C37 · Rail, Marine & Aerospace

Stainless Steel Plates for Rail, Ship, Aerospace and Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing: 301L/304 Selection and 10 Part List

Q: Which stainless steel is used most in railway, shipbuilding, aerospace, and other transportation equipment manufacturing?

Top 10 parts based on total number: 301L (3 items), 304 (3 items), 2205 (2 items). Specific to a part still depends on the medium and temperature, for example, stainless steel countertops that contact salt water should switch from 304 to 316L.

Q: Which parts are most prone to problems?

Based on failure descriptions, typical is "body side wall (corrugated plate + exterior plate)": improper laser overlay weld penetration → insufficient fatigue strength; residual welding stress; weld width ≥ 1 times plate thickness, fusion depth ≤ 0.5 times plate thickness, protrusion < 0.05 mm; recommended grade SUS301L (LT/DLT/ST/MT/HT), specifications corrugated plate/exterior plate 1–2 mm; typical overlay welding of 2mm + 2mm. This condition recommends specifying medium concentration, temperature, and cleaning method in the design phase.

Q: What thickness should I choose?

The listed thickness range is 0.5–10 mm. For thin plates, consider forming and surface properties, for thick plates, consider welding and structural strength; different manufacturers may have different values for the same part, review your drawings or conditions to confirm.

In rail, ship, aerospace and other transportation equipment manufacturing, we have compiled 10 parts that use stainless steel. Commonly used are 301L / 304 / 2205 with thickness ranging from 0.5–10 mm.

Describe the operating conditions and get material selection advice View Products

Exhaust Systems for Cars: Ferritic Stainless Steel Manifolds and Silencers — Car Exhaust and Decorative Parts: 409 / 441 / 304 / 430 (Illustration; Material selection based on media, temperature, and drawings)

List of 10 Components and Materials

Component / Part	Recommended Grade	Specification / Thickness	Surface	Main failure modes	Reference standards
Body side wall (corrugated plate + outer skin)	SUS301L（LT/DLT/ST/MT/HT）	Corrugated plate/outer skin 1–2mm; 2mm+2mm double-sided welding typical	Brushed / 2B	Laser double-sided welding improper depth → insufficient fatigue strength; residual stress from welding; weld width ≥ 1 times plate thickness, welding depth ≤ 0.5 times plate thickness, protrusion < 0.05 mm	EN 12663; patented laser double-sided welding process
Body cold-formed channel steel beams/columns	301L hot-rolled strip steel	Strip steel 1–3mm	2B / brushed	Cold bending rebound + welding deformation + fatigue	EN 12663；GB/T 3280
Interior panels / luggage rack / seat frame	304/301L	0.5–2.0mm	HL/No.4/2B	Human contact corrosion + cleaning agents + wear	GB/T 3280；EN 45545
Doors / window frames / sealing piece framework	304/301L	0.8–2.0mm	2B / brushed	Frequent opening fatigue + seal wear + corrosion	GB/T 3280；EN 14752
Ship exhaust gas desulfurization tower body / spray layer	2205/2507/254SMO/904L	2–6mm	2B/Scraping	Acidic seawater pH 2–4 + high Cl⁻ + wear → pitting/electrochemical corrosion	ASTM A240; Classification Society specifications
Ballast water system piping / filters	2205/2507/1.4529	Wall thickness 2–10mm	Scraping	High chloride seawater + stagnation + microbial corrosion	ASTM A240/A789; Classification Society specifications
Aircraft hydraulic/fuel lines	304L/316L/21-6-9	1/8″–2″; Wall thickness 0.5–2mm	Brightening / passivation	High pressure hydraulic oil + low temperature + vibration fatigue + coastal Cl⁻	ASTM A269；SAE AS4076
Engine exhaust components / tailpipes	321/347/310S/Ni-based	0.5–3mm	2B/Polished	High Temperature Oxidation+Thermal Fatigue+Gas Corrosion	ASTM A240; AMS Aerospace Materials Specification
Aerospace Fasteners/Structures	A286/17-4PH	M3–M20	Passivation/Treatment	High Strength+Stress Corrosion+Cryph+Fatigue	ASTM A453；AMS 5643
Motorcycle Exhaust Systems/Bicycle Frames	409L/304/430	0.8–2.0mm	2B/Glazed/Treated	Condensation Acid Corrosion+Road Salt Fog+Vibration Fatigue	ASTM A240；GB/T 3280

Table BelowStandard Configuration. Same Part in Different Media, Temperatures and Welding Methods May Switch from 304 to 316L or 2205—Clarify Usage Conditions for Better Efficiency.

Key Considerations

Most Common Grades Used in This Industry are 301L (3), 304 (3), 2205 (2)—Numbers in Parentheses Indicate Number of Parts Affected, Useful for Quotation and Material Estimation.
Chlorides and Salts Are the Most Common Corrosion Sources (Pitting, Crevice Corrosion) (4/10 Hits).
Wear Parts (Edges, Liners, Conveying Components) Should Consider Hardness Not Just Corrosion Resistance (2/10 Hits).
Thickness range 0.5–10 mm: Thin plates are mostly formed parts (considering bending rebound and deep drawing cracking), thick plates are mostly welded structural components (considering heat input and sensitization).

Common questions

Which stainless steel is used most in railway, shipbuilding, aerospace, and other transportation equipment manufacturing?

Top 10 parts based on total number: 301L (3 items), 304 (3 items), 2205 (2 items). Specific to a part still depends on the medium and temperature, for example, stainless steel countertops that contact salt water should switch from 304 to 316L.

Which parts are most prone to problems?

Based on failure descriptions, typical is "body side wall (corrugated plate + exterior plate)": improper laser overlay weld penetration → insufficient fatigue strength; residual welding stress; weld width ≥ 1 times plate thickness, fusion depth ≤ 0.5 times plate thickness, protrusion < 0.05 mm; recommended grade SUS301L (LT/DLT/ST/MT/HT), specifications corrugated plate/exterior plate 1–2 mm; typical overlay welding of 2mm + 2mm. This condition recommends specifying medium concentration, temperature, and cleaning method in the design phase.

What thickness should I choose?

The listed thickness range is 0.5–10 mm. For thin plates, consider forming and surface properties, for thick plates, consider welding and structural strength; different manufacturers may have different values for the same part, review your drawings or conditions to confirm.

Related materials and adjacent industries

304Materials and specifications 2205Materials and specifications 304LMaterials and specifications 316LMaterials and specifications 321Materials and specifications 430Materials and specifications Agricultural and food processing industryFood Processing Food ManufacturingFood Manufacturing Manufacturing of Wine, Beverages, and Prepared TeaBeverage & Brewing

Applications10