TP304 and 304 are the same material, but the expression method is different.
TP304 is the expression method of the American standard. TP is the abbreviation of tube and pipe, which means stainless steel pipe used for piping. It is mainly used in the field of piping, especially in occasions requiring high corrosion resistance, such as water treatment and heat exchange tubes.
304 is the expression method of the international standard and also the brand of the Chinese national standard, called 0Cr18Ni9. Due to its good comprehensive performance, it is widely used in the manufacture of equipment and parts that require these characteristics.

In actual use, TP304 and 304 have some gaps in their chemical composition. According to the provisions of the American standard and the Chinese national standard, the carbon content, phosphorus content, sulfur content, etc. of TP304 and 304 have certain range requirements. Among them, the chromium content of TP304 is higher, reaching more than 18%, while the chromium content of 304 is required to be between 17% and 19%. This makes TP304 more corrosion-resistant than 304, but also more expensive.

In addition to TP304 and 304, there is a stainless steel pipe called 304L. It is a variant of 304 stainless steel pipe. The main difference is that it has a lower carbon content, less than or equal to 0.03%. The purpose of this is to improve its welding performance. Because the lower the carbon content, the less carbides are produced during welding, and the risk of intergranular corrosion can be avoided.

TP304 and 304 stainless steel pipes are the same material, but the expression method is different. They both have good comprehensive properties and are suitable for various occasions. However, there are still some differences in chemical composition, mainly reflected in the chromium content. TP304 is more corrosion-resistant than 304, but also more expensive. Which type of stainless steel pipe to choose depends on the specific application scenario and needs.

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