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What are The Different Types of Stainless Steel Sheets and Use?

There are an endless number of components forged out of stainless steel that are available in the market. One of these components is the stainless steel sheet. Stainless steel sheets are simply flattened-out strips of stainless steel. Stainless steel sheets are found in numerous grades with varying designs. One of the most commonly seen designs is stainless steel perforated sheets. These sheets have tine equally spaced-out holes. These sheets are primarily used for ventilation purposes. 

Stainless Steel Sheets are used for a variety of applications due to their availability in numerous grades and each grade has unique compositions and properties. 

In this blog, we will focus on why should one buy stainless steel sheets along with the types of sheets available, their common applications, and their benefits. 

Benefits of Stainless Steel Sheets and Plates

As the years are passing by, the industrial sector is seeing a speedy enhancement when it comes to sustainable and reliable materials for basic machining and welding requirements. However, the one material that continues to stand its ground in terms of reliability, usability, and demand is “stainless steel”. One of the major perks of stainless steel is its vast variety of grades and types. There are varying grades of stainless steel suitable for varying applications. for example, in heavy-duty work such as marine applications, one can use grade 316 or duplex grades of stainless steel and for chemical applications, one can opt for either 304 or Astm a240 Stainless Steel 410s Sheet

Choosing the right material ensures long-lasting applications, reliability, durability, and reduced maintenance. 

Stainless steel sheets are incredibly sleek, shiny, and light in weight. Additionally, the thickness of the sheet does not affect the reliability of the material. Stainless steel is a malleable alloy that does not lose its strength upon being beaten and flattened. 

How are the grades and types of stainless steel sheets classified?

Stainless steel sheets are generally classified based on the alphabet prefix following their grade numbers. The two types of sheets are:

  • SS sheets with no letter ( H or L) in the grade
  • SS sheets with a letter in the grade

These SS sheets have the letters H and L as a suffix which indicate the composition of carbon in them. H signifies high carbon content and L signifies low. 

Products without any alphabets also contain carbon but in a standard 0.8% quantity. 

Let us take a look at the common applications of a few SS sheet grades:

  1. 304- This grade of Stainless steel is available in three forms which include grades 304, 304 L, and 304 H. These grades of SS sheets are great at preventing and repelling the growth of germs and microbes on their surface. Thus, it is a primary choice in the food and beverage industry. 
  2. 316- Grade 316 is an extremely strong and versatile grade of SS which is almost comparable to duplex grades. Due to their incredible strength and anti-corrosive properties, SS 316 Sheets are used primarily in marine applications as they are compatible with saltwater applications.
  3. 410- Grade 410 sheets are resistant to heat treatment and are thus used to make sterilized surgical instruments and devices.