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ASTM A312 / A312M
Austenitic stainless steel pipe
Seamless, straight-seam welded and heavily cold-worked welded austenitic stainless steel pipe.
Stainless Steel — Industrial Product
Stainless Steel Pipe 304
Austenitic 304 stainless steel pipe supplied to ASTM A312 / ASME SA312, annealed and pickled for sanitary and chemical applications.
Indicative priceUSD 1,800 - 2,400 / MT
Lead time20 - 30 working days
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Overview
Stainless Steel Pipe 304 combines austenitic stainless steel with 18–20% chromium and 8–10% nickel for reliable general corrosion resistance and consistent dimensional control. The balanced chemistry delivers proven formability, weldability and surface quality, making the pipe suited to food and beverage processing, kitchen equipment, chemical transfer lines, pharmaceutical systems and general sanitary service. Supplied to ASTM A312 / ASME SA312 with mill test certification per EN 10204 3.1, it supports global procurement as a standard industrial grade for sanitary and process piping.
Key Characteristics
- 01 Corrosion Resistance Provides improved resistance to corrosive industrial environments.
- 02 Good Formability Supports bending, forming and other fabrication processes with suitable processing conditions.
- 03 Good Weldability Supports welding using suitable procedures and compatible filler materials.
- 04 High Temperature Capability Suitable for elevated-temperature service within the applicable material limits.
- 05 Oxidation Resistance Provides resistance to oxidation and scaling at elevated temperatures.
- 06 Standard Compliance Manufactured and supplied in accordance with the specified material and product standards.
Typical Applications
- Food & Beverage Hygienic process piping and equipment for food, beverage, brewing and dairy production.
- Kitchen & Catering Equipment Worktops, sinks and food-service equipment where cleanliness and environmental durability are required.
- Chemical Processing Process piping, transfer systems and equipment for corrosive and high-purity media.
- Pharmaceutical Hygienic process systems, vessels and manufacturing equipment for pharmaceutical production.
- Heat Exchangers Shell-and-tube, plate and finned heat exchangers for HVAC, process and refrigeration applications.
- Boiler Tubes Water-wall, superheater and economizer tubes for utility and industrial boilers.
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Specifications
Numbers in this section correspond to the applicable product standard, formatted for direct use in enquiry and approval documents.
Product specification
- Material
- Austenitic stainless steel
- Grade
- 304 / 1.4301 / SUS304
- UNS designation
- S30400
- Product form
- Pipe / tube
- Manufacturing method
- Hot finished / cold drawn
- Surface / condition
- Mill finish; pickled / polished on request
- Cross-section
- Hollow circular, uniform wall thickness
Supply specifications
- Outside diameter
- 6 - 630 mm
- Wall thickness
- 0.5 - 40 mm
- Length
- 3 - 12 m; custom lengths on request
- Schedule range
- Sch 5S through XXS
- Tolerance
- According to ASTM A312 / ASME B36.19
- Surface finish
- Mill finish; pickled on request
- Marking
- Standard mill marking; customer marking on request
Final supply is confirmed against the project drawing, purchase agreement and the mill test certificate.
Chemical composition
ElementRequirement
C <= 0.08 %
Si <= 0.75 %
Mn <= 2.00 %
P <= 0.045 %
S <= 0.030 %
Cr 18.0 - 20.0 %
Ni 8.0 - 10.5 %
N <= 0.10 %
Fe Balance
Reference: ASTM A312 304.
Mechanical properties
PropertyRequirement
Tensile strength >= 515 MPa
Yield strength (0.2% offset) >= 205 MPa
Elongation in 50 mm >= 40 %
Hardness <= 201 HB / <= 92 HRB
Reference: ASTM A312 304 at room temperature.
Physical properties
PropertyTypical Value
Density 8.0 g/cm³
Elastic modulus 193 GPa
Thermal conductivity 16.3 W/m·K at 100°C
Electrical resistivity 0.72 μΩ·m
Specific heat 500 J/kg·K
Melting range 1,400 - 1,450 °C
Thermal expansion 17.3 x 10⁻⁶ /°C
Reference: Typical material values, 304.
Reference framework
Standards & documentation
The applicable product, dimensional and inspection standards should be confirmed together in the purchase specification.
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ASME SA312
ASME pressure piping reference
ASME counterpart of ASTM A312 for pressure piping and pressure vessel applications.
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ASME B36.19
Stainless steel pipe dimensions
Dimensional reference for nominal pipe size, outside diameter and stainless steel schedules.
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EN 10216-5
Seamless tubes for pressure purposes
European reference for seamless stainless steel tubes with specified elevated / low temperature properties.
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JIS G3459
Stainless steel pipes for piping
Japanese reference for corrosion-resistant stainless steel pipes used in piping.
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EN 10204
Inspection documents
Defines inspection document types such as 3.1 and 3.2 for metallic product delivery.
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Capability
From custom dimensions and precision sizing to heat treatment, surface finishing and product-specific processing, Wayland coordinates supply solutions tailored to your requirements.
Cutting
Cut-to-length and custom cutting according to order requirements.
Custom Dimensions
Non-standard dimensions, tolerances and dimensional combinations subject to product and mill capability.
Precision Sizing
Precision sizing and dimensional control for tighter tolerance requirements.
Cold Working
Cold drawing, cold sizing and other cold-working processes where required.
Heat Treatment
Heat treatment according to material, specification and applicable standard.
Surface Finishing
Surface treatment and finishing according to product, specification and application requirements.
Forming
Bending, forming and other shape modification according to drawings or order requirements.
End Preparation
Beveling, threading, chamfering and other end preparation according to product requirements.
Welding & Fabrication
Welding, fabrication and related assembly according to drawings and project requirements.
Customization
Custom dimensions, lengths, surface conditions, end preparations and inspection requirements can be supplied according to project specifications. Final capability is confirmed per enquiry based on grade, size range and applicable standard.
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Quality
Inspection and documentation procedures are coordinated to meet the requirements of the applicable product standard and the project specification.
- Dimensional inspection Geometry, dimensions and tolerances against the applicable standard
- Visual and surface inspection Surface condition, marking and overall appearance
Documents
- Inspection Report
- Chemical analysis Per heat, against the applicable standard
- Mechanical testing Tensile, yield, elongation and hardness
- Non-destructive testing UT, eddy-current, hydrostatic or other NDT as applicable
- Positive material identification PMI for alloy verification when required
Documents
- Mill Test Certificate (MTC)
- Heat number traceability Heat number carried through MTC and product marking
- Third-party inspection coordination SGS / BV / TÜV on request
Documents
- Third-Party Inspection Report
- EN 10204 documentation 3.1 MTC standard; 3.2 on request
Documents
- EN 10204 3.1 Mill Test Certificate
- EN 10204 3.2 Inspection Certificate
- Certificate of Origin
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Selection
A well-prepared specification is the most efficient defence against clarification cycles.
- 01 Select material & grade
Choose the material grade according to service conditions, performance requirements and applicable standards.
- 02 Define size & supply condition
Specify the required dimensions, surface condition, heat-treatment condition and delivery requirements.
- 03 Confirm standard & requirements
State the applicable product standard, dimensional standard and governing project specification.
- 04 Define inspection & documentation
Confirm inspection, testing, certification and documentation requirements before order placement.
Example procurement specification
A complete specification suitable for enquiry, covering product, technical requirements, certification and delivery terms.
- Product
- Stainless Steel Pipe 304
- Grade
- 304
- Standard
- ASTM A312
- Dimensions
- OD 60.3 mm × WT 3.91 mm × Length 6000 mm (NPS 2, Sch 40S)
- Condition
- Solution Annealed & Pickled; Plain Ends
- Certification
- EN 10204 3.1 Mill Test Certificate
- Quantity
- 20 Metric Tons
- Packaging
- Seaworthy Export Packing
- Incoterm
- CIF Hamburg
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Logistics
From mill dispatch to destination port, each stage is coordinated with the nominated forwarder and documented against the purchase specification.
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Packaging
Export-suitable packaging with surface and edge protection.
Bundled, wrapped or crated according to product form and transport mode. Outer surface protected with weather-resistant material; ends and edges shielded against transit damage.
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Loading
FCL container for standard sizes; break bulk for oversized cargo.
Container loading via nominated forwarder. LCL and dimensions outside container allowance coordinated against the mill dispatch schedule.
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Documentation
Commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin.
Mill documentation travels with the shipment. EN 10204 3.1 / 3.2 certificates and third-party inspection reports provided as per purchase specification.
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Shipment
Sea freight as standard; alternative routes on request.
FCL / LCL container shipment or break bulk for oversized dimensions. Logistics coordinated through the nominated forwarder.
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Delivery
FOB · CFR · CIF · FCA · EXW arrangements available.
Incoterm 2020. Port of loading: Shanghai / Ningbo / Shenzhen. Final destination and terms confirmed per enquiry.
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FAQ
Most enquiries reduce to a small set of recurring technical questions.
01 What is 304 stainless pipe?
304 stainless pipe (1.4301 / SUS304) is the standard 18-8 austenitic grade, offering good general corrosion resistance and formability for industrial, food and architectural piping.
02 Is 304 pipe suitable for chloride-rich service?
For chloride or marine exposure, 316 / 316L is preferred due to its molybdenum content. 304 is adequate for general atmospheric and water service.
03 What is the maximum service temperature of 304 pipe?
304 pipe is suitable for continuous service up to 925 °C and intermittent service up to 870 °C. For sustained high-temperature strength, 321 or 304H is preferred.
04 Can 304 pipe be welded?
Yes. 304 offers excellent weldability using standard TIG / MIG. 304L is preferred for heavy weld assemblies to avoid sensitization.
05 What sizes are available?
Standard NPS range 1/8 to 26 (DN6 - DN650). Custom sizes, cut-to-length and special schedules are available on request.