Application of SUS304

SUS304, also known as 304 stainless steel, is a widely used stainless steel material, mainly composed of iron, chromium, nickel and other elements. It has good

SUS304, also known as 304 stainless steel, is a widely used stainless steel material, mainly composed of iron, chromium, nickel and other elements. It has good corrosion resistance, heat resistance, low temperature strength and mechanical properties, and is easy to process and weld. The following are the main uses of SUS304 (304 stainless steel):

Food processing and storage equipment: Due to its excellent corrosion resistance, SUS304 is widely used in food processing and storage equipment, such as kitchen equipment, tableware, food containers, etc.

Chemical equipment: In the chemical industry, SUS304 is used to manufacture various corrosion-resistant pipes, valves, pumps and storage tanks.

Medical equipment: Due to its good biocompatibility and corrosion resistance, SUS304 is also widely used in the manufacture of medical equipment and surgical instruments.

Architecture and decoration: In the field of construction, SUS304 is often used to make doors and windows, railings, handrails, decorative panels, etc. In addition, due to its beautiful appearance, it is also often used for indoor and outdoor decoration.

Automobile and aerospace: In automobile manufacturing, SUS304 is often used in exhaust systems, body structures and some internal parts. In the aerospace field, it is also used to manufacture various corrosion-resistant parts and components.

Other fields: In addition, SUS304 is also used to manufacture various household appliances, electronic equipment, precision instruments, etc.

stainless steel processing

The manufacture of stainless steel involves a series of processes. First, the steel is melted, and then it is cast into solid form. After various forming steps, the steel is heat treated and then cleaned and polished to give it the desired finish. Next, it is packaged and sent to manufacturers, who weld and join the steel to produce the desired shapes.

The raw materials that constitute a stainless steel item are placed together and melted in a giant electric furnace. Intense heat is applied rigorously for a period of 8 to 12 hours during this step. Once the melting is complete, the molten steel is cast into desired semi-finished forms. Some of the most common forms or shapes include slabs, blooms (rectangular shapes), billets (these could either be round or square), rods, and tube rounds.

In the second stage, the semi-finished steel shapes undergo a series of forming operations. For instance, the stainless steel is hot rolled (heated and passed through enormous rolls). The blooms and billets mentioned above are converted to bar and wire. The slabs on the other hand are formed into plates, strips or sheets. It is very common to turn semi-finished steel shapes into bars, as it is the most versatile stainless steel form (it comes in all grades and sizes). You have round, square, octagonal, and hexagonal bars, each suitable for a different type of application.

The various stainless steel forms undergo a thorough annealing process during this step. Annealing is another name for heat treatment where the stainless steel is heated and cooled in a controlled environment. The purpose of this heat treatment is to relieve the pent-up stress inside the stainless steel and soften the material to make it more suitable for a wide variety of applications. The people in charge of carrying out the annealing process have to be very careful about the conditions as even the slightest of changes in the temperature, pressure, duration, or cooling rate could result in a faulty product.

During the annealing process, a certain amount of scale appears on the surface of the stainless steel. This scale can be removed using a number of different processes that are collectively known as descaling. Pickling is one of the more common methods of carrying out the descaling process.

The semi-finished, heat-treated, and descaled stainless steel forms are cut into specific shapes in this step. Mechanical cutting is performed with the aid of guillotine knives, blanking, nibbling, and high-speed blades.

Finishing is applied to help the stainless steel product achieve its signature aesthetically appealing appearance. Finishes are also needed to make the stainless steel product smooth and easier to clean, which is a top requirement in sanitary applications.