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304 stainless steel belongs to the austenitic family of stainless steels, with a core composition of 18% chromium (Cr) and 8% nickel (Ni), with small amounts of carbon, manganese and other elements. This alloy ratio gives it a unique performance: chromium forms a dense oxide film on the surface, which can resist the erosion of the atmosphere, fresh water, weak acids and alkalis and other media, and is suitable for wet or mildly corrosive environments. Stable mechanical properties can be maintained below 800°C, and short-term temperature resistance can reach 900°C, suitable for high-temperature operating scenarios. Austenitic structure makes it easy to cut, weld, bend and press moulding to meet the demand of complex process.

Non-magnetic or weakly magnetic, slight magnetism may occur after cold working, and it meets the standard of food-grade material for direct contact with food or pharmaceutical products.

Flat steel, as one of its common forms, has a rectangular cross-section with a thickness usually ranging from 3-20mm and a width of 20-200mm, combining the load-bearing capacity of plate with the flexibility of profiles, which can be customised with different sizes and surface treatments such as brushed, polished and sandblasted.

Product Parameter (Specification)

Products description:

Product information	Parameter	Product intormation	Parameter
Product name	Stainless steel flat bar	Standard	ASTM, JIS, DIN, EN
Length	Customised to customer requirements	Certification	ISO, SGS
Grade-ASTM	201, 202, 302, 304, 304L, 310, 310S, 316, 316L, 321, 410, 431, 430F, 904L & other	Price term	FOB,CIF
Technique	Cold rolled hot rolled	Payment terms	T/T L/C
Packaging and delivery
Note : bundle, plastic bags, thin film, wooden pallet, standard seaworthy export packing or as customer demands

Product Feature and Application

Architectural and decorative works

In the field of construction, 304 stainless steel flat steel is often used in scenes where load-bearing structure and aesthetic design are combined. For example, as a staircase handrail, door and window frames or curtain wall keel support, its high strength and rust resistance can withstand weather erosion for a long time, at the same time, flat steel regular cross-section is easy to hide the installation of structures to enhance the overall aesthetics of the building. In the interior decoration, the flat steel after drawing or mirror polishing can be used as skirting, wall dividers or furniture edging, giving the space a modern industrial style.

Mechanical manufacturing and equipment processing

In industrial equipment, 304 stainless steel flat steel is ideal for manufacturing brackets, rails, connectors. For example, automated production lines in the conveyor belt support frame needs both rigidity and resistance to mild corrosion, flat steel rectangular cross-section can be dispersed load-bearing pressure; precision instruments or medical equipment, the internal structure of the components rely on its non-magnetic properties, to avoid electromagnetic interference. In addition, flat steel easy to weld and cut characteristics, can be quickly processed into shaped parts, reducing production costs.

Energy chemical and environmental protection facilities

In the chemical industry, 304 stainless steel flat steel is used in mildly corrosive environments for pipeline support frames, valve assemblies, or reaction tank reinforcement structures, and its acid and alkali resistance extends equipment life. New energy fields such as solar energy bracket, sewage treatment equipment frame, flat steel in the outdoor humidity or temperature difference in the environment can still maintain the stability of the structure, reduce the frequency of maintenance.

Transport and home life

The interior skeleton of rail vehicles, ship deck railings often use 304 stainless steel flat steel, its lightweight features help reduce the overall weight, while resisting salt spray and humid environment. In the home, from the metal frame of custom cabinets to the support structure of outdoor garden tables and chairs, the durability of flat steel and the diversity of surface treatments (such as matte, coloured coating) to balance function and design to meet individual needs.

Emerging innovative applications

With the development of technology, 304 stainless steel flat steel in the 3D printing substrate, smart home electronics shell and other emerging areas. For example, its thermal conductivity and rigidity is suitable for use as a thermal support for electronic components; in art installations or public sculpture, flat steel can be bent, hollowed out and other processes to achieve creative modelling, showing the value of industrial aesthetics.

Production Details

1.Material composition (ASTM A276 standard)

Major Elements:

Element	Chromium (Cr)	Nickel (Ni)	Carbon (C)	Manganese (Mn)	silicon (Si)	sulfur (S)	phosphorus (P)
Content(%)	18 - 20	8- 10.5	MAX 0.08	MAX 2.0	MAX 1.0	MAX 0.045	MAX 0.03

2.Mechanical properties

Condition	Tensile strength (MPa)	Yield strength (MPa)	Elongation (%)	Hardness (HB)
Data	≥515	≥205	≥40	≤201

3.Physical properties

Condition	Density	Melting point	Thermal conductivity	Resistivity
Data	7.93 g/cm³	1400-1450°C	16.2 W/m-K (at 100℃)	0.72 Ω-m

4.Product specifications and forms

Item	Parameter range	Description
Material grade	304 (06Cr19Ni10)	Conformity standard: GB/T 1220-2007 (national standard), ASTM A240/A240M (American standard).
Cross-section shape	Rectangle	Thickness and width of the combination of different specifications, edges can be right-angled or rounded processing
Thickness (mm)	3 ~ 20	Common thickness: 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20 (can be customised non-standard size)
Width (mm)	20 ~ 200	Common width: 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 200 (on request)
Length (m)	1 ~ 6	Commonly specified size is 6 metres, support section cutting or special length customisation
Surface condition	2B, BA, No.4, brushed, sandblasted, etc.	2B (cold rolled bright), BA (mirror), No.4 (brushed) is commonly used in industry, and the decorative scene can be polished or colour-plated treatment.

FAQ

Q: What are the advantages of 304 stainless steel flat steel compared with ordinary steel?

A: Corrosion resistance: 304 contains chromium-nickel alloy, the surface of the formation of dense oxide film, can resist the atmosphere, water vapour and weak acid and alkali corrosion, ordinary steel is easy to rust.
Strength and life: tensile strength ≥ 520MPa, service life up to several decades, far more than ordinary carbon steel.
Health and environmental protection: in line with food grade standards (GB 4806.9), non-toxic, easy to clean, suitable for food and medical fields.
Processing convenience: welding, cutting, bending performance is excellent, cold working can still maintain stability.

Q: How to choose 304 and 316 stainless steel flat steel?

A: Compositional differences: 316 stainless steel contains 2-3% molybdenum (Mo), stronger resistance to corrosion by chloride ions (e.g. seawater, salt spray environment).
Applicable scenes:
Choose 304: general industry, construction, home and other non-strong corrosive environment (such as inland areas, dry indoor).
Choose 316: coastal areas, chemical equipment, ocean engineering and other high salt and high humidity environment.
Cost: 316 price is about 30-50% higher than 304, need to weigh the performance requirements and budget.

Q: What do I need to pay attention to when processing 304 stainless steel flat steel?

A: Cutting: recommended laser cutting or plasma cutting, to avoid contamination of carbon steel tools lead to rust, need to clean up burrs and passivate the edge after cutting.
Welding: the use of stainless steel special welding rod (such as A102), control the amount of heat input, to prevent intergranular corrosion; recommended after welding pickling passivation treatment.
Bending: Cold bending needs to calculate the minimum bending radius (usually 1-1.5 times the thickness) to avoid surface cracking.

Q: Will the surface treatment (e.g. brushed, polished) affect the corrosion resistance?

A: Possible impact: Treatments such as brushing (No.4) and sandblasting will slightly reduce the uniformity of the surface oxide film, and long-term exposure to humid or polluted environments may increase the risk of localised corrosion.
Solution:
Prefer 2B (Bright) or BA (Mirror) surfaces for high humidity environments to reduce texture build-up.
Regular cleaning and maintenance to avoid surface residues of corrosive substances (such as salt, acidic liquids).

Q: Will 304 stainless steel flat steel rust in humid environment?

A: No rust in normal condition: 304 can be rust-proof for a long time in general humid environment (e.g. rainy season, bathroom).
Special circumstances may rust:
Iron powder or carbon steel particles adhering to the surface (e.g. in contact with ordinary steel) may cause 'contact rust'.
Prolonged contact with strong acids, alkalis or highly chlorinated liquids (e.g. seawater).
Failure to passivate after processing, which damages the oxide film on the surface.
Maintenance suggestions: regular use of neutral cleaner to wipe, avoid using steel wire ball and other hard objects to scrape.

Q: What factors affect the price of 304 stainless steel flat steel?

A: Raw material fluctuations: nickel, chromium international futures prices directly affect the cost.
Specification size: the greater the thickness and width, the higher the unit price; non-standard customisation is 10-20% more expensive than the conventional size.
Surface treatment: BA mirror, titanium plating and other special processes to increase processing costs.
Purchase volume: Discounts are usually available for bulk purchases (e.g. above tonnes).

Q: Is it recyclable? How about environmental protection?

A: 100% recyclable: 304 stainless steel scrap can be re-melted with no reduction in performance, in line with the requirements of circular economy.
Environmental advantages: no toxic substances released during the production process, long-term use to reduce the waste of resources.

Q: How to store 304 stainless steel flat bar to avoid damage?

A: Moisture and dirt: stored in a dry warehouse, avoid contact with acids, salts and other corrosive substances.
Isolation protection: placed separately from carbon steel to prevent contamination by iron filings; stacked with wooden mats to isolate to avoid scratching the surface.
Packing requirements: Wrap the anti-rust film or cover the kraft paper when transporting, and cover the rainproof cloth for outdoor temporary storage.

Q: Can we customise special size or shaped section?

A: Support for customisation: most manufacturers can provide non-standard thickness (e.g. 2.5mm, 25mm), width (e.g. 180mm), and even trapezoidal and curved sections.
Processing limitations: shaped cross-section requires mould opening or special rolling process, higher minimum order quantity (MOQ) and longer delivery cycle.