304 Stainless Steel Pipe
304 is the versatile stainless steel used across equipment and machinery that needs good overall performance in both corrosion resistance and formability. The pipe is strong and tough, with high corrosion protection,…
What This Product Is For
304 is the versatile stainless steel used across equipment and machinery that needs good overall performance in both corrosion resistance and formability. The pipe is strong and tough, with high corrosion protection, high temperature resistance and the ability to be sterilised. It has high workability, can be manufactured to tight tolerances and welded, and resists corrosion across a wide range of atmospheric environments and many corrosive media.
Key Benefits
- Balanced corrosion resistance and formability, so one grade covers most equipment duty
- Can be sterilised, which matters for food, beverage and medical equipment
- High workability allows tight tolerance manufacture and straightforward welding
- Round, square and rectangular sections in both welded and seamless process
- Length from 1000 to 12000 mm so long runs need fewer joints
Who It Is For
- Equipment and machinery manufacturers
- Food and beverage plant fabricators
- General piping contractors
- Distributors carrying the full 304 tube range
Problems It Solves
- Carbon steel piping that rusts in washdown and humid environments
- Tolerance problems when pipe cannot be worked or welded accurately
- Sourcing round, square and rectangular section from separate suppliers
- Short fixed lengths that add unnecessary field welds
Application Scenarios
- Food, beverage and dairy process piping that is cleaned and sterilised
- Machinery and equipment frames needing corrosion resistance
- General process lines in mild chemical service
- Architectural handrail and structural tube work
Specifications
Every value below is taken from the published product data. Where a figure is not published it is left out rather than estimated.
| Grade | 304 |
|---|---|
| Process | Welded and seamless |
| Shapes | Round, square, rectangular |
| Round Size | 10 to 1219 mm |
| Square Size | 20 x 20 mm to 500 x 500 mm |
| Rectangular Size | 20 x 30 mm to 400 x 600 mm |
| Wall Thickness | 0.6 to 62 mm |
| Length | 1000 to 12000 mm |
| Standard | ASTM A213, A312, A249, A269, A409, A358, A511, A554 |
Technical Features
- Welded and seamless process
- Round, square and rectangular shapes
- Round 10 to 1219 mm, square 20 x 20 mm to 500 x 500 mm, rectangular 20 x 30 mm to 400 x 600 mm
- Wall thickness 0.6 to 62 mm
- High temperature resistance and the ability to be sterilised
Materials
- 304 austenitic stainless steel
Manufacturing Process
- Tube welding
- Seamless piercing and drawing
- Cold sizing
- Pickling
Quality Control
- Outside dimension and wall thickness checked against the ordered section
- Weld seam inspected on welded pipe
- Length verified within the 1000 to 12000 mm range
- Standard confirmed against the ASTM specification ordered
Customisation Options
- Round, square or rectangular section
- Welded or seamless process
- Length cut anywhere between 1000 mm and 12000 mm
Use Guide
- Choose seamless for pressure service and welded for general and structural duty
- Use square or rectangular section where the design calls for a framed structure
- Keep grinding and cutting tools free of carbon steel contamination
- Check which ASTM standard applies, as pressure and structural specifications differ
How It Compares With the Alternatives
| 316L stainless pipe | 316L adds molybdenum for chloride pitting resistance, while 304 is the more versatile and lower cost choice in general service |
|---|---|
| 201 stainless pipe | 304 has better rust proof performance than 201, which is why it is used for process duty rather than decoration |
| Carbon steel pipe | 304 needs no coating, can be sterilised and resists a wide range of atmospheric environments and corrosive media |
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View specifications →304 Stainless Steel Pipe Questions
What shapes and sizes are available
What wall thickness can you supply
Can the pipe be sterilised
Which standards do you produce to
What lengths are available
Is 304 easy to weld
Quote 304 Stainless Steel Pipe
Send the size, wall or thickness, quantity and destination port. Certificates, packing and lead time are confirmed on the quotation.