C29 · Rubber & Plastics
Stainless Steel Plates for Rubber and Plastic Industry: 304/316 Selection and 4 Part Lists
In the Rubber and Plastic Industry, we have organized four parts using stainless steel: commonly used 304 / 316 / 316L, with thickness ranging from 2–300 mm.
Four Parts and Material List
| Part / Component | Recommended Grade | Specification / Thickness | Surface | Main Failure Modes | Reference Standards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extruder Screw (Corrosion Critical Service) | 304/316 Base + Nitrided Layer 0.4–0.7mm + Double Metal PTA 1.0–1.5mm | Screw φ20–300mm | Nitriding / Double Metal Welding / Polishing | PVC/HCl+ Fiberglass/Silica Wear; Nitrided Layer Exposed, Soft Core Rapidly Fails | GB/T 3280；JB/T Screw Standards |
| Extruder Barrel (Corrosion Critical Service) | 304/316 Base + Centrifugal Casting Double Metal Liner 2.0–3.0mm | Inside Diameter 20–300mm | Liner / Nitriding / Polishing | Melt Corrosion + Screw Scrubbing + Fiberglass Wear | GB/T 3280；JB/T Industry Standards |
| Compounding Mill Rotor/Cavity Wall (Corrosion Resistant) | 304/316L | Welding / Liner Board | Welding/Grinding Surface | Corrosion-resistant Additives + High Wear | GB/T 3280; HG/T Rubber Machinery Standards |
| Sulfurized Tank Walls/Walls of Pipes | 304/316L | 2–8mm | 2B/Acid Washed | High-temperature Steam + Sulfides + Condensate Water | GB/T 3280；GB/T 150 |
Inside isStandard Configuration.Different parts in different media, temperatures, and welding methods may require switching from 304 to 316L or 2205 —— Explain the usage conditions instead of specifying grades for better efficiency.
Key Points in Material Selection
- The most common grades used in this industry are 304 (4), 316 (2), and 316L (2). The numbers in parentheses indicate how many parts each grade applies to, which can serve as a starting point for quoting and material preparation.
- Wear Parts (Cutting Edges, Liners, Conveying Components) Consider Hardness, Not Just Corrosion Resistance (3/4 Hits).
- Thickness Range 2–300 mm: Thin plates are mostly formed parts (consider bending rebound and deep drawing cracking), while thick plates are mostly welded structural components (consider heat input and sensitization).
Common Issues
Which stainless steel is used most in the rubber and plastic industries?
Based on this, the top three grades appearing most frequently are 304 (4 items), 316 (2 items), and 316L (2 items). Specific to a part still requires consideration of media and temperature, such as stainless steel countertops that contact salt water should switch from 304 to 316L.
What parts are most prone to failure?
By failure description, typical is "Extruder screw (critical service corrosion)": PVC/HCl+glass fiber/stone powder wear; nitrided layer wears through, soft core fails quickly; recommended grade 304/316 base + nitrided layer 0.4–0.7mm + dual metal PTA 1.0–1.5mm, size screw φ20–300mm. This condition suggests specifying medium concentration, temperature, and cleaning method during design.
What thickness should I choose?
Thickness range in the list is 2–300 mm. Thin plates consider forming and surface quality, thick plates consider welding and structural strength; different manufacturers may have different values for the same part, review your drawing or conditions to confirm.
Related materials and adjacent industries
Applications4
Thickness2–300mm
Grades300