Automotive Industry
The main application of stainless steel in the automotive industry is the exhaust system, accounting for more than half of the total stainless steel usage, with 80% being ferritic stainless steel. Exhaust gases from the car engine flow through the intake manifold, front manifold, hoses, converter, and center manifold before exiting through the muffler. Commonly used steel grades in exhaust systems include 409L and 436L. Automotive mufflers primarily use stainless steel welded pipes. It is estimated that stainless steel pipes used in the automotive industry account for approximately 1.5% of the total downstream stainless steel pipe usage, while the ratio of seamless to welded stainless steel pipes is approximately 2:1.
Petrochemical Industry
The demand for stainless steel pipes is extremely high. This industry mainly uses seamless stainless steel pipes, with specifications including 304, 321, 316, 316L, 347, and 317L, with outer diameters ranging from approximately ￠18 to ￠610 mm and wall thicknesses from 6 mm to 50 mm (generally, medium and low-pressure transmission pipelines with a diameter of Φ159 mm or larger are selected). Specific applications include furnace tubes, material conveying pipes, and heat exchanger tubes.
Water and Gas Fluid Transportation
Stainless steel pipes and their water conveying equipment are currently the world's most advanced basic water purification materials. Their strong corrosion resistance surpasses that of cast iron pipes, carbon steel pipes, and plastic pipes.
They are the best material choice for water preparation, storage, transportation, purification, regeneration, and seawater desalination in the water industry. Annual demand is approximately 25,000 tons.
Equipment Manufacturing and Repair
Annual consumption of stainless steel pipes exceeds 20,000 tons. This industry mainly uses sanitary or antibacterial grade stainless steel pipes. Hygienic seamless tubing made from imported SUS304 and 316L stainless steel can meet the special requirements of various media in the food and biopharmaceutical fields. Antibacterial stainless steel combines the advantages of stainless steel with excellent antibacterial properties, leading to increasing demand in kitchen equipment, food industry workbenches and utensils, medical devices, everyday tableware and towel racks, and refrigerator shelves.
