C17 · Textile
Stainless Steel Sheets for the Textile Industry: 316L/304 Selection and a 7-Part Checklist
In the textile industry, we identified 7 components using stainless steel: typically 316L / 304 / 321, with thicknesses from 1–400 mm.
Seven-Part Checklist and Material Options
| Part / Component | Recommended Grade | Size / Thickness | Surface | Main Failure Modes | Reference Standards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J-Type High-Temperature High-Speed Dyeing Machine Cylinder | 316L/304/321 | Wall thickness approx. 4 mm | 2B/Anodizing and Passivation | Chloride SCC: the acid Cl⁻ bath is far above the critical SCC temperature for austenitic grades of approx. 60℃ at 140℃; cracks initiate from welds/flanges/HAZ | GB/T 3280; GB/T 150; GB/T 4334 |
| Cylinder/Heat Exchanger Tube Bundle/Tubesheets | 316L | Tube wall thickness 1.0–2.0 mm | Pickling/Polishing | Cl⁻ enrichment in condensate + residual welding stress → SCC at welds | GB/T 151; GB/T 4334 |
| Guide Roller (Main Roller/Roller Surface) | 304/316L | Roll surface φ100–400 mm; wall thickness 2–6 mm | Mirror Polishing/Hard Chrome | Dyes/anti-corrosion agents; a 120-hour salt spray test with no rust is a common acceptance criterion | GB/T 3280; FZ/T 90001 series |
| Bleaching Residuals/White Liquor Residuals from the Bleaching Machine | 316L | 0–6.0 mm | 2B/Pickling | Chlorine bleaching + stress corrosion at high pH | GB/T 3280 |
| Casting Residuals/Pipes | 316L/904L | 0–6.0 mm | 2B/Pickling | Sulfuric acid/sodium thiocyanate + high temperature + Cl⁻ | GB/T 3280; ASTM A240 |
| Rope Cutting Box/Metering Pumps | 316L | Castings/Sheet 5–30 mm | Final Surface/Polished | High-temperature polymer degradation + corrosion | GB/T 3280; GB/T 1220 |
| Fiber/Filter Mesh | 304/316L | 0–3.0 mm | 2B/Perforated | High-pressure water washing + fiber abrasion + rust | GB/T 3280 |
Material SelectionDescribe Your Operating ConditionsMaterial Selection
Focus on Application Characteristics
- Which grades are most common in this industry? (316L, 304, 321)
- Common sources of corrosion: pitting and cracking (5/7 cases).
- Welded components must be protected against sensitization and chloride stress corrosion cracking (3/7 cases).
- Thickness range 1–400 mm: thin sheets are mainly formed parts (watch for bending springback and deep drawing cracking); thick plates are mainly welded structures (watch for heat input and sensitization).
Common Questions
Which stainless steel is most used in textiles?
Among these 7 parts, the most common grade is 316L (7 times), followed by 304 (3 times) and 321 (1 time). The specific choice for each part still depends on environment and temperature; for example, stainless steel surfaces in contact with brine should be upgraded from 304 to 316L.
Which types of parts are most problematic?
The failure description typically applies to the "J-type high-temperature high-speed dyeing machine cylinder body": chloride stress corrosion cracking: the dye bath contains Cl⁻, which at 140°C is far above the critical stress corrosion cracking temperature for austenitic grades of approx. 60°C; cracks initiate from welds/crevices/heat-affected zones; recommended grades are 316L/304/321, wall thickness approx. 4 mm. For such operating conditions, it is recommended to define the medium concentration, temperature and cleaning method at the design stage.
Why does thickness need to be selected?
The thickness range in the checklist is 1–400 mm. For thin sheets, forming and surface quality must be considered; for thick plates, weldability and structural strength must be considered. Values may vary between equipment manufacturers. Please verify against the drawing or operating conditions.
Related Materials and Adjacent Industries
Applications7
Thickness1–400mm
Grades400/316L