Food Grade 304 Stainless Steel Pipe vs. Industrial Stainless Steel Pipe

Food grade 304 stainless steel pipe and industrial 304 stainless steel pipe use the same basic 304 stainless steel grade, but they may differ in surface finish, cleanliness, manufacturing requirements, applicable standards and end use. Food grade pipes are designed for applications where hygiene and contamination control are important, while industrial pipes are selected mainly according to pressure, corrosion resistance, strength and service conditions. Understanding these differences can help you choose the right 304 stainless steel pipe for food processing or industrial applications.

Difference between Food Grade 304 Stainless Steel Pipe and Industrial Stainless Steel Pipe

1. Heavy metal content

The main difference between food grade 304 stainless steel pipe and industrial pipe is that the heavy metal content of food grade 304 stainless steel pipe is much lower than that of industrial pipe. According to the standard GB 31604.34-2016 "National Food Safety Standard Food Contact Material and Product Lead Determination and Migration Determination", food grade 304 stainless steel pipe is required to dissolve lead content ≤0.05 under acetic acid soaking; while industrial pipes, such as Markov There is no clear regulation on the lead content of stainless steel.

2. Surface

The most obvious difference lies in the surface. The surface of food-grade 304 stainless steel pipes must be at least BA grade, which is a bright surface; while industrial pipes have no requirements for the surface, the surface is often rough, and the key is to have high corrosion resistance.

3. Process requirements

For food-grade 304 stainless steel pipes that are in direct contact with food, the finish inside the pipe is very important. However, the inner wall of the tube needs to be polished and brightly annealed to make the inside of the tube wall smoother. If there is a liquid medium inside, it can prevent clogging.

However, industrial pipes are often used in polluted environments, so they have higher requirements for the anti-oxidation performance of the pipes, so pickling passivation treatment is generally carried out. Pickling passivation can generate a dense oxide film on the surface of the pipe, which greatly improves the corrosion resistance of the pipe.

Read a full guide: Food Grade 304 Stainless Steel Pipe vs. Industrial Stainless Steel Pipe

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