I. Application Fields of 304/316L Stainless Steel Plates
1. Application Fields of 304 Stainless Steel Plates
As a classic representative of austenitic stainless steel, 304 stainless steel plates are widely used in various civil and industrial fields due to their balanced corrosion resistance, excellent formability and high cost performance, making them a highly versatile stainless steel material.
1）Architectural Decoration: Suitable for interior decorative panels, elevator interiors, curtain walls, railings, handrails, etc. Its surface can be polished, brushed and other treatments, combining aesthetics and weather resistance, which can adapt to various architectural styles and is widely used in commercial complexes and high-end residences.
2）Food Processing and Kitchenware: Can be used to manufacture food processing equipment (such as workbenches, conveying pipelines, storage tanks), kitchenware (cookware, tableware, storage cabinets), etc. It meets food-grade safety standards, has no risk of bacterial growth, can withstand high-temperature cleaning, and ensures food hygiene and safety.
3）General Industrial Fields: Suitable for general chemical equipment, mechanical parts, electrical enclosures, heat exchangers, etc. It can resist weak corrosive media at room temperature and has sufficient mechanical strength to meet the durability requirements of general industrial production.
4）Water Treatment: Used in civil tap water transmission pipelines, water purification equipment housings, etc., which can effectively avoid secondary pollution of water quality and adapt to long-term use in conventional water quality environments.
304 Stainless Steel Plates for Water Treatment
2. Application Fields of 316L Stainless Steel Plates
On the basis of 304 material, 316L stainless steel plates add molybdenum element. The low carbon content makes its welding performance better, and the corrosion resistance (especially the resistance to chloride ion corrosion) is greatly improved. It is designed for harsh environments and suitable for scenarios with higher requirements on material performance.
1）Marine Engineering: It is the preferred material for submarine pipelines, ship decks, seawater desalination equipment, coastal railings, etc. It can resist the strong corrosion of seawater and salt spray, maintain structural stability in marine environment for a long time, and its service life can reach more than 50 years.
2）Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries: Suitable for chemical reactors, storage tanks, acid-base conveying pipelines, pharmaceutical equipment, etc. It can withstand corrosive media such as sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid, has no risk of heavy metal migration, and meets the high hygiene standards of the pharmaceutical industry.
3）Medical Equipment: Used in the manufacture of surgical instruments, medical operating tables, disinfection equipment, implantable medical device accessories, etc. It has excellent biocompatibility and sterilization resistance, and will not have adverse reactions with human tissues, ensuring medical safety.
4）Low Temperature and High-end Manufacturing: Can be used in liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tanks, superconducting magnet equipment, aerospace parts, etc. It can maintain good toughness even in extremely cold environment of -162℃, meeting the strict performance requirements of high-end equipment.
316L Stainless Steel Plates for Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries
II. Why Choose 304/316L Stainless Steel Plates?
1. Excellent Corrosion Resistance
304 stainless steel forms a dense chromium oxide protective film chromium (18-20%) and nickel (8-12%), which can resist most weak corrosive media at room temperature; 316L stainless steel further enhances chloride ion corrosion resistance by adding 2-3% molybdenum, performing far better than 304 in marine and acidic environments, with a salt spray test resistance time of more than 1000 hours. Both are low-carbon austenitic structures, not easy to produce intergranular corrosion after welding, suitable for complex forming and welding processing.
2. Excellent Mechanical and Processing Properties
Both have a tensile strength of ≥485MPa and an elongation of ≥40%, with good toughness and formability, and can be processed into products of different shapes through various processes such as cold rolling, hot rolling, bending, and stamping. Non-magnetic (weak magnetism may occur after cold processing), with various surface treatment methods, it can meet the appearance and functional requirements of different scenarios such as decoration and industry.
3. Safety, Environmental Protection and Long-term Durability
Both 304/316L stainless steel are food-grade safe materials, odorless, no heavy metal migration, and can be directly in contact with food and human body. Long service life: 304 stainless steel can be used for more than 30 years in ordinary environment, and 316L can still be used stably for 50 years in harsh environment, without frequent replacement, reducing long-term use cost, and can be 100% recycled, in line with the concept of green environmental protection.
4. High Cost Performance and Scene Adaptability
304 stainless steel has outstanding cost performance, can meet the needs of most conventional scenarios, and is an economical choice for civil and general industrial fields; although the cost of 316L stainless steel is higher than that of 304 (about 30-50% higher), it can avoid high maintenance costs caused by equipment corrosion and damage in harsh corrosive environments, and is a necessary choice for high-end industrial, marine engineering and other scenarios. Both can be flexibly adapted according to scenario needs.
MAYER Stainless Steel Product Certificate
III. MAYER's Corporate Advantages and Reasons to Choose MAYER
As a leading enterprise in China's stainless steel pipe and fitting industry, MAYER has always taken technological innovation and quality control as the core since its establishment in 1959. With its full industrial chain layout and global certification advantages, it has become a trusted partner of foreign customers.
1. Profound Brand Heritage and Listed Enterprise Strength Guarantee
MAYER is a Sino-foreign joint venture listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (Stock Code: 01116.HK), with more than 60 years of experience in stainless steel product production. It is a national-level specialized, refined, distinctive and innovative "Little Giant" enterprise. Its brand strength and operational stability are recognized by the capital market, providing customers with long-term and reliable cooperation guarantees.
2. Full Industrial Chain Independent Control, Traceable Quality
MAYER is one of the only manufacturers in China that can independently control the entire production process from steel coil cutting to stainless steel pipe finished products and accessories. Raw materials are all from China's three major steel mills, each batch of raw materials undergoes strict quality inspection, the entire production process is completed in its own factory, and a complete quality traceability system is established, which can trace from raw materials to finished products to ensure consistent quality of each batch of products.
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Customer Visit Our Factory
3. Global Certifications and Technological Patents Support
MAYER's products have passed a number of international authoritative certifications, including Australia's WaterMark certification, the UK's WRAS drinking water safety certification, Hong Kong's HK WSD certification, and have passed tests in line with Russian GOST standards, which can meet the market access requirements of different regions around the world. At the same time, the enterprise has 52 invention and utility model patents, and has core competitiveness in stainless steel processing technology, anti-corrosion technology, etc., and can provide customers with customized solutions.
4. Full-process Services and Global Layout
MAYER's products are exported to Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas and many other regions around the world, and have established long-term cooperative relations with governments and large enterprises in many countries. It is a designated supplier of many water supply companies and China's Ministry of Construction. It provides customers with one-stop professional services from design, production, testing to installation guidance and after-sales maintenance, and is equipped with a professional international service team to respond to customer needs in a timely manner and solve various problems in cross-border cooperation.
Guangzhou MAYER - Stainless Steel Tube and Fitting Manufacturer
IV. Conclusion
With their excellent performance and wide adaptability, 304/316L stainless steel plates have become indispensable core materials in various industries. With more than 60 years of manufacturing experience, full industrial chain control capabilities, global certification advantages and professional service system, MAYER provides foreign customers with high-quality, reliable stainless steel products and solutions. Choosing MAYER means choosing quality, safety and long-term value.
