304/304L Stainless Steel Round Bars

Good Corrosion Resistance: Excellent resistance to oxidation and corrosion in fresh water, mild chemical media, atmospheric conditions, and food products. The 304L grade provides additional protection against intergranular corrosion after welding.

Excellent Machinability: Superior chip formation and surface finish characteristics for precision turning, milling, drilling, and threading operations. 304L offers improved machinability for complex parts.

Excellent Formability: 304/304L stainless steel offers superior forming characteristics for heading, forging, and upsetting operations, making it ideal for bolt and fastener manufacturing.

Cost-Effective Solution: Lower alloy content (no molybdenum) compared to 316/316L makes 304/304L a more economical choice for applications where chloride-induced pitting is not a concern.

Superior Weldability: 304L grade ensures low carbon content for superior weld performance, with reduced risk of intergranular corrosion in welded fabrications.

Precision Dimensional Tolerances: Tight diameter tolerances (h6, h7, h8, h9, h11) ensure consistent material for precision machining and automatic lathe operations.

Smooth Surface Quality: Available in black (hot-rolled), peeled (bright), turned, ground, and polished finishes for various manufacturing requirements.

Non-Magnetic Properties: 304/304L round bars exhibit low magnetic permeability in the annealed condition, suitable for sensitive instrumentation applications.

International Certifications: Round bars can be certified by ABS, BV, DNV, LR, GL, RINA, CCS, KR, and NK, and comply with ASME, ASTM, EN, and JIS standards.

The lower carbon content in 304L minimizes carbide precipitation during welding, providing enhanced resistance to intergranular corrosion compared to standard 304, especially in welded fabrications and service in the sensitization temperature range (425–870°C).

Heat Treatment Condition:
Both 304 and 304L stainless steel round bars are normally supplied in the annealed condition. Solution annealing at 1010–1080°C followed by rapid cooling (water quenching) restores full corrosion resistance, relieves internal stresses from rolling or forging, and ensures optimal ductility for further machining operations.

Delivery Condition Options:

l Black (Hot-Rolled): As-rolled with mill scale – for further processing

l Bright (Peeled/Turned): Smooth, oxide-free surface – for precision machining

l Centerless Ground: Precision ground to tight tolerances – for shafting and instrumentation

l Polished: Smooth mechanical finish – for decorative and sanitary applications

Precision Ground Tolerances (Centerless Ground):

Standard Lengths:

l  Random Lengths: 3000mm – 6000mm (hot-rolled)

l  Fixed Lengths: 3000mm, 4000mm, 5000mm, 6000mm

l  Custom lengths available upon request

Straightness Tolerances:

*Formula: Weight (kg/m) = Diameter² (mm) × 0.006165*

Raw Material Selection: High-quality 304/304L stainless steel billets from certified mills with certified chemical composition and traceability.

Heating: Billets heated to 1150–1250°C in reheating furnaces for hot rolling or forging.

Hot Rolling: Heated billets passed through roughing and finishing stands to reduce diameter to required size (hot-rolled round bars).

Cooling: Controlled cooling to prevent surface defects and ensure uniform microstructure.

Solution Annealing: Annealing at 1010–1080°C to restore corrosion resistance and ductility.

Pickling: Removal of oxide scale for bright finish (optional).

Straightening: Roller straightening to ensure straightness tolerance within 0.5mm per meter.

Peeling/Turning (Optional): Removal of surface defects and decarburized layer to produce bright finish with consistent diameter.

Cold Drawing (Optional): Hot-rolled bars drawn through carbide dies to achieve precise dimensions and improved surface finish.

Centerless Grinding (Optional): Precision grinding to achieve h6 tolerance and superior surface finish.

Cutting: Cut to specified lengths using cold saws or band saws.

Inspection & Testing: Dimensional check, PMI, mechanical testing, surface inspection.

Marking & Packing: Each bundle tagged with grade, heat number, dimensions, and standard.

Chemical Analysis: Spectrometer verification or PMI for alloy elements (Cr 18-20%, Ni 8-12%).

Mechanical Testing: Tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, reduction of area, hardness per ASTM A370.

Dimensional Inspection: Diameter, length, straightness, roundness using micrometers, calipers, and straightness gauges.

Surface Inspection: Visual check for surface defects, cracks, seams, laps, and decarburization.

Ultrasonic Testing (UT): Per ASTM A388 for internal flaw detection (upon request).

Eddy Current Testing (ECT): For surface defect detection on cold drawn bars.

Intergranular Corrosion Test: ASTM A262 Practice E for 304L (upon request).

Third-Party Inspection: SGS, BV, DNV, TUV, LR, ABS available upon customer request.

Shafts & Axles: General industrial shafts, light duty shafts, conveyor rollers, idler shafts, fan shafts, mixer shafts, auger shafts, guide shafts.

Fasteners: Bolts, screws, studs, nuts, threaded rods, anchor bolts, eye bolts, U-bolts, set screws, machine screws, socket head cap screws for general industrial service.

Machined Parts: Turned components, CNC machined parts, instrument components, sensor housings, connector pins, spacers, sleeves, bushings, collars, couplings.

Food Processing Machinery: Mixer shafts, cutter shafts, auger shafts, conveyor rollers, guide rails, food contact components, dough hooks, blender shafts.

Pharmaceutical Equipment: Cleanroom components, instrument shafts, precision rollers, guide pins, alignment dowels, tablet press components, packaging machine shafts.

Architectural & Decorative: Handrail posts, balustrade components, decorative trim, display fixtures, furniture frames, sign posts, light poles.

Valve Components: Valve stems, valve balls, valve spindles, bonnet studs, actuator shafts (non-corrosive service only).

Pump Components: Pump shafts, impeller shafts, pump studs, pump bolts (non-corrosive service only).

Automotive Components: Engine parts, transmission components, suspension components (non-critical corrosion areas).

Construction: Tie rods, anchor bolts, foundation bolts, structural supports.

HVAC Components: Fan shafts, blower shafts, damper shafts, actuator rods.

1. What is the difference between 304 and 304L stainless steel round bars?
The main difference is carbon content. 304L has lower carbon (≤0.03% vs ≤0.08%), which prevents carbide precipitation during welding and provides better resistance to intergranular corrosion. For welded components, 304L is typically preferred.

2. Can 304 round bars be used in marine environments?
No. For seawater or high-chloride environments, use 316/316L or duplex stainless steel round bars. 304/304L is not suitable for marine applications.

3. What is the maximum diameter available for 304/304L round bars?
Standard diameters up to 300mm. Larger diameters up to 500mm are available upon request with extended lead time.

4. What surface finish is best for bolt and fastener manufacturing?
Cold drawn finish is recommended for bolt and fastener manufacturing. It provides consistent diameter tolerances (h9) and smooth surface finish, ideal for heading and threading operations.

5. What is the maximum service temperature for 304L round bars?
800°C (1472°F) for continuous service; 850°C (1562°F) for intermittent service. For prolonged service above 500°C, consider 304H or 321 stainless steel.

6. Are 304/304L round bars magnetic?
In the annealed condition, 304/304L round bars are non-magnetic. However, cold working (drawing, grinding) may induce slight magnetism. For applications requiring strict non-magnetic properties, specify solution annealed condition.

7. Do you provide material test reports (MTR) and certification?
Yes, every shipment includes EN 10204 Type 3.1 MTR with chemical analysis and mechanical properties. Third-party inspection available upon request.

Cost-Effective: Most economical stainless steel round bar option for general service

Complete Diameter Range: From 6mm to 300mm – all standard sizes in stock

Multiple Surface Finishes: Black, peeled, turned, cold drawn, ground, polished – all available

Precision Tolerances: h6, h7, h8, h9, h11 – meet your machining requirements

Full Traceability: Heat number on each bundle – traceable to original mill certificate

Large Inventory: Over 5,000 tons in stock – ready for immediate dispatch

Custom Cutting: Cut to exact lengths per order

Testing Available: UT, PMI, mechanical testing – all available

Global Delivery: Exported to over 50 countries

Website: www.womicstainless.com

E-mail: info@womicstainless.com

Tel / WhatsApp / WeChat:

Victor: +86 15575100681

Jack: +86 18390957568

Womic Steel – Your reliable partner for high‑quality stainless steel products, precision machined components, and custom solutions for corrosion‑resistant applications.

Stock Examples (304L Stainless Steel Round Bars – Bright Peeled Finish – Precision Grade):

Stock Examples (304L Stainless Steel Round Bars – Cold Drawn Finish – Fastener Grade):

Stock Examples (304 Stainless Steel Round Bars – Centerless Ground Finish – High Precision):

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