Density value of stainless steel plate

The density of a stainless steel plate refers to its mass per unit volume, typically expressed in kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³) or grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³). To calculate density, both the mass (measured directly) and volume (determined by dimensional measurements such as length × width × thickness) must be known.

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Key Factors Influencing Density of Stainless Plates

Material Composition
Stainless steel is not a single material, but a family of steel alloys with varying compositions. Common types include austenitic, ferritic, martensitic, and duplex stainless steels. Variations in elements like chromium, nickel, molybdenum, or titanium lead to different densities.

For example:

304 stainless steel: ~7.93 g/cm³

316 stainless steel: ~8.00 g/cm³

Plate Thickness
Although density itself is an intrinsic property and doesn’t change with thickness, perceived density deviations may occur during calculation if measurements are imprecise or if there are internal voids or inconsistencies in thicker plates.

Manufacturing Process
Hot-rolled and cold-rolled stainless steel plates may show slight differences in internal structure, compactness, or surface finish, which can subtly influence the calculated or effective density.

Factors Affecting the Weight of Stainless Steel Plates

While density is constant for a given material, the weight of a stainless steel plate depends on its dimensions and material type:

Thickness
The thicker the plate, the greater the volume, and thus the heavier it is—assuming the length and width remain the same.

Surface Area
With fixed thickness, an increase in length and width leads to an increase in surface area and total volume, resulting in more weight.

Material Type
As different stainless steel grades have slightly different densities, identical-sized plates made of 304 and 316, for instance, will have slightly different weights.

Overall Size
Total weight is the result of the plate’s length × width × thickness × material density. Larger plates naturally weigh more.

Typical Density Range of Stainless Steel Plates

Depending on alloy composition and manufacturing variations, the density of stainless steel plates generally falls within the range of 7.93 – 8.00 g/cm³. This value is commonly used for weight estimations in design, procurement, and logistics, but real-world values may vary slightly due to manufacturing tolerances.

Conclusion

The density of a stainless steel plate is a crucial parameter that influences structural performance, load calculations, and shipping costs. When selecting stainless steel plates, it’s important to consider:

The material type and its inherent density,

The dimensional accuracy for volume calculation,

And the application-specific requirements such as weight limits or mechanical strength.

While standardized density values offer reliable estimates, actual product measurements may vary slightly and should be verified when precision is required.