304 Stainless Steel Tubing image courtesy of Vita Needle Co.
Variety is the spice of life, as they say, and boy is there a lot of it. From brassieres, personalities and iphone apps to lubes, tubes and metals, variety is all around us. In order to understand and distinguish between different varieties, it is necessary to develop an organized system which categorizes things based on their differing characteristics. Stainless steel is no different and comes in specific kinds— referred to as grades— which vary in their properties and are thus appropriately ranked, numbered and valued respectively.
There are more than 150 grades of stainless steel, some more favored than others. The 304 stainless steel— initially called the “18/8” stainless steel, in reference to its levels of chromium and nickel— is one such grade and is commonly used in stainless steel tubing. 304 stainless steel is further available in a wide range of finishes, products and forms, one of which is the 304 stainless steel tube.
The 304 grade stainless steel tube, like all tubes, is a hollow, cylindrical tool used to transport fluids and gases to various locations, often times within a system. While sometimes used in residential applications, they are generally used in the industrial and commercial industries for its durability, malleability and high tensile strength— attractive qualities when forming and welding within high temperatures. 304 stainless steel is comprised of roughly 18% chromium and 8% nickel, as well as the usual iron and carbon. Although more expensive to produce, 304 stainless steel is generally preferred, as it allows for less maintenance and replacements. The kinds of industries using 304 stainless steel tubing includes petrochemical, water treatment, paper, automotive, medical, dental, semiconductor, food processing and aerospace. Additionally, architectural supports, medical devises and fuel lines are almost always made with this grade. 304 stainless steel tubes, like everything else, come in a variety of shapes and sizes, made and categorized based on the intended use.
