​What are the common types of stainless steel sheets?

What are the common types of stainless steel sheets?

Stainless steel sheets are widely used in our daily lives, with applications ranging from decorative construction and outdoor landscape engineering to pulp and papermaking equipment, heat exchangers, electromechanical equipment, dyeing and testing equipment, thin-film processing equipment, pipelines, and exterior building materials for coastal urban architecture.

Taking stainless steel decorative sheets as an example, commonly used grades are 201 and 304. The corrosion and rust resistance of 304 stainless steel sheets are superior to those of 201 stainless steel sheets.

Due to their relatively poor corrosion resistance, 201 stainless steel sheets are often used in dry regions or for indoor applications with lower quality requirements. In contrast, 304 stainless steel sheets offer excellent corrosion resistance and are widely used in the processing of kitchenware and other food-related products. They are commonly applied in humid southern regions or for outdoor areas with higher quality standards.

304 stainless steel sheets outperform in terms of properties and quality, making them suitable for a broader range of applications, but they are also significantly more expensive than 201 stainless steel sheets.

201 and 304 stainless steel sheets can be distinguished by visual inspection and touch. To the naked eye, 304 stainless steel sheets exhibit a bright and shiny appearance, while 201 stainless steel sheets appear darker and less glossy. In terms of touch, 304 stainless steel sheets feel smooth, whereas 201 stainless steel sheets feel rough and less polished. Additionally, by wetting one’s hands and touching the two types of stainless steel sheets, watermarks and fingerprints are easier to wipe off from 304 stainless steel sheets but more difficult to remove from 201 stainless steel sheets.

Furthermore, stainless steel pickling paste can be applied to both types of stainless steel sheets. After two minutes, observe the color change at the application area. If the color turns black, it is 201 stainless steel; if it remains white or unchanged, it is 304 stainless steel.

Stainless steel sheets can also undergo surface treatments to achieve various decorative patterns and colors. Examples include patterned finishes such as hairline, snowflake sand, mixed (random), cross, and cross-hatch patterns. Additionally, there are colored stainless steel sheets available in shades like titanium black (black titanium), sky blue, titanium gold, coffee, brown, purple-red, bronze, rose gold, titanium white, emerald green, champagne gold, bronze, and pink.

Currently, other commonly used stainless steel sheets in decorative engineering include mirror-finished stainless steel sheets, sandblasted stainless steel sheets, anti-fingerprint stainless steel sheets, brushed stainless steel sheets, and wood-grain stainless steel sheets.