Material Notes

Type 304 stainless steel is a T 300 Series Stainless Steel austenitic. It has a minimum of 18% chromium and 8% nickel, combined with a maximum of 0.08% carbon. It is defined as a Chromium-Nickel austenitic alloy.

Grade 304 is the standard "18/8" stainless that you will probably see in your pans and cookery tools.

Grade 304H with its higher carbon content finds application at elevated temperatures. 

Typical applications include tanks and containers for a large variety of liquids and solids:

Food processing equipment, particularly in beer brewing, milk processing & wine making.

For example it is highly suitable and applied in dairy equipment such as milking machines, containers, homogenizers, sterilizers, and storage and hauling tanks, including piping, valves, milk trucks and railroad cars.

The citrus and fruit juice industry also uses Type 304 for all their handling, crushing, preparation, storage and hauling equipment.

Because of its ability to withstand the corrosive action of various acids found in fruits, meats, milk, and vegetables, Type 304 is used for sinks, tabletops, coffee urns, stoves, refrigerators, milk and cream dispensers, and steam tables. It is also used in numerous other utensils such as cooking appliances, pots, pans, and flatware.

- Dyeing industry

- In the marine environment, because of it slightly higher strength and wear resistance than type 316 it is also used for nuts, bolts, screws, and other fasteners.