Depending on your particular needs, our stainless steel sheet and plate products can be made from various stainless steel grades to deliver the desired properties. Understanding the difference between stainless steel sheets and plates will help you select the ideal material for your application.
Stainless Steel Sheets
Stainless steel sheets are typically manufactured using the hot rolling or cold rolling process, depending on the required physical properties. While all stainless steel sheets initially undergo hot rolling, cold rolled steel receives additional processing once cooled to room temperature. Stainless steel sheets can also be galvanized for added corrosion resistance and can include features such as perforations or treads to meet the needs of various applications.
Stainless steel sheets have resistance to various chemicals, beverages, foods, and atmospheric corrosion, making them ideal for a range of applications, including:
- Aircraft structural parts
- Appliances
- Architectural and automotive trim
- Automobile wheel covers
- Conveyor belts
- Diaphragms
- Roof drainage products
- Sinks
- Storm door frames
- Subway cars
- Tableware
- Trailer bodies
- Utensils
What are standard stainless steel sheets sizes?
Stainless steel sheets from ADI Metal can be custom cut to suit the client’s specifications. Our standard stainless steel sheet sizes range in thickness up to 0.25’’ (6mm), with lengths of 8’ to 20’ and widths of 4’ to 8’.
How do you cut stainless steel sheets?
There are various methods to cut stainless steel sheets. ADI Metal relies on laser, band-saw, and waterjet cutting to deliver custom-cut stainless steel sheets to clients.
What are the different stainless steel finishes?
Stainless steel is a versatile material with various finishes to suit most applications. Common finishes include:
- 2B: A bright, cold-rolled finish resembling a hazy mirror that requires no finishing steps.
- No. 3: A finish featuring a slightly reflective surface achieved using a 120-grit abrasive.
- No. 4: A non-reflective grain finish achieved by using a 150-grit abrasive.
- No. 8: A highly reflective mirror finish polished with a fine abrasive and buffed to remove marks from grinding.
- BA: A bright annealed finish that provides a reflective surface similar to No. 8.
Stainless Steel Plate
While stainless steel sheet is measured in gauges reaching up to 0.25’’, stainless steel plate can be much thicker and is typically measured in inches. Similar to stainless steel sheets, stainless steel plate offers resistance to corrosion from chemicals, food, beverage, and atmospheric conditions. Due to its added thickness, stainless steel plate offers a more durable yet lightweight option that can be used in many of the same applications as stainless steel sheets.
What are standard stainless steel plate sizes?
ADI Metal manufactures stainless steel plates in various standard sizes, with widths between 4’ and 8’ and lengths between 8’ and 20’. Specifically, we can deliver stainless steel plates in 4’ x 8’, 4’ x 10’, and 5’ x 10’ dimensions. We can shear thicknesses up to 3/8’’ and can also cut a range of custom sizes to suit your particular application.
How is stainless steel plate cut?
ADI Metal can cut stainless steel plates using laser cutting, band-saw cutting, and waterjet cutting to achieve various standard and custom dimensions.
What are the different stainless steel finishes?
Similar to stainless steel sheets, stainless steel plates come in various finishes, including 2B, No. 3, No. 4, No. 8, and BA finishes.
Available Stainless Steel Sheets and Plate Grades Offered by ADI?
ADI Metal offers a selection of stainless steel grades for our plates and sheets. These include:
- Type 301. Type 301 is an austenitic stainless steel grade comprised of chromium-nickel. It has magnetic properties when cold worked and non-magnetic properties when annealed. It offers corrosion resistance and high strength for many applications, from subway cars to roof drainage components and more.
- Type 304/304L. This stainless steel grade is comprised of 18% chromium and 8% nickel. In the annealed condition, it offers good formability, and higher nickel versions can improve multi-stage deep drawing properties. Annealed 304/304L is non-magnetic, but it can be cold worked to become slightly magnetic and improve strength. 304/304L is a general-purpose steel that can resist atmospheric, food, beverage, and chemical corrosion.
- Type 316/316L. This austenitic stainless steel grade is comprised of chromium-nickel and molybdenum to improve its corrosion resistance in halide environments and resistance to acids. 316L has lower carbon content, enhancing its welding and corrosion-resistant properties while eliminating chromium carbide precipitation.
Partner With ADI for Your Stainless Steel Sheets and Plate
Stainless steel sheets and plates offer a durable, corrosion-resistant material choice that can be used across a diverse range of industries. At ADI Metal, we manufacture and fabricate stainless steel sheets and plates in a wide variety of sizes, grades, and finishes to meet the particular needs of your application. For more information about our stainless steel sheet and plate products, or to get started on your custom solution, contact us or request a quote today.