ERW EFW Welded Stainless Steel Square Tube / Stainless Steel Rectangle Pipe Tube Grade 201 304 316L 321

Stainless Steel Tube

Whether round, rectangle or square, you’ll find Ryerson’s stainless steel tubing inventory to be among the best in the industry. In fact, Ryerson is a leading stainless steel supplier, offering one of the broadest stainless product selections in North America.

With a focus on 304 stainless steel tubing and 316 stainless steel tubing, we offer both a wide array of diameters and thicknesses and the ability to customize your order via our stainless tube processing services. We even produce laser-cut tube parts. Our inventory includes the following stainless tubing selections:

304 Stainless Tube

Applications: 304 stainless steel is the most widely used of all stainless steel grades. 304 stainless steel is most notably present in industrial applications and kitchen equipment.

Characteristics: As a heat-resistant grade, 304 stainless steel tubing offers good corrosion resistance to many chemical corrodents, as well as industrial atmospheres. 304 stainless steel tubing offers good formability and can be readily welded by all common methods. An extra low carbon variation, called 304L, avoids harmful carbide precipitation due to welding. This variation offers the same corrosion resistance as 304, but with slightly lower mechanical properties.

316 Stainless Tubing

Applications: 316 stainless steel can be found in pumps, valves, textile and chemical equipment, pulp & paper and marine applications.

Characteristics: 316 stainless steel tubing is more resistant to corrosion and pitting than 304 stainless steel and offers higher strength at elevated temperatures. In addition, 316L is an extra low carbon variation that helps avoid carbide precipitation due to welding.

304 vs 316 Stainless Steel: What's the difference?

When it comes to stainless steel tubing, grades 304 and 316 are among the most widely used. Stainless steel 304, used in industrial applications and kitchen equipment, is a highly heat-resistant stainless steel grade and offers good corrosion resistance to many chemical corrodents, as well as industrial atmospheres. With good formability, 304 can be readily welded by all common methods.

If you are looking for an extra low carbon variation, 304L offers the same corrosion resistance as 304 stainless steel tubing, but with slightly lower mechanical properties.

When it comes to 316 stainless steel tubing, you can expect better corrosion and pitting resistance to chlorides than 304 and higher levels of strength at elevated temperatures, due in part to the addition of molybdenum. 316 stainless tubing is ideal for such applications as pumps, valves, textile and chemical equipment, pulp & paper and marine applications.

If you are looking for an extra-low carbon version, 316L helps avoid carbide precipitation due to welding

When comparing 304 to 316 stainless steel tubing, both are good for corrosion resistance, strength, welding, and heat resistance. However, 316 stainless tubing holds a slight edge to 304 stainless tube in these categories due to variation in alloying elements.