Description

Stainless steel tubes are widely used in industrial, construction, food, pharmaceutical, and decorative fields.

Standards for Stainless Steel Tubes:

1. ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials): Commonly used standards include ASTM A213 (Seamless Tubes for Boilers/Superheaters), ASTM A269 (Seamless/Welded Austenitic Tubes for General Corrosion Resistance), ASTM A249 (Welded Stainless Steel Tubes for Food/Pharmaceutical Use), and ASTM A312 (Seamless/Welded Stainless Steel Tube for Fluid Transport, including austenitic grades such as 304/316), all defining materials according to UNS designations (e.g., S30400, S31603).

2. EN (European Standards): Such as EN 10216-5 (Seamless Stainless Steel Tube for Pressure Applications), EN 10217-7 (Welded Steel Tubes), EN 10296-2 (Seamless Tubes for Mechanical Construction), corresponding to grades X5CrNi18-10 (304), X2CrNiMo17-12-2 (316L), etc.; EN 10217-7 is functionally similar to ASTM A249.

3. ISO (International Organization for Standardization): ISO 1127 (Dimensions and Tolerances of Stainless Steel Tubes), ISO 11967 (Technical Delivery Conditions for Stainless Steel Tubes), but most specific technical requirements still reference ASTM or EN; the ISO system focuses more on general specifications, not material/process specifics.

4. JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards): Such as JIS G3459 (General Purpose Stainless Steel Tubes), JIS G3463 (Stainless Steel Tubes for Heat Exchangers), grades such as SUS304, SUS316L, often benchmarked against ASTM A312/A269.

5. ASME (Boiler and Pressure Vessel Standards): ASME SA-213/SA-312 are equivalent pressure specifications of ASTM standards, used for pressure systems (such as boilers and piping), and are mandatory in North America and regions affected by its regulations.

Classification of Stainless Steel Tubes:

1. By Production Method: Divided into seamless Stainless Steel Tubes (no weld seams, made through piercing, cold drawing/cold rolling, high strength, high pressure resistance, suitable for harsh conditions such as petroleum, chemical, and nuclear power) and welded Stainless Steel Tube (formed by coiling and welding steel strips, smooth surface, low cost, suitable for medium and low pressure fluid transportation and decorative applications).

2. Classification by Material (Grade): Commonly classified as austenitic stainless steel (e.g., 304 Stainless Steel Tube, 304L Stainless Steel Tubes, 316L Stainless Steel Pipe, 321 Stainless Steel Pipe, 316Ti Stainless Steel Tube, good corrosion resistance, used in food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries), ferritic stainless steel (e.g., 430, low cost, used for decoration), martensitic stainless steel (e.g., 410, 420, high hardness, used for knives or structural components), and duplex stainless steel (e.g., 2205 Stainless Steel Pipes, high strength, resistant to chloride corrosion, used in marine and petrochemical industries).

3. Classification by Wall Thickness: Thin-walled Stainless Steel Tube (wall thickness 0.6–1.2mm, used for household drinking water and gas; conforming to GB/T 19228), thick-walled pipes (wall thickness ≥1.5mm, used for high-pressure applications, mechanical structures, or industrial piping).

4. Classification by Cross-sectional Shape: Primarily round pipes, but also square pipes, rectangular pipes, and irregularly shaped pipes (used in building structures and mechanical parts).

5. By application: including industrial piping (for high-temperature and high-pressure fluid transport), sanitary pipes (inner wall polishing Ra≤0.4μm, used in food, pharmaceutical, and medical applications), decorative pipes (surface treatments such as mirror/brushed, used in curtain walls and railings), precision pipes (tolerance ±0.02mm, used in medical devices and sensors), and boiler/heat exchanger pipes (such as 310S and TP347, resistant to high-temperature oxidation).

Applications of Stainless Steel Tubes:

1. Food, Beverage, and Pharmaceutical Industries: 304/316L sanitary pipes are used in dairy, beer, vaccine, and injection water systems, meeting CIP/SIP cleaning and aseptic requirements.

2. Building Water Supply and Drainage and Drinking Water: Thin-walled 304/316L water pipes (GB/T 19228) are used in residential buildings, hospitals, and high-speed rail stations for drinking water systems, offering corrosion resistance and no heavy metal leaching.

3. Petrochemical and Energy Industries: Seamless thick-walled pipes (such as 316L and 2205) are used in oil and gas transportation, refining equipment, LNG cryogenic pipelines, and nuclear power plant primary circuits.

4. Machinery and Structural Components: 304/316 round/square pipes are used in vehicle frames, supports, and chemical containers, balancing strength and lightweight design.

5. Decoration and Sanitary Ware: 201/304 welded decorative pipes are used in stairs, railings, and cabinets, emphasizing appearance and formability.

6. Specialized Applications: Precision tubing is used in endoscopes and automotive sensors; duplex stainless steel is used in seawater desalination plants; 400 series steel is used in automotive exhaust pipes (heat resistant).

Standards and Classifications

Steel Grade	GB China	JIS Japan		ASTM America	Din German
Steel Grade	Steel Grade	Steel Grade	Steel Standard	Steel Grade	Steel Grade	Material	Steel Standard
Stainless Sour Resistant Steel Pipe/Tube	(1Gr13 Steel Pipe/Tube）	SUS410 TP	G3463	ASTM A268 TP410	X10Cr13	1.4006	DIN17440
	(2Cr13 Steel Pipe/Tube)			ASTM (SISI 420)	X20Cr13	1.4021	DIN17440
	(1Cr17 Steel Pipe/Tube)	SUS430 TB	G3463	ASTM A268 TP430/TP429	X8Cr17	1.4016	DIN17440
	0Cr18Ni9 Stainless Steel Pipe/Tube	SUS304 TP/TB	G3459 G3463	ASTM A312、A376、TP304 A213、A249、A268 TP304	X5CrNi189	1.4301	DIN17440
	(1Cr18Ni9 Stainless Steel Pipe/Tube)				X5CrNi189	1.4301	DIN17440
	0Cr18Ni10Ti Stainless Steel Pipe/Tube 1Cr18Ni9Ti Stainless Steel Pipe/Tube	SUS321 TP/TB	G3459 G3463	ASTM A312、A376 TP321 A213、A249、A266 TP321	X10CrNiTi189	1.4541	DIN17440
	0Cr18Ni13Mo2Ti Stainless Steel Pipe/Tube	SUS316 TP/TB	G3459 G3463	ASTM A312、A376 TP316 A213、A249、A266 TP316
	0Cr18Ni13Mo3Ti Stainless Steel Pipe/Tube	SUS317 TP/TB	G3459 G3463	ASTM A312、A376 TP316 A213、A249、A268 TP317
	00Cr18Ni10 Stainless Steel Pipe/Tube	SUS304L TP/TB	G3459 G3463	ASTM A312、A376 TP34L A213、A249、A268 TP304L	X2CrNi189	1.4306	DIN17440
	00Cr17Ni13Mo2 Stainless Steel Pipe/Tube	SUS316L TP/TB	G3459 G3463	ASTM A312、A376 TP316L A213、A249、A268 TP316L	X2CrNi810	1.4404	DIN17440
	00Cr17Ni13Mo3 Stainless Steel Pipe/Tube	SUS317L TP/TB	G3459 G3463	A312、A376、 TP317L A213、A249、A268 TP317L

Surface Finish	Characteristics and application
2B	The surface brightness and flatness of no2B is better than no2D. then through a special surface treatment to improve its mechanical properties,No2B could nearly satisfy comprehensive uses.
No.1	Polished with abrasive belt of grit#100-#200, have better brightness with discontinuous coarse stria, used as inner and external ornaments for building, electrical appliances and kitchen utensils etc.
No.4	Polished with abrasive belt of grit #150-#180,have better brightness with discontinuous coarse stria, but thinner than No3, are used as bathtub buildings inner and external ornaments electrical appliances kitchen utensils and food processing equipment etc.
HL	Polished with abrasive belt of grit #150-#320 on the NO.4 finish and has continuous streaks, mainly used as buildings ornaments elevators, door of building, frontal plate etc.
BA	Cold rolled, bright annealed and skin-passed, the product have excellent brightness and good reflexivity like mirror, kitchen apparatus, ornament etc.
8K	The product have excellent brightness and prefer reflexivity can to be the mirror.

STAINLESS STEEL CHEMICAL COMPONENT
Grade	C	Si	Mn	P	S	Ni	Cr	Mo
201	≤0.15	≤0.75	5.5-7.5	≤0.06	≤0.03	3.5-5.5	16.0-18.0	–
202	≤0.15	≤1.0	7.5-10.0	≤0.06	≤0.03	4.-6.0	17.0-19.0	–
301	≤0.15	≤1.0	≤2.0	≤0.045	≤0.03	6.0-8.0	16.0-18.0	–
302	≤0.15	≤1.0	≤2.0	≤0.035	≤0.03	8.0-10.0	17.0-19.0	–
304	≤0.08	≤1.0	≤2.0	≤0.045	≤0.03	8.0-10.5	18.0-20.0
304L	≤0.03	≤1.0	≤2.0	≤0.035	≤0.03	9.0-13.0	18.0-20.0
309S	≤0.08	≤1.0	≤2.0	≤0.045	≤0.03	12.0-15.0	22.0-24.0
310S	≤0.08	≤1.5	≤2.0	≤0.035	≤0.03	19.0-22.0	24.0-26.0
316	≤0.08	≤1.0	≤2.0	≤0.045	≤0.03	10.0-14.0	16.0-18.0	2.0-3.0
316L	≤0.03	≤1.0	≤2.0	≤0.045	≤0.03	12.0-15.0	16.0-18.0	2.0-3.0
321	≤0.08	≤1.0	≤2.0	≤0.035	≤0.03	9.0-13.0	17.0-19.0	–
904L	≤2.0	≤0.045	≤1.0	≤0.035	–	23.0-28.0	19.0-23.0	4.0-5.0
2205	≤0.03	≤1.0	≤2.0	≤0.030	≤0.02	4.5-6.5	22.0-23.0	3.0-3.5
2507	≤0.03	≤0.80	≤1.2	≤0.035	≤0.02	6.0-8.0	24.0-26.0	3.0-5.0
2520	≤0.08	≤1.5	≤2.0	≤0.045	≤0.03	0.19-0.22	0.24-0.26	–
410	≤0.15	≤1.0	≤1.0	≤0.035	≤0.03	–	11.5-13.5	–
430	0.12	≤0.75	≤1.0	≤0.040	≤0.03	≤0.60	16.0-18.0	–