304L Stainless Steel Plate

304L stainless steel plate from mill selection to inspection

Sheye Metal is a 304L stainless steel plate supplier and distributor, helping fabricators source the required mill origin, plate dimensions and delivery condition. We supply hot-rolled coil-cut and quarto plate, with custom length and width to suit your cutting schedule. Mill certificates, material identification and agreed inspection records support traceability through the order.

Our sample records include material from Eastern Special Steel, Tsingshan and TISCO, including TISCO Xinhai. Tell us if your project requires a particular mill or production route. We review the requested grade, standard, dimensions and documentation together before confirming supply.

304L is a low-carbon austenitic stainless steel used in many welded fabrications. Lower carbon helps reduce susceptibility to intergranular corrosion associated with welding heat. Equipment design, service conditions and fabrication requirements still determine the appropriate material. Outokumpu’s 304L grade guidance.

NO.1, 1D and NO.1/1D mill surfaces

Mill-supplied stainless steel 304L plate is commonly described as NO.1, 1D or NO.1/1D. These designations describe the hot-rolled, heat-treated and descaled or pickled surface route under the applicable specification. The resulting surface is generally matt rather than a decorative polish. Worldstainless’s surface-finish guide.

Appearance can vary with the mill, thickness and production route. Confirm the finish stated on the certificate and order, together with any requirements for surface condition, protection or further finishing. For an appearance-sensitive component, provide a finish sample or agreed acceptance description with your enquiry.

Custom dimensions for your 304L plate cutting schedule

Use the supply range above as the starting point, then send the delivered thickness, width, length and quantity for each item. Indicate whether your dimensions describe a finished blank or include an allowance for subsequent machining. We review the cutting layout, edge condition and required tolerances against the chosen material and route.

The finished-plate photographs on this page show several examples handled by Sheye:

Photographed nominal 304L plate sizes

Nominal thickness	Plate size, width × length	Photographed detail
4 mm	1000 × 3000 mm	Plate surface and alloy screening
4.5 mm	1500 × 6000 mm	Overall surface, marking, width and thickness checks
12 mm	1524 × 6096 mm	Heat marking and thickness check
22 mm	1219 × 2438 mm	Surface, thickness, marking and packaging
65 mm	1500 × 3000 mm	Identification marking and thickness check
100 mm	1500 × 3000 mm	Identification marking and thickness check

These are photographed examples. The quotation confirms availability, tolerances and delivery for the exact size and quantity requested.

Inspection and material traceability

Useful inspection records connect the physical plate to the order. Our photographs show grade and heat marking, dimensional checks, handheld alloy screening and protected packaging. Agree the inspection scope before cutting or dispatch so the records address your receiving requirements.

• Material identification: compare the grade and heat marking with the relevant mill test certificate and order item.
• Dimensions: check thickness, width and length at the agreed locations, using the tolerances specified for that order.
• Surface and edges: review condition, cutting allowance and any requirements affecting later welding or machining.
• Packing and documents: confirm the packing method, identification and certificate records needed at delivery.

What the handheld PMI photograph confirms

The analyser in the photograph displays a 304-family alloy match. Handheld XRF is useful for screening elements such as chromium and nickel, but it does not measure carbon and cannot establish the low-carbon “L” designation by itself. Confirm 304L through the heat-linked mill certificate and, where specified, a suitable carbon-analysis method. Evident explains the elemental limits of handheld XRF.

Marking and thickness checks across plate sizes

Typical mill chemistry: supplied certificate examples

The following values are representative heat analyses from the supplied mill test certificates, expressed as mass percent. They show actual examples from different mill sources, rather than a guaranteed composition for every plate from a mill. The certificate for the material supplied against your order remains the relevant record.

Sample heat analysis — carbon, chromium, nickel and nitrogen (% by mass)

Sample / heat	C	Cr	Ni	N
Eastern Special Steel (ESS) — 4.45 × 1525 mm coil (2514557)	0.025	18.06	8.09	0.071
Tsingshan / Tsingtuo — 16 × 2000 × 6000 mm (A260117AC11)	0.015	18.11	8.01	0.067
Tsingshan / Tsingtuo — 16 × 2000 × 6000 mm (A260117AC08)	0.020	18.21	8.01	0.062
Tsingshan / Tsingtuo — 20 × 1500 × 6000 mm (A260310AC11)	0.021	18.11	8.02	0.066
TISCO — 14 × 1500 mm coil (A2600109)	0.029	18.15	8.04	0.04
TISCO — 3 × 1524 mm coil (A1203488)	0.023	18.3	8.0	0.05
TISCO — 15 × 1500 × 6000 mm (C1401445)	0.015	18.21	8.07	0.06
TISCO Xinhai — 16.0 × 1500 mm coil (H1260480)	0.014	18.01	8.01	0.053

Sample heat analysis — silicon, manganese, phosphorus and sulfur (% by mass)

Sample / heat	Si	Mn	P	S
Eastern Special Steel (ESS) — 4.45 × 1525 mm coil (2514557)	0.41	1.51	0.022	0.002
Tsingshan / Tsingtuo — 16 × 2000 × 6000 mm (A260117AC11)	0.341	1.05	0.029	0.002
Tsingshan / Tsingtuo — 16 × 2000 × 6000 mm (A260117AC08)	0.338	1.01	0.030	0.002
Tsingshan / Tsingtuo — 20 × 1500 × 6000 mm (A260310AC11)	0.337	1.03	0.028	0.002
TISCO — 14 × 1500 mm coil (A2600109)	0.46	1.55	0.027	0.001
TISCO — 3 × 1524 mm coil (A1203488)	0.43	1.67	0.032	0.001
TISCO — 15 × 1500 × 6000 mm (C1401445)	0.47	1.60	0.032	0.002
TISCO Xinhai — 16.0 × 1500 mm coil (H1260480)	0.39	1.44	0.028	0.004

The TISCO 15 mm plate and TISCO Xinhai 16 mm coil samples are certified as S30403 under their stated GB/T specifications; these examples are not described as ASTM-certified 304L. The remaining certified grade descriptions and surfaces are shown with each sample below. Blank or unreported elements are not zero.

Some records describe a source coil; its width and nominal thickness can differ from the finished cut plate. For example, the Eastern Special Steel source-coil record and the photographed 4.5 mm plate carry heat number 2514557. The source coil and the delivered cut size should remain identifiable as separate stages of supply.

The TISCO and TISCO Xinhai sample certificates state that the recorded material is for domestic sale in China and prohibit export. They are displayed as historical technical references and do not establish export availability for those heats. Any export order requires eligible material and its own matching documentation.

Review the sample mill certificates

Purchaser and ordering-party information has been removed from these public examples. Technical entries and relevant use restrictions are retained for review.

Packaging and preparation for dispatch

The packaging photographs show protective wrapping, strapping and timber supports on finished plate. Tell us how the plate will be handled and where it will be delivered so packing and identification can be agreed for the shipment. If receiving inspection requires particular photographs or documents, include them with the order requirements.

Buy 304L stainless steel plate for your next order

To buy 304L stainless steel plate, send Sheye Metal the grade and standard, plate sizes, quantities, required mill origin, surface condition and delivery destination. Include any cutting drawing and inspection or documentation requirements. We can review full plates or custom blanks and confirm the suitable supply route, price and delivery schedule for your enquiry.

As your 304L stainless steel plate distributor, Sheye combines mill identification with the agreed inspection records. Contact sales@sheyemetal.com or WhatsApp +86 18921009067 with your plate schedule.

PRACTICAL BUYING QUESTIONS

304L plate: multipass welding and design questions

Why is 304L often considered for multipass welded plate?

Repeated thermal cycles and substantial sections can increase the time spent in conditions where sensitization develops. Low carbon delays chromium-carbide formation, giving 304L an advantage where intergranular-corrosion resistance matters and the complete assembly cannot be solution annealed. This is a process-related benefit rather than a promise that all welded plate is immune to corrosion. The welding procedure, post-fabrication condition and service medium still determine the requirements, including any specified corrosion testing.

Can 304L plate replace 304 or 304H on an equipment drawing?

Only after the required technical review and acceptance. 304L can have different specified strength minima from 304, and it should not inherit the high-temperature design properties of 304H. The certificate must identify the supplied grade and any genuine dual certification. Review the drawing, applicable material and design standards, welding procedure and inspection requirements together. An attractive analysis or test result does not give a distributor permission to change the equipment material designation.

Read the complete 304L material selection and fabrication guide →