20mm OD Stainless Steel Round Pipe 304 mirror polished Cold Rolled

Mechanical properties of stainless steel

Stainless steel is usually chosen because it is resistant against corrosion—but it is also chosen because it is steel. Properties such as strength, yield, toughness, hardness, response to work hardening, weldability, and heat-tolerance make steel an incredibly useful metal in engineering, construction, and manufacturing, especially given its cost. An engineer considers the working load and atmospheric conditions of the stainless steel before deciding on a grade.

Sometimes, engineers choose between alloys in the same family, as in the two popular commercial grades of austenitic stainless steel, 304 vs. 316. However, this isn’t always the case. Automotive exhaust systems often choose between 304 and 409. Barbeque grills might be found made of 304 or 430.

304 and 316

The two most common stainless steels—304 and 316—are both austenitic grades. The primary driver behind the popularity of austenitic stainless steels is the ease with which they can be formed and welded, making them ideal for high-efficiency manufacturing. There are many sub-groups of austenitic stainless steels with wide variations in carbon content. The properties are further tuned by the addition of alloying elements such as molybdenum, titanium, and copper. Austenitic stainless steels are frequently used to produce kitchen sinks, window frames, food processing equipment, and chemical tanks. They are also commonly used for outdoor site furnishings such as benches, stainless steel bollards and bike racks.

Stainless Steel Round Pipe  Specification