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Japan Boiler and Heat Exchanger Stainless Steel
For centuries, Japan has been renowned for its mastery of stainless-steel manufacturing and its ability to produce some of the finest products in the world. Boilers and heat exchangers traditionally use stainless steel for their construction, to add strength and longevity to the equipment. Stainless steel used in boilers and heat exchangers typically come in grades SUS304, SUS316, and SUS321, each with different chemical compositions and properties making them well suited to different purposes.
SUS304, or AISI 304, is the most commonly used grade. It is austenitic and non magnetic and contains 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel—significantly higher than the other grades. It is the most malleable and weldable of all stainless steel grades, making it ideal for use in boilers and heat exchangers.
SUS316, or AISI 316, is the second most common grade used. It is also austenitic and non magnetic and contains 16 to 18 percent chromium and more nickel than 304. It is less malleable and weldable than 304, but is more resistant to corrosion and chips compared to the other grades. It is an excellent choice for environments prone to exposure to acidic elements like salt water.
SUS321, or AISI 321, is the third grade used. It is also austenitic and non magnetic, but contains more chromium and lower concentrations of nickel. It is the least malleable and weldable of the three grades, but is superior to the other two grades in its resistance to corrosion, especially in chloride-containing environments and media.
When choosing a grade of stainless steel for an application, it is important to consider the environment the equipment will be exposed to and the properties required of the steel. SUS304 is often used in general applications due to its malleability and weldability, while SUS316 is the preferred choice for salt water exposed environments because of its greater resistance. Finally, SUS321 is the best choice in chloride-containing environments that require superior corrosion resistance and may be the tradeoff for malleability and weldability.
Japanese manufacturers are renowned for their commitment to quality, and they use only the highest grade of stainless steel for construction of boilers and heat exchangers. All in all, Japan boiler and heat exchanger stainless steel manufacturers can be trusted for their reliability, excellence and attention to detail.