Characteristics and Application Areas of Common Stainless Steel Materials

Stainless steel exhibits excellent corrosion resistance, formability, and toughness over a wide temperature range, making it widely used in heavy industry, light industry, consumer goods, and architectural decoration. However, appropriate material selection is essential for different service environments, and choosing the right stainless steel grade is of paramount importance.

The following sections will introduce the properties of various stainless steel grades and their respective application areas.

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300 series

301

Compared with 304 steel, it has lower chromium and nickel contents, and its tensile strength and hardness both increase during cold working. The material is non-magnetic, but becomes magnetic after cold working.

Trains, airplanes, conveyor belts, vehicles, bolts, nuts, springs, and sieves

301L

Building on the 301 steel grade, the carbon content is reduced to enhance the grain-boundary corrosion resistance of the weld joint; meanwhile, nitrogen is added to offset the strength loss resulting from the lower carbon level, thereby ensuring the steel’s overall strength.

Railway Vehicle Structure and Exterior Materials

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304

As a widely used steel grade, it exhibits excellent corrosion resistance, heat resistance, low-temperature strength, and mechanical properties. It also boasts superior hot-working characteristics, such as stamping and bending, and does not undergo hardening upon heat treatment (non-magnetic, with a service temperature of −196°C). Celsius degree About 800 Celsius degree ).

Medical devices, construction materials, chemical products, shipbuilding components, automotive parts, the food industry, household products (tableware, cabinets, indoor plumbing, water heaters, bathtubs, etc.), and agriculture.

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304L

As a low-carbon 304 stainless steel, it exhibits corrosion resistance comparable to that of 304 steel under normal conditions. However, after welding or stress-relief treatment, its resistance to intergranular corrosion is exceptionally excellent, and it can maintain good performance without heat treatment. It also offers excellent corrosion resistance and can be used at temperatures as low as −196°C. Celsius degree About 800 Celsius degree .

It is used in outdoor, open-air equipment in the chemical, coal, and petroleum industries, where excellent resistance to intergranular corrosion is required; it is also employed in heat‑resistant building‑material components and in parts that are difficult to subject to heat treatment.

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316L

As a low-carbon variant of 316 stainless steel, it not only exhibits the same properties as 316 steel but also boasts excellent resistance to intergranular corrosion.

In chloride‑containing corrosive environments, its corrosion resistance surpasses that of 304 and 304L. It is suitable for the seawater desalination and water treatment industries.

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321

Titanium is added to 304 stainless steel to prevent intergranular corrosion; it is suitable for service temperatures below 430°C. Celsius degree Negative 900 Celsius degree .

Aircraft, exhaust pipes, boiler steam drums

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400 series

409L

The addition of titanium has improved both its high-temperature corrosion resistance and high-temperature strength.

Products such as automotive exhaust pipes, heat exchangers, and pressure vessels that have not undergone post-weld heat treatment.

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410L

Based on 410 steel, the carbon content has been reduced, resulting in excellent machinability, resistance to weld-induced distortion, and high-temperature oxidation resistance.

Mechanical structural components, engine exhaust pipes, boiler combustion chambers, and burners.

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430

As a typical representative of ferritic steels, it exhibits a low coefficient of thermal expansion, excellent formability, and good oxidation resistance.

Heat-resistant utensils, burners, household appliances, tableware, kitchen sinks, outdoor decorative materials, bolts, nuts, CD racks, and screens.

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436L

It exhibits excellent heat resistance and wear resistance, and, owing to its niobium content, also boasts superior machinability and weldability.

Washing machines, car exhaust pipes, electronic products, three-ply cookware

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410

As a typical representative of martensitic steels, although it exhibits high strength, it is not suitable for severe corrosive environments; however, it boasts good machinability.

Blades, mechanical parts, petroleum refining equipment, bolts, nuts, sucker rods, and tableware (knives and forks).

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420J1

After quenching, it exhibits high hardness and excellent corrosion resistance.

Tableware (cutlery), turbine blades

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420J2

After quenching, its hardness exceeds that of 420J1 steel.

Blades, nozzles, valves, rulers, and cutlery (scissors, knives)

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200 series

201

(American standard)

Compared with 304 steel, it has a lower nickel content and a higher manganese content, is non-magnetic, exhibits greater hardness, but offers poorer corrosion resistance.

Suitable for general-purpose applications in dry environments, such as lighting fixtures, communication towers, and automotive frames.

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202

(American standard)

Compared with 201 steel, it has a higher manganese content, is non-magnetic and exhibits greater hardness, but its corrosion resistance is inferior.

Lighting fixtures, communication towers, automotive frames, and other general-purpose applications.