ASTM A312 TP904L Pickled Stainless Steel Pipe

What is ASTM A312 TP904L Stainless Steel Pipe?

ASTM A312 TP904L stainless steel pipe is designed for highly corrosive environments containing sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, chloride ions, and seawater. Compared with conventional 316L stainless steel, TP904L offers significantly higher resistance to pitting corrosion, crevice corrosion, and stress corrosion cracking, making it an ideal choice for chemical processing plants, desalination systems, offshore platforms, FGD units, and pharmaceutical facilities.

 

ASTM A312 TP904L Pipe Manufacturer, Supplier

GNEE Stainless Steel has focused on exporting high-performance corrosion-resistant pipes and tubes for over 18 years, with products distributed to more than 80 countries worldwide. We manufacture in strict accordance with international standards, including ASTM A312, ASME SA312, EN, and JIS. To ensure absolute quality compliance, we provide comprehensive quality documentation, including EN 10204 3.1/3.2 Material Test Certificates (MTC) and third-party inspection (TPI) reports by SGS, BV, and TÜV, offering reliable piping solutions for petrochemicals, seawater desalination, flue gas desulfurization (FGD), pharmaceuticals, and marine engineering projects.

 

 

Our TP904L pickled stainless steel pipes are crafted from premium-grade steel ingots through a rigorous process of hot piercing, cold rolling/cold drawing, solution annealing (1050–1150°C), pickling, passivation, straightening, and finishing. The specialized pickling process effectively eliminates oxides, scale, and iron contamination from the surface and the weld heat-affected zone (HAZ). This stabilizes the surface roughness at Ra 1.6–3.2 μm and ensures zero localized pitting during neutral salt spray testing (NSS) up to 1000 hours. By removing free iron ion residues and eliminating the need for post-weld heat treatment (PWHT), the long-term service life of these pipes is extended by over 60% compared to conventional stainless steels.

 

GNEE supplies a comprehensive product portfolio, including 904L seamless pipes (SMLS), SS 904L welded pipes (welded tubes), and 904L SS large-diameter pipes. Our size range covers outside diameters (OD) from 6 mm to 600 mm (with larger custom sizes available upon request) and wall thicknesses from SCH 5S to SCH 160. We also support value-added fabrication services, such as cut-to-length, pickling and passivation, mechanical polishing, and beveling.Prior to mill dispatch, every single 904L pipe undergoes 100% Eddy Current Testing (ET) and 100% Hydrostatic Testing. For welded configurations, we additionally provide Radiographic Testing (RT / X-ray) reports to guarantee a zero-defect delivery.

ASTM A312 TP904L Stainless Steel Round Pipe Specification

Feature	Standard
Standard	ASTM A312 / ASME SA312 (Standard Specification for Seamless, Welded, and Heavily Cold Worked Austenitic Stainless Steel Pipes)
Pipe Types	Seamless (SMLS), Welded (ERW/EFW), or Cold Drawn
Size Range	OD: 1/8" to 30" (DN6 to DN750); WT: SCH 5S, 10S, 40S, 80S (ASME B36.19)
Heat Treatment	Solution Annealing at 1095°C (2000°F) minimum, followed by rapid water quenching.
Surface Finish	Pickled & Annealed (Industrial), Bright Annealed (BA), or Polished (180/240/320/400 Grit).
Mandatory Tests	Hydrostatic Test, Eddy Current/Ultrasonic Test, Intergranular Corrosion Test (ASTM A262 Practice E), Flattening & Flaring Tests.

 

ASTM A312 TP904L pipe Chemical Composition

Grade	C (Max)	Mn (Max)	P (Max)	S (Max)	Si (Max)	Cr	Ni	Mo	Cu
TP904L	0.020%	2.00%	0.045%	0.035%	1.00%	19.0 – 23.0%	23.0 – 28.0%	4.0 – 5.0%	1.0 – 2.0%

 

Mechanical & Physical Properties

Property	Tensile Strength (Rm)	Yield Strength (Rp0.2)	Elongation (A50mm)	Hardness (HB/HRB)	Density
Value (Metric)	≥ 490 MPa	≥ 215 MPa	≥ 35%	≤ 192 HBW / 90 HRB	7.95 g/cm³
Value (Imperial)	≥ 71 ksi	≥ 31 ksi	≥ 35%	-	0.287 lb/in³

 

TP904L Stainless Steel Pipe Equivalent Materials

Grade	UNS No	British	British	Euronorm	Euronorm	Swedish	Japanese JIS
Grade	Grade	BS	En	No	Name	SS	JIS
904L	N08904	904S13	-	1.4539	X1NiCrMoCuN25-20-5	2562	-

 

Tolerance for ASTM A312 Stainless Steel Seamless Tube

Standard	Outside Diameter Tolerance(mm)		Thickness Tolerance		Length Tolerance (mm)
ASTM A312	[10.29~48.26]	+0.4/-0.8	10.3~73	+20% / -12.5%	+6/-0
			88.9~457 T/D≤5%	+22.5%/-12.5%
	(48.26~114.30]	±0.80	88.9~457 T/D>5%	+15%/-12.5%
	(114.30~219.08]	+1.6/-0.8	508above T/D<5%	+22.5%/-12.5%
	(219.08~457.20]	+2.4/-0.8	508above T/D>5%	+15%/-12.5%

 

SS 904L round pipes weight chart

NOMINAL SIZES [Inch]	OUTSIDE DIA [Inch]	OUTSIDE DIA [MILIMETER]	WALL THK [INCHES]	WEIGHT [LB/FEET]	WALL THK [MILIMETER]	WEIGHT [KILOGRAM/METER]
3 1/2 90	4.0	101.6	0.226	9.11	5.74	13.57
1/8 6	0.41	10.3	0.068	0.24	1.73	0.37
1/4 8	0.54	13.7	0.088	0.42	2.24	0.63
3/8 10	0.68	17.1	0.091	0.57	2.31	0.84
1/2 15	0.84	21.3	0.109	0.85	2.77	1.27
3/4 20	1.05	26.7	0.113	1.13	2.87	1.69
1 1/4 32	1.66	42.2	0.14	2.27	3.56	3.39
1 1/2 40	1.9	48.3	0.145	2.72	3.68	4.05
2 50	2.375	60.3	0.154	3.65	3.91	5.44
2 1/2 65	2.875	73.0	0.203	5.79	5.16	8.63

 

What is the difference between AP and BA finish?

The primary difference is the heat treatment and surface appearance. BA (Bright Annealed) is heat-treated in a controlled, oxygen-free hydrogen atmosphere, yielding a shiny, highly reflective near-mirror finish. AP (Annealed and Pickled) is annealed in regular air and acid-washed to remove scale, producing a dull, matte gray finish.

 

Applications of TP904L Pickled Pipe

Petrochemical equipment: Sulfuric acid storage tanks; piping for acetic acid and phosphoric acid production systems.
Marine engineering: Seawater cooling systems; offshore drilling platforms; marine piping systems.
Environmental engineering: Flue gas desulfurization (FGD) units for thermal power plants; waste gas scrubbing plants.
Pharmaceutical and paper industries: Pulp handling and pharmaceutical process piping used in environments involving strong bleaching agents.

If you currently have a requirement for the items mentioned above, please let us know: What is the required wall thickness (Schedule) or specific wall thickness? Do you need 904L seamless or welded steel pipe? What is the estimated total length (in feet) or total tonnage? We will provide a detailed quotation within 24 hours.

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 What is the price of TP904L pipe?

The price of TP904L (UNS N08904) stainless steel pipe generally ranges from $1.50 to $25 per kilogram (or about $800 to $5,000 per Metric Ton). Prices are highly dependent on the manufacturing method (seamless vs. welded), wall thickness, pipe diameter, and total order volume.

 

Quality Control

Chemical Composition Analysis: Mandatory for every steel pipe. Portable spectroscopy (PMI) is used to verify Mo (4.0–5.0%) and Ni (23.0–28.0%) content.
Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)：100% X-ray testing (RT) for welded pipes; eddy current testing (ET) or ultrasonic testing (UT) for seamless pipes.
Intergranular Corrosion Test

 

Packaging

End Protection: Heavy-duty plastic caps are fitted to both ends of the steel pipes.
Each pipe or bundle is fully wrapped in knitted bags or bubble wrap. We utilize reinforced wooden crates compliant with the ISPM-15 international standard. Shock-absorbing foam padding and desiccant are placed inside to ensure zero scratches, zero deformation, and zero oxidation during container unloading and transit.

 

FAQ

How to identify genuine TP904L pipe?

To identify a genuine TP904L (UNS N08904) super austenitic stainless steel pipe, verify its Mill Test Certificate (MTC), conduct a Positive Material Identification (PMI) test, and check the non-magnetic properties.

 

Why is TP904L better than 316L?

TP904L offers superior corrosion resistance compared to 316L, thanks to its higher nickel (24–28%) and molybdenum (4–5%) content, as well as the addition of copper. It exhibits exceptional resistance to acids (such as sulfuric acid), chloride pitting (such as in seawater), and stress corrosion cracking, although its price is approximately 1.5 times that of 316L.

 

TP904L vs 254 SMO

TP904L and 254 SMO are both high-performance super-austenitic stainless steels, but they are engineered for different environments. TP904L is highly resistant to reducing acids (like sulfuric acid), while 254 SMO contains elevated molybdenum and nitrogen to prevent chloride-induced pitting and crevice corrosion (such as in seawater).