304, 316 & 316L Stainless Steel Tube Supplier

TeCarve supplies 304, 304L, 316 and 316L stainless steel pipe and tube across 17 product lines, including seamless, welded, sanitary, capillary, heat-exchanger, coiled and shaped tubing. This page helps procurement teams and engineers match a required grade to the available tube form before reviewing dimensions, finishes and standards on the relevant product page.

304 vs 316 vs 316L: the essential differences

Grade 304 is a practical starting point for many general industrial, indoor architectural and low-chloride applications. Grade 316 adds 2–3% molybdenum, improving resistance to chloride-induced pitting and crevice corrosion. Grade 316L has the same molybdenum range as 316 but limits carbon to 0.030%, compared with 0.08% for standard 316. That lower carbon content helps reduce sensitisation risk in welded assemblies exposed to corrosive service.

As a practical guide drawn from TeCarve’s detailed grade-selection article, 304 is generally suitable below approximately 200 ppm chloride at ambient temperature, while 316 and 316L extend the practical range to approximately 1,000 ppm at ambient temperature. These are selection guides rather than universal limits: temperature, pH, flow conditions, fabrication and cleaning chemistry can materially change corrosion performance. Neither 304 nor 316/316L should be treated as a default material for continuous seawater immersion.

When to move up to Duplex 2205

Duplex 2205 combines an austenitic-ferritic microstructure with higher chromium and molybdenum than 316L, giving it materially better resistance to chloride pitting, crevice corrosion, and chloride stress-corrosion cracking. It also has roughly double the yield strength of 304/316L, which can allow thinner walls for the same pressure rating. Duplex 2205 is the practical upgrade path when 316L is marginal for the chloride level, temperature, or mechanical stress involved — seawater and brine service, offshore and coastal environments, and chemical-plant tubing where 316L would be at or beyond its comfortable service range. It is not a universal upgrade: 2205 is more expensive than 316L, and for continuous high-chloride immersion at elevated temperature, super duplex grades or titanium may still be required. TeCarve supplies Duplex 2205 in seamless tube; contact us with your chloride level, temperature, and pressure requirements to confirm whether 316L, 2205, or a higher alloy is the right fit.

Which TeCarve product lines support each grade?

The grade ranges below reproduce the current Grades field on each TeCarve product page. Availability for a particular size, wall thickness, finish, standard or quantity should be confirmed when requesting a quotation.

How to choose a grade and product form

Start with the service environment, then select the tube form and manufacturing route.

• Choose 304 or 304L for many general indoor, architectural and low-chloride duties where the molybdenum addition in 316 would offer no practical benefit. Decoration, square, rectangular and special-shaped tubing provide several options for architectural and fabricated assemblies.
• Choose 316 or 316L when chloride exposure, coastal conditions, acidic cleaning media or other corrosive process conditions justify greater pitting resistance. Sanitary, heat-exchanger, capillary and coiled tubing are available in these grades.
• Prefer the low-carbon grade for corrosive welded service. Both 304L and 316L are intended to reduce sensitisation risk during welding. The final choice still depends on the applicable design code, fabrication method and service conditions.
• Confirm alternatives for severe chloride service. Where chloride exposure exceeds the practical range of 316/316L—or where continuous seawater immersion is involved—review higher-alloy or duplex options shown in the relevant product ranges.

Grade is only one part of a complete tube specification. An enquiry should also identify the product form, outside diameter or section dimensions, wall thickness, length, manufacturing route, surface finish, applicable standard, service medium, temperature and required documentation.

Request a grade-specific tube quotation

To identify the appropriate TeCarve product line, send the required grade together with your dimensions, quantity, finish, applicable standard and service conditions. The available grade, size combination and project documentation can then be confirmed before quotation.