Sep 15, 2026Grades & Materials
Stainless and Alloy Steel Grades for Project Supply: 304, 316L, 347, 310L, S31254 and More
Grade reference for stainless and alloy pipe: 304, 06Cr19Ni10, 316L, 310L, 347, S31254, 10050, 20060, 09CrCuSb, SA106C, 12Cr1MoVR, 35CrNi3MoV, 20Mn2.
Quick answer: stainless and alloy steel grades for project supply are selected by matching the service environment to the alloying that resists it, because the grade name alone does not decide whether a pipe will survive. Austenitic grades such as 304, 316L, 310L, 347 and S31254 use chromium, nickel, molybdenum and sometimes niobium against corrosion and heat, low-alloy 09CrCuSb targets one corrosion mechanism, and SA106C, 12Cr1MoVR, 35CrNi3MoV and 20Mn2 are chosen for strength at temperature or under load. Each grade below covers what it is, its stated properties and its typical applications.
How Stainless and Alloy Grades Differ in Selection
A stainless steel is an iron alloy with enough chromium to form a passive surface film. The 300 series grades here are austenitic: 304 and its Chinese equivalent 06Cr19Ni10 use chromium with 8 to 11 percent nickel, 316L adds 2 to 3 percent molybdenum for chloride and acid service, 347 adds niobium for high-temperature stabilization, 310L is a low-carbon high-alloy grade for high-temperature process piping, and S31254 is a high-molybdenum, copper-bearing grade for seawater and aggressive chemical media. The 10050 and 20060 pipes are also chromium and nickel bearing stainless grades, but the source gives them no designation or numeric chemistry.
An alloy steel is a steel in which elements beyond carbon and manganese are added deliberately for a property the base steel lacks. 09CrCuSb adds chromium, copper and antimony for sulfuric acid dew point corrosion, 12Cr1MoVR adds chromium, molybdenum and vanadium for pressure vessel service to 580 degrees C, and 35CrNi3MoV adds the same elements plus nickel for very high strength with low-temperature toughness. SA106C and 20Mn2 sit at the carbon end, SA106C for high-temperature steam and 20Mn2 for strength with good weldability.
304
304 is a general-purpose austenitic stainless steel with about 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel, supplied here as seamless fine-rolled pipe. Fine rolling is stated to hold surface cleanliness and dimensional accuracy, and the product has high tensile and compressive strength with good ductility. Uses are petrochemical transfer of oil and chemicals, food processing equipment, medical devices, and building decoration such as railings and armrests.
06Cr19Ni10
06Cr19Ni10 is the Chinese designation for the stainless steel commonly known as 304, with stated standards GB/T 14976 and GB/T 13296. Stated chemistry is carbon 0.08, silicon 1.00, manganese 2.00, phosphorus 0.035 and sulfur 0.030 percent maximum, nickel 8.00 to 11.00 percent and chromium 18.00 to 20.00 percent. Stated properties are tensile strength at least 520 MPa, yield strength at least 210 MPa and elongation at least 35 percent after heat treatment.
316L
316L is an austenitic stainless steel containing 2 to 3 percent molybdenum, an addition the source states holds corrosion resistance in marine and chemical environments and against acids and alkaline solutions. It runs continuously up to 870 degrees C with good oxidation and creep resistance, suiting heat exchangers and furnace components. Its smooth surface limits microbial growth, so it is used for food processing, pharmaceuticals and drinking water, as well as petrochemical and marine work.
310L
310L is a low-carbon, high-alloy stainless steel pipe with good high-temperature stability. The source states four characteristics: stable performance in high-temperature environments for process piping, resistance to media such as acid and alkali, good processing into various shapes, and high strength under pressure. Applications are chemical and energy pipeline systems carrying corrosive media at high temperature, and food processing equipment.
347
347 is a niobium-stabilized austenitic stainless steel with the UNS designation S34700, supplied as seamless pipe. Stated standards are ASTM A312, ASME SA312, ASTM A213, ASME SA213 and GB/T 14976, with outside diameter 10 mm to 762 mm and wall thickness 1 mm to 100 mm. Stated chemistry is carbon 0.08, silicon 1.00, manganese 2.00, phosphorus 0.035 and sulfur 0.030 percent maximum, nickel 9.00 to 12.00 percent, chromium 17.00 to 19.00 percent and niobium from 10 times carbon up to 1.10 percent. The niobium addition gives oxidation resistance and high toughness beyond ordinary 304, suiting oil and gas well casing, refining equipment, chemical reactors and nuclear cooling systems.
S31254
S31254, also known as 254SMO, is a high-molybdenum alloy stainless steel pipe whose main components the source lists as chromium, nickel, molybdenum and copper, a combination giving excellent corrosion and oxidation resistance with high strength and toughness. Applications are chemical storage tanks, heat exchangers and reactors, offshore platforms and seawater desalination equipment, food processing and storage, and oil and gas pipelines and wellhead equipment. The source publishes no size or chemistry figures.
10050
10050 stainless steel pipe is a specialty stainless pipe the source describes without a standard designation or numeric chemistry. It contains a high proportion of chromium and nickel, giving strong corrosion resistance in harsh environments, with high strength and hardness. Its stated advantages are stable performance at high temperature, a smooth surface suited to visible decoration, and lower environmental impact in production. Uses are building structures and interior decoration, chemical pipelines and storage tanks, and mechanical manufacturing.
20060
20060 stainless steel pipe is a stainless pipe the source describes without a standard designation or numeric chemistry, usually processed by cold drawing or cold rolling. Stated characteristics are excellent corrosion resistance in humid and corrosive environments such as chemical and marine engineering, high strength and hardness, and excellent plasticity and weldability. Uses are building structures, interior decoration and handrails, chemical works, and food processing and transport lines.
09CrCuSb
09CrCuSb is a low-alloy steel for sulfuric acid dew point corrosion, alloyed with chromium, copper and antimony to form a dense protective film. Stated chemistry ranges are chromium 0.50 to 1.20 percent, copper 0.25 to 0.45 percent and antimony 0.05 to 0.12 percent, with yield strength at least 295 MPa, tensile strength at least 390 MPa and elongation at least 22 percent. The source reports a corrosion rate more than 80 percent lower than ordinary Q235 steel in 50 percent sulfuric acid at 60 degrees C, extending service life three to five times. Uses are desulfurization tower spray layers and flue gas reheaters in power plants, sintering heads, electrostatic precipitators and dilute sulfuric acid storage tanks.
SA106C
SA106C is a carbon manganese seamless pipe made to ASTM A106 for high pressure and high temperature service. Stated composition is carbon 0.27 to 0.93 percent and manganese 0.29 to 1.06 percent with phosphorus and sulfur each 0.035 percent maximum, Grade C carrying higher carbon and manganese than Grades A and B. Stated properties are tensile strength at least 485 MPa, yield strength at least 275 MPa and elongation at least 30 percent, held stable below 480 degrees C. Applications are main steam and reheated steam pipes up to 450 degrees C, and hydrogenation reactor feed lines.
12Cr1MoVR
12Cr1MoVR is a low-alloy steel for pressure vessels, its designation recording about 0.12 percent carbon, chromium for high-temperature oxidation resistance, molybdenum for tensile strength and heat stability, vanadium as a grain refiner, and R for vessel service. This composition maintains thermal strength and oxidation resistance up to 580 degrees C, with tensile strength above 490 MPa and impact energy absorption above 71 J. Weldability is good, but 300 degrees C preheat and post-weld stress relief are required. Applications are petrochemical reactors and heat exchangers, and power plant pressure vessels, boiler superheaters and main steam ducts.
35CrNi3MoV
35CrNi3MoV is a medium carbon alloy structural steel within GB/T 3077, its designation giving about 0.35 percent carbon with chromium for hardenability, nickel for low-temperature toughness, molybdenum to suppress temper brittleness and raise high-temperature strength, and vanadium to refine grain size. After quenching and tempering the source states tensile strength above 900 MPa, yield strength above 750 MPa and impact energy above 50 J at minus 40 degrees C. Applications are tank torsion shafts and ship hydraulic pipelines, deep-sea oil well valve bodies, and hydraulic cylinder pipes for high-end excavators, welded with ER100S-G wire at 150 degrees C preheat.
20Mn2
20Mn2 is a high-quality carbon structural steel of the manganese steel family with manganese content of 1.40 to 1.80 percent, giving higher yield and tensile strength than ordinary carbon steel while keeping good ductility and impact toughness. Stated properties are tensile strength above 590 MPa and yield strength of about 335 MPa, with good low-temperature impact resistance, excellent weldability and machinability, and high hardness after quenching and tempering. Applications are hydraulic cylinders and transmission shafts, petrochemical pipelines and pressure vessels, and axles and drive shafts.
How to Choose Between These Grades
The first question is what the pipe has to survive. Where chlorides, seawater or mixed acids are present, the molybdenum-bearing 316L or the high-molybdenum S31254 are the stated choices, and 09CrCuSb can replace 316L in dilute sulfuric acid tanks. Where the duty is high-temperature process piping, 310L, 347 and 12Cr1MoVR are stated, with 12Cr1MoVR stable to 580 degrees C. For high-pressure steam, SA106C is stated, holding stable properties below 480 degrees C.
The second question is strength and toughness under load. 35CrNi3MoV is stated above 900 MPa tensile strength with more than 50 J impact energy at minus 40 degrees C, the highest combination here, which is why it suits torsion shafts, hydraulic cylinder pipes and deep-sea valve bodies. 20Mn2 is stated above 590 MPa tensile strength with good weldability. For general corrosion resistance, 304 and 06Cr19Ni10 are the baseline, while 10050 and 20060 cover decorative and general industrial work. Welding controls are part of selection: 12Cr1MoVR requires 300 degrees C preheat and 09CrCuSb requires E309L consumables below 150 degrees C interlayer.
Selection rule from the source material: identify the damaging mechanism first, whether that is chloride attack, dilute sulfuric acid, high-temperature steam, pressure at 580 degrees C, or impact load at minus 40 degrees C, then choose the grade whose stated alloying addresses that mechanism, and then confirm that the welding and heat treatment procedure the project can execute is the one the grade requires.
FAQ
When should 316L be chosen instead of 304?
316L contains 2 to 3 percent molybdenum, and the source states this addition holds corrosion resistance in marine, chemical and food processing environments where chlorides are present, as well as against acids and alkaline solutions. 304, and its equivalent 06Cr19Ni10, resist acids, alkalis and salts through chromium. Where service involves chlorides or strongly acidic media, 316L or S31254 are the stated choices.
What is the difference between 347 and 304 stainless steel?
347 is a niobium-stabilized austenitic stainless steel with the UNS designation S34700, and the source states the niobium addition gives excellent oxidation resistance, high strength and high toughness compared with ordinary 304. That is why 347 suits high-temperature, high-pressure and corrosive duty such as refining equipment, chemical reactors and nuclear cooling systems.
Which grades here are stated for high-temperature service?
The source states continuous service up to 870 degrees C for 316L with good oxidation and creep resistance, up to 580 degrees C for 12Cr1MoVR, stable properties below 480 degrees C and use up to 450 degrees C for SA106C, and high-temperature stability for 310L in process piping.
What is 09CrCuSb used for?
09CrCuSb is a low-alloy steel for sulfuric acid dew point corrosion, made with chromium 0.50 to 1.20 percent, copper 0.25 to 0.45 percent and antimony 0.05 to 0.12 percent. The source states it is used for desulfurization tower spray layers and flue gas reheaters in coal-fired power plants, and sintering heads and electrostatic precipitators in metallurgy.
Does the source publish a standard designation for every grade?
No. Designations and numeric chemistry are published for 347 as UNS S34700 under ASTM A312 or GB/T 14976, for 06Cr19Ni10 under GB/T 14976, for 12Cr1MoVR under GB 5310, for 35CrNi3MoV under GB/T 3077, and for 20Mn2 under GB/T 8162 and GB/T 8163. The source gives 10050 and 20060 no designation or numeric chemistry, and gives S31254 no size or chemistry figures, so those should be confirmed from the mill certificate.
Tell us the damaging mechanism, the service temperature and pressure, and the welding procedure your site can execute, and our team will confirm which grade fits the project and prepare the matching mill certificate and inspection documents.
