904L Stainless Steel

904L stainless steel, developed by a pioneering French company, is a superior acid-resistant alloy with a low-carbon, high-nickel, and molybdenum composition. This grade exhibits excellent conversion between activation and passivation states, showcasing remarkable resistance to corrosion, notably in non-oxidizing acids like sulfuric, acetic, formic, and phosphoric acid. It stands out for its exceptional pitting resistance in chloride-rich environments and is also immune to crevice corrosion and stress corrosion. 904L excels in resisting various concentrations of sulfuric acid below 70°C, as well as corrosion in acetic acid and mixtures of formic and acetic acid at all concentrations and temperatures under atmospheric pressure. Featuring a fully austenitic structure, 904L material is not prone to ferrite and α-phase precipitation, setting it apart from conventional austenitic stainless steels with its high molybdenum content

What Is 904L Stainless Steel

904L Stainless Steel Features

Minimal Carbon Composition

With a maximum of 0.020% carbon, 904L is protected against carbide precipitation during heat treatment and welding, effectively preventing intergranular corrosion. This low carbon content ensures the steel’s integrity and surface quality after thermal processes.

Exceptional Corrosion Resistance

904 alloy’s high chromium, nickel, molybdenum, and copper content enhances its corrosion resistance, enabling passivation even in reducing environments like sulfuric and formic acids. The composition allows it to maintain structural integrity in a variety of corrosive settings.

High Nickel Content

The substantial nickel content in 904L lowers the corrosion rate in active conditions, providing excellent resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion, particularly in chloride-containing environments. This makes it highly effective in areas where standard stainless steels might fail.

Versatility in Acidic Environments

904L performs well in a range of sulfuric acid concentrations (up to 98%) and maintains good resistance in pure phosphoric acid up to 85% concentration. However, its performance can vary in industrial phosphoric acids with different impurities.

Hydrochloric Acid Resistance

In hydrochloric acid, 904L is effective up to a 1-2% concentration, surpassing the corrosion resistance of conventional stainless steels, which typically struggle in this medium.

Stress Corrosion Cracking Resilience

Enhanced by the high nickel content, 904L steel shows strong resistance to stress corrosion cracking, especially in chloride solutions, concentrated hydroxide solutions, and hydrogen sulfide-rich environments, making it suitable for high-risk industrial applications.

904L material’s machinability allows it to be welded using various techniques, similar to conventional stainless steels. Common methods include manual arc welding and inert gas welding, employing welding rods or wires that match the base metal’s composition, albeit with a necessity for higher molybdenum content. Preheating before welding isn’t typically necessary, but in cold conditions, it’s advisable to evenly heat the joints or nearby areas to prevent vapor condensation, ensuring the local temperature stays below 100°C to avoid carbon buildup and intergranular corrosion.

For optimal welding results with 904L steel, using low line energy and a quick, steady welding pace is recommended. Post-weld heat treatment is generally not needed. However, if such treatment is deemed necessary, the material should be heated to between 1100 and 1150°C followed by rapid cooling. This approach helps maintain 904L’s integrity and corrosion resistance.

904L Stainless Steel Machinability

904L Stainless Steel Applications

Oil and gas sector machinery, including petrochemical reactors;
Acid storage and transport devices, specifically for sulfuric acid, like heat exchangers;
Equipment for flue gas desulfurization in power generation, particularly parts like the tower structure of the absorption tower, ductwork, access panels, internals, and spray systems;
Components like washers and blowers in systems for organic acid processing;
Equipment for processing seawater, including heat exchangers for seawater;
Machinery used in the paper production industry;
Biopharmaceutical production facilities, including separators, reactors, and more;
Equipment for handling sulfuric and nitric acid, used in acid manufacturing processes;
Various chemical processing equipment and pressure containers;
Culinary processing equipment, including containers for soy sauce, cooking wine, salt dispensers, and condiment containers;
Wristwatches
Others

1.4539, SUS 904L, Acero 904L, UNS N08904, Grade 904L, Type 904L, AISI 904L, Inox 904L

904L Stainless Steel Tags

904L Stainless Steel Technical Sheet

904L Stainless Steel Standards Comparison Sheet

STS	USA	CHINA	JAPANESE	GERMANY
Grade	AISI/ASTM	GB	JIS	DIN
904L	904L	015Cr21Ni26SiMo5Cu3	SUS904L	1.4539

904L Stainless Steel Chemical Compositions Sheet

Grade	Standard	C	Si	Mn	P	S	Ni	Cr	Mo	Cu	N
904L	ASTM A240	≤0.02	≤1.00	≤2.00	≤0.045	≤0.035	23.00-28.00	19.00-23.00	4.00-5.00	1.00-2.00	≤0.10

904L Stainless Steel Properties Sheet

Grade	AISI/ASTM	Yield Strength Rp0.2(N/mm²)	Tensile Strength Rm(N/mm²)	Hardness	Elongation(%)
904L	ASTM A240	≥220	≥490	≤90 HRB	≥35

Why Purchase 904L Stainless Steel from GHT

Ever been in a bind due to an urgent need for substantial quantities of stainless steel coils, only to find your supplier’s inventory lacking? Such situations can disrupt your workflow and plans.

Our Advantage: With us, that scenario is a thing of the past. Our inventory is consistently stocked to the brim, ensuring rapid fulfillment of even the largest orders, seamlessly aligning with your business timeline.

You might have encountered situations where custom processing is needed, but finding the right supplier to meet your specific demands can be a challenge.

Our Advantage: Our robust processing capabilities are designed to cater to all your customization needs. Be it dimension adjustments, stainless steel finish surface treatments, or other specific requirements, we offer professional one-stop services.

When searching for stainless steel coil suppliers, pricing is often a key consideration. You might have had to compromise on your ideal supplier due to high costs.

Our Advantage: Through effective cost control and optimized procurement processes, we ensure competitive pricing. This means choosing us not only gets you high-quality products but also services that offer great value for money.

The quest for stainless steel coils with precise specifications can often lead to dead ends. Finding a supplier who understands and meets these unique requirements is crucial.

Our Advantage: Our inventory is a testament to diversity, encompassing a variety of materials, thicknesses, and widths. We pride ourselves on being able to meet your specific project needs with pinpoint accuracy.

Accurate shearing is crucial for the use of stainless steel coils, but not all suppliers can offer such precision services.

Our Advantage: Our shearing services are both professional and efficient, ensuring precise cuts as per your requirements, guaranteeing that the products meet your exact specifications.

Looking For 904L Material Supplier

Send us messages to discuss your 904l stainless steel needs. We always reply within 24 hours.

How To Pack 904L Stainless Steel Plate & Coil

In GHT, all of our stainless steel coils are packaged as per international standard to prevent any possible damage or loss. By default, for quantity less than 1 whole compete coil (our MOQ is 5 tons), we will use woven plastic bag to cover SS coils and then fix them upon wooden pallet for further protection. We can also package the SS coils as per your special requirement, though this can incur extra cost.

In GHT, all of our stainless steel sheets are packaged as per international standard to prevent any possible damage or loss. By default, we will use brown paper to cover SS sheets and then bundle them together onto wooden pallets. At times, upon some customers’ requests, we will also apply reinforced package with extra metal straps fixed on the four corners, though this can incur extra cost. For enhanced customer experience, we also accept customized package as per your requests.

904L Stainless Steel FAQs

Is 904L stainless steel magnetic?

No, thanks to its enhanced nickel and molybdenum content, Alloy 904L outperforms other austenitic stainless steels. It remains non-magnetic under all conditions, offering superior weldability and formability.

Comparing stainless steel 316l vs 904l

The key distinction between stainless steel 316L and 904L lies in 904L’s enhanced composition, featuring significantly higher levels of nickel and chromium, along with copper. This unique blend affords 904L superior corrosion resistance, bolstered by the additional copper and molybdenum. Price-wise, 904L generally costs about 2-3 times more than 316L upfront. However, the durability and extended service life of 904L stainless steel can render it more cost-effective in the long run, despite its higher initial investment.

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