C15 · Beverage & Brewing
Stainless Steel Plates for Wine, Beverage and Specialty Tea Manufacturing: 316L/304 Selection and 10 Part Lists
In wine, beverage and specialty tea manufacturing, we have compiled 10 parts using stainless steel: commonly used 316L / 304, with thickness ranging from 1.5–8 mm.
Ten Parts and Material Lists
| Part / Component | Recommended Grades | Specifications / Thickness | Surface | Main Failure Modes | Reference Standards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beverage Filling Valve Body/Seat | 316L（1.4404/1.4435） | Valve Body Forgings | Electropolished Ra≤0.4μm | Hot Steam Sterilization 80–140℃ + Chlorine Wash → Pitting/SCC | ASME BPE；EHEDG；3-A；FDA |
| Purified Water Storage Tank | 316L | 3–8mm | Electropolished Ra≤0.4μm | Chloride pitting + weld SCC + dead angle biofilm | ASME BPE；GB/T 3280 |
| Purified Water Circulation Pipes/Bends/Tees | 316L | 1/2″–4″ | Electropolishing/Optical Brightening | Welding Heat Affected Zone (HAZ) Intergranular Corrosion + Chloride pitting | ASME BPE；GB/T 21833 |
| Ozone/Ultraviolet Disinfection Contacts | 316L | 2–5mm | Electropolishing/Dullizing | Ozone + Ultraviolet + Humidity → Oxidation corrosion | ASME BPE；GB/T 3280 |
| Maltster/Flavoring Kettle | 304/316L | 3–8mm | 2B/Annealed | High Temperature 100℃ + Organic Acid + Cleaner | GB/T 3280；NB/T 47014 |
| Cylinder Head/Breather Cap for Beer Fermenters | 304/316L | 3–6mm | 2B，Ra≤0.8μm | CO₂ + Low pH + Yeast Metabolites; Intergranular Corrosion Welding | GB/T 3280；ASME BPE |
| Keg | 304 | 1.5–3.0mm | 2B/Lye and Acid Wash | Soda Ash/Acid Wash + CO₂ + Reconditioning | GB/T 3280；DIN 6644 |
| Wine Tanks/Inert Gas Lines | 304/316L | 2–6mm | Inside the vessel. | Acid pickling | GB/T 3280 |
| Succinic acid + SO₂ + Cl⁻ corrosion | 304/316L | 2–8mm | Distillation tower internals / condenser | Acid pickling | GB/T 3280 |
| High-temperature steam + organic acids + alcohols | 304 | 1.5–4.0mm | 2B/Ra≤0.8μm | Piling and kneading contact pieces for green tea | GB/T 3280；GB 4806.9 |
Heat + tannins + organic acidsConfiguration. Parts of the same material can switch from 304 to 316L or 2205 depending on media, temperature, and welding method —— Explain usage conditions instead of specifying grades.
Material Points
- The most common grades in this industry are 316L (8), 304 (6) —— The numbers in parentheses indicate the number of affected areas, which can serve as a starting point for quoting and material preparation.
- In acidic media, 316L is just the baseline; higher concentrations and temperatures require 904L / duplex (5/10 hits).
- Chloride ions and salts are common corrosion sources (pitting, crevice corrosion) (4/10 hits).
- Thickness range: 1.5–8 mm —— Thin plates are mostly formed parts (consider bending rebound and deep drawing cracking), thick plates are mostly welded structures (consider heat input and sensitization).
Common Issues
What stainless steel is used most in the beverage, drink, and specialty tea manufacturing industry?
Top 10 parts by total number: 316L (8) and 304 (6). Specific to a part still depends on the medium and temperature.
Which part is the easiest to have problems with?
By failure description, typical example is "bottle filler body/seat": hot steam at 80–140°C + chlorine cleaner → pitting/electrochemical corrosion; recommended grade 316L (1.4404/1.4435), size forging for body. This condition should be clearly defined in the design phase regarding medium concentration, temperature, and cleaning method.
What thickness should I select?
Thickness range in the list is 1.5–8 mm. For thin sections, consider bending and surface finish; for thick sections, welding and structural strength. Values may vary by manufacturer for the same location, review your drawing or operating conditions.
Related Materials and Adjacent Industries
Applications10