ASTM SA 240 304 plate are widely used austenitic stainless steel plates and sheets. Their names include both the standard number and the material grade. SA 240 is the American ASME standard specification for chromium and chromium-nickel stainless steel plates, sheets, and strips for pressure vessels and general purposes.
304 indicates that it conforms to the 304 grade requirements of the ASTM A240/A240M standard. Because it contains approximately 18% chromium and 8% nickel, it is also often referred to as 18/8 stainless steel. Contact us for more information and quotes for free!
astm ss 304 Performance Characteristics
Plasticity and formability: Elongation exceeding 40% makes it suitable for various cold working processes such as deep drawing, stretching, and bending.
Medium strength: ASTM SA 240 304 plate strength is sufficient to meet the requirements of most structural components and pressure vessels.
Work hardening: The strength of SA 240 and 304 increases significantly during cold working (work hardening), which is a factor to consider in some processing methods.
Low-Temperature Performance: S304 material has good low-temperature toughness that it suitable for low-temperature environments and equipment.
Chemical Composition (According to ASTM A240 / ASME SA240)
| Element | Chromium (Cr) | Nickel (Ni) | Manganese (Mn) | Carbon (C) | Silicon (Si) | Phosphorus (P) | Sulfur (S) | Iron (Fe) |
| Grade 304 (%) | 18.0 - 20.0 | 8.0 - 10.5 | ≤ 2.00 | ≤ 0.07 | ≤ 0.75 | ≤ 0.045 | ≤ 0.030 | Balance |
tp304 plate Physical Properties
Density: 7.93 g/cm³
Melting Point: Approximately 1450 °C
Magnetic Properties: Essentially non-magnetic in the solution-treated state. However, it may exhibit slight magnetism after cold working.
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion: The average coefficient of thermal expansion is approximately 17.5 × 10⁻⁶/K in the range of 0-100°C. This relatively high value requires consideration of the effects of thermal expansion and contraction during design and welding.
Thermal Conductivity: Relatively poor, approximately 15 W/m·K at 20°C.
Elastic Modulus: Approximately 200 GPa.

ss 304 astm corrosion resistance
Daily and Mild Environments: Fresh water, atmospheric corrosion, and both urban and rural environments. In these environments, regular surface cleaning can maintain its appearance.
Acidic Environments:
- Nitric acid (concentration up to 65%, temperature 20-50°C).
- Phosphoric acid (all concentrations, ambient temperature).
- Some tolerance to organic acids such as acetic acid, lactic acid, and formic acid at room temperature, but performance decreases with increasing concentration and temperature.
ss304 sus304 Processing and Manufacturing
Welding: Common welding methods such as shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) and tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding can be used. Typically, no heat treatment is required after welding.
Forming: SA 240 304 plate is suitable for various cold working processes such as deep drawing, spinning, and stretch forming. Different grades of sheet metal, such as deep drawing or ultra-deep drawing grades, can be selected according to forming requirements.
Machining: Compared to ordinary carbon steel, its machinability is slightly worse. Machining performance can be improved by adding elements such as sulfur and phosphorus.
ASTM A240 SS 304 Sheet Dimensions
| Size (mm) |
Weight per plate (kg) |
Size (mm) |
Weight per plate (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 x 1000 x 3.0 | 51.0 | 4000 x 2000 x 6.0 | 408.0 |
| 2500 x 1250 x 3.0 | 79.7 | 2500 x 1250 x 8.0 | 213.0 |
| 3000 x 1500 x 3.0 | 115.0 | 3000 x 1500 x 8.0 | 306.0 |
| 2000 x 1000 x 4.0 | 68.0 | 4000 x 2000 x 8.0 | 544.0 |
| 2500 x 1250 x 4.0 | 106.0 | 2500 x 1250 x 10.0 | 266.0 |
| 3000 x 1500 x 4.0 | 153.0 | 3000 x 1500 x 10.0 | 383.0 |
| 2000 x 1000 x 5.0 | 85.0 | 4000 x 1500 x 10.0 | 510.0 |
| 2500 x 1250 x 5.0 | 133.0 | 4000 x 2000 x 10.0 | 680.0 |
| 3000 x 1500 x 5.0 | 191.0 | 2500 x 1250 x 12.0 | 319.0 |
| 4000 x 2000 x 5.0 | 340.0 | 3000 x 1500 x 12.0 | 459.0 |
| 2000 x 1000 x 6.0 | 102.0 | 4000 x 1500 x 12.0 | 612.0 |
| 2500 x 1250 x 6.0 | 159.0 | 4000 x 2000 x 12.0 | 816.0 |
| 3000 x 1500 x 6.0 | 230.0 |





