304 Stainless Steel and 304L Stainless Steel

304 Stainless Steel and 304L Stainless Steel

Tampa Bay Steel carries an extensive inventory of stainless plate, including 304, 304L and many others.  Our in-house processing capabilities allow us to process stainless steel to your exact requirements.

Both 304 stainless steel and 304L stainless steel provide a general purpose stainless steel with good resistance to atmospheric corrosion, to many organic and inorganic chemicals and to food and beverages. 

The Difference Between 304 and 304L Stainless Steel Plates

The difference between 304 and 304L stainless steel is that 304L has a .03 max carbon and is used when the end product requires a lot of welding.

The “L”  in 304L stands for Low Carbon, which indicates it is good for welding.  304 stainless steel has a mid range level of carbon.

304 and 304L are austenitic alloys, which means that a nonmagnetic solid solution of ferric carbide or carbon in iron is used in giving this stainless steel its corrosion-resistant properties.

Properties of 304 and 304L Stainless Steel

These alloys contain chromium and nickel, as well as carbon, to provide good forming and welding properties, corrosion and oxidation resistance, toughness in low temperatures, ease of fabrication, and attractive appearance. 

These 304 and 304L stainless steel products are used for tanks, tools, food industry machinery and appliances, architectural trim, filtration screens, and fasteners in corrosive marine environments.