304 and 304L stainless steel plate is also used as a construction material in specifically large buildings and is also utilized in the dyeing, textile, and paper industry.

304 and 304L Stainless Steel Plate Processing & Fabrication Options

• Plasma Cutting
• Plate saw cutting
• Shearing
• Laser Cutting
• Waterjet Cutting
• Forming
• Welding
• Machining
• Plate Leveling

304 and 304L Stainless Steel Plate FAQs