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the most common seamless stainless steel tubing is the 300 series of alloys, which are available in varieties of high-performance, corrosion-resistant types and sizes. the 300 series stainless steels are classified as austenitic and are hardenable only by cold working methods. these grades of stainless have approximately 18% to 30% chromium and 6% to 20% nickel as their major alloying additions. this series of stainless steel alloys are known to resist corrosion while maintaining their strength at high temperatures.
the difference between a 300 and 300l series stainless steel is that an ‘l’series has 0.03% maximum carbon content. this lower carbon level is preferred for welding conditions. low carbon levels increase the resistance to intergranular corrosion (igc) whereas standard 300 series carbon levels are limited to of 0.08% maximum. however, lower carbon levels (‘l’ series) in stainless steel tend to render the material softer than higher carbon levels, where the hardness and strength of the material may be an important factor in the applications. as for cost, in most cases 300 series stainless steel and 300l are equally priced.
300 series applications | |
type 301 | high strength grade, with resistance to atmosphere corrosion. its bright, attractive surface make it an excellent choice for decorative structural applications. |
type 302 | used for a wide variety of home & commercial applications. one of the most familiar & frequently used alloys in the stainless steel family. examples include refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines |
type 303 | a non-magnetic austenitic stainless steel specifically designed to exhibit improved machinability. medical and pharmaceutical components and parts are common applications. |
type 304 | used for a wide variety of home and commercial applications. one of the most familiar & frequently used alloys in the stainless steel family. common applications include sanitary, cryogenic, and pressure-containing applications, home and commercial appliances, tank structural parts and processing equipment |
type 305 | used for a wide variety of applications. another frequently used alloy, including applications where good corrosion resistance & excellent drawing ability is needed. examples include writing instruments, utensils, tank covers and drawn housings |
type 309 | used for elevated temperature applications, including furnace parts – conveyor belts, rollers, burner parts, refractory supports, retorts and oven linings, fans, tube hangers, baskets and trays to hold small parts; containers for hot concentrated acids, ammonia and sulfur dioxide; contact with hot acetic and citric acid. |
type 310/s | corrosion resistant, including furnace parts such as conveyor belts, rollers, burner parts, refractory supports, retorts and oven linings, fans, tube hangers, and baskets and trays to hold small parts. chemical process industry to contain hot concentrated acids, ammonia, and sulfur dioxide and in the food processing industry, they are used in contact with hot acetic and citric acid |
type 316 | used for elevated temperature applications, including handling hot organic and fatty acids, boat rails and hardware and facades of buildings near the ocean |
type 317 | more resistant to general corrosion and pitting/crevice corrosion than the conventional chromium-nickel austenitic stainless steels. these alloys offer high tensile strength at elevated temperature |
type 321 | a stabilized stainless steel which offers excellent resistance to corrosion following exposure to temperature between 800-1500 deg f. applications include boiler and pressure vessels |
type 334 | titanium- and aluminum-bearing austenitic stainless steel offering superior elevated temperature scaling resistance compared to the conventional chromium-nickel stainless steels. heated electric heating elements |
type 347 | stabilized stainless steel which offers excellent resistance to intergranular corrosion following exposure to temperatures in the chromium carbide precipitation rages from 800 to 1500 deg f. radiant heaters, aerospace components and oil refining equipment |
type 348 | stabilized stainless steel offering excellent resistance to corrosion after exposure to temperatures between 800-1500 deg f. applications including nuclear powers. |
