What is SUS304 2B stainless steel plate?

 

 

What is the difference between SUS304 2B and BA Plate?

SUS304 2B and BA are both cold-rolled stainless steel plates, but they differ in their final processing. 2B has a matte, light-gray finish achieved by cold-rolling, heat-treating, and pickling. BA (Bright Annealed) undergoes a final annealing process in a controlled oxygen-free atmosphere, resulting in a highly reflective, mirror-like finish.

Feature	SUS304 2B	SUS304 BA
Process	Cold rolled → Annealed → Pickled → Skin-passed on polished rolls.	Cold rolled → Bright Annealed in a controlled low-oxygen atmosphere (no pickling).
Appearance	Semi-matte, smooth, uniform gray with low-to-moderate reflectivity (40–60%).	Mirror-like, highly reflective, shiny, and aesthetically premium.
Surface Roughness (Ra)	0.1 – 0.5 μm (Smoother than 2D, but not mirror).	< 0.05 μm (Extremely smooth, near-mirror).
Formability	Excellent; standard for deep drawing and stamping.	Good, but the soft, sticky surface can sometimes cause galling during severe forming.
Cost	Standard/Lowest; most common mill finish.	Higher (typically 15–30% more) due to the specialized annealing process.
Primary Applications	Industrial tanks, food processing equipment, chemical vessels, structural parts.	Decorative panels, elevator interiors, high-end appliances, sanitary tubing, medical devices.

 

 

Is SUS304 2B sheet magnetic?

It is non-magnetic in the annealed state. 304 is an austenitic stainless steel. However, during the cold rolling process (particularly with thin sheets), mechanical deformation can induce a partial transformation of the austenite structure into martensite, resulting in weak magnetism. This does not compromise its corrosion resistance; however, if a completely non-magnetic material is required, a solution treatment must be performed.

 

 

Is SUS304 2B food-grade stainless steel?

Yes, SUS304 2B stainless steel is generally considered food-grade. SUS304 contains approximately 18-20% chromium and 8-10.5% nickel, exhibiting excellent corrosion resistance and hygienic properties, meeting the requirements for food contact applications. The 2B surface treatment provides a smooth, cold-rolled surface with a typical roughness Ra value of 0.1-0.5 μm, making it easy to clean and resistant to bacterial growth.

 

Can SUS304 2B be polished?

Yes, the 2B surface treatment provides a uniform, smooth initial surface, which can be mechanically polished to achieve finishes such as #4, brushed (HL), BA-like, or mirror (8K). Due to the good ductility and uniform microstructure of SUS304, it is well-suited for polishing.

 

What are the standard tolerance specifications for 304 2B sheet?

Refer to standards JIS G4305 or ASTM A480.
For example, a cold-rolled sheet with a nominal thickness of 2.0mm typically features a "negative tolerance" (meaning the actual thickness may range from 1.85mm to 1.9mm). If a project specifically requires the material to meet or exceed the full nominal thickness, you must explicitly request "positive thickness tolerance" or "guaranteed thickness material" at the time of ordering.

 

Applications of SUS304 2B Stainless Steel Plate

Food & Beverage Processing: Beer brewing tanks, dairy processing machinery, conveyor belts, and commercial countertops.
Kitchen Appliances & Cookware: Household products such as refrigerators, ovens, dishwasher interiors, sinks, and stew pots. Construction: Elevator cab interiors, wall cladding, and door frame fabrication.
Medical & Pharmaceutical: Manufacturing of medical equipment, laboratory workstations, and instrument trays.
Industrial Manufacturing: Fabrication of liquid oxygen storage tanks, brewing equipment, and various types of pressure vessels.

 

 

 

GNEE Stainless Steel maintains extensive warehousing facilities in locations such as Tianjin and Anyang, stocking a ready supply of standard-specification SUS304 2B stainless steel for rapid dispatch-with delivery times as short as 7 to 15 days.

We utilize high-power laser cutting equipment to precisely level and cut stainless steel coils into flat sheets of any desired length. These sheets exhibit exceptional flatness and are free of internal stress, making them ideally suited for high-precision stamping operations. We adhere to rigorous quality control protocols for our 2B surface finishes to ensure they are free of scratches, roller marks, and scale; this makes them perfectly suited for subsequent polishing, brushing, or mirror-finishing processes.

 

304 2B Stainless Steel plate Specifications

Stainless Steel Plate Grades	304 / 304L / 304H 1.4301, 1.4307
Standard	JIS, AISI, ASTM, GB, EN
Certification	ISO
Thickness	0.3mm – 6.0mm (Standard cold-rolled range)
Width	1000mm, 1219mm, 1250mm, 1500mm, 2000mm (Slitting and cut-to-length available)
Surface Finish	2B Finish (Cold-rolled, heat-treated, pickled, and skin-pass rolled for a smooth, slightly reflective surface)
Standards	JIS G4305 (Japanese Standard), ASTM A240 (American Standard), EN 10088-2 (European Standard)
Protective Film	Single-sided or double-sided laser film, blue/white film, black/white film, or transparent PE film available
Processing Services	Laser Cutting, Bending, Punching, Decoiling

 

Chemical Composition
Grade	Standard	304 Chemical Composition
		C	Si	Mn	Cr	Ni	P	S	Mo	Others
		≤ %	≤ %	%	%	%	≤ %	≤ %	≤ %	%
304	ASTM A240	0.08	0.75	2	18.0 - 20.0	8.0 - 10.5	0.045	0.03	-	N≤ 0.10
1.4301	EN 10088-2	0.07	1	2	17.0 - 19.5	8.0 - 10.5	0.045	0.015	-	N≤ 0.11
SUS304	JIS G 4304 | JIS G 4305	0.08	1	2	18.0 - 20.0	8.0 - 10.5	0.045	0.03	-	-

 

Mechanical Properties
The mechanical properties are given in the table below.
Grade	Standard	304 Mechanical Properties
		Tensile Strength	Yield Strength 0.2%	Elongation >%	Hardness
		(MPa) ≥	(MPa) ≥		HRB ≤	HB ≤
304	ASTM A240	515	205	40	92	201
1.4301	EN 10088-2	520	210	45	90	215
SUS304	JIS G 4304 JIS G 4305	520	205	40	90	187

Prior to shipment, we conduct 100% Positive Material Identification (PMI) to verify that the Nickel (Ni) and Chromium (Cr) content fully meets regulatory standards, thereby guaranteeing that no recycled scrap steel is utilized in our materials. Furthermore, the Material Test Certificates (MTCs) provided for our SUS304 products typically demonstrate compliance with the physical and chemical specifications of both JIS G4305 and ASTM A240, facilitating seamless export to markets across Japan, Korea, Europe, and the Americas.

 

Packaging Advantages:
We employ reinforced wooden pallets and waterproof paper packaging that comply with international maritime shipping standards. Additionally, we install protective metal corner guards to ensure that the cargo remains free from moisture damage or deformation during long-distance transit.

 

FAQ

 

Can SUS304 2B sheet undergo deep drawing?

Yes, it can; however, it is recommended to use the DDQ (Deep Drawing Quality) grade. Standard SUS304 2B possesses good ductility. Nevertheless, for the fabrication of deep sinks or complex cookware, it is advisable to procure DDQ-grade 304. This grade features a slightly higher copper (Cu) content and superior elongation properties, which effectively prevents cracking or the formation of an "orange peel" texture during deep drawing.

 

How should one address the blackening of weld seams when welding 2B sheet?

The high temperatures generated during welding can cause localized oxidation.
Treatment Methods:
Pickling and Passivation Paste: Apply the paste to the weld seam to remove oxide scale and restore the protective chromium oxide film.
Mechanical Polishing: After grinding with a polishing machine, treat the surface with a passivation solution to restore its corrosion resistance.

 

SUS304 2B vs. 316 2B

304 2B is suitable for general food processing, construction applications, and indoor environments, while 316 2B is more suitable for marine equipment, pharmaceutical plants, chemical facilities, and coastal facilities. In most markets, 316 2B stainless steel is about 20% to 40% more expensive than 304 2B, but it has a significantly longer service life in corrosive environments.