Stainless Steel Square Bar: Grades, Applications, and Benefits

AAA Metals Company Inc. distributes stainless steel bars of various shapes, including round, hexagonal, flat, and square. Stainless steel square bars draw on their material construction for high levels of strength and corrosion resistance, making these bars a long-lasting yet cost-effective option for structural applications or those in contact with harsh thermal, moisture, or other weather-related conditions. Stainless steel square bars consist of various stress-bearing metals and come in multiple grades for increased versatility. The team at AAA Metals can assist you in finding the right fit for your specific application.

Is Stainless Steel the Right Material for Your Square Bar Application?

Stainless steel is a metal alloy with a composition of at least 10.5% chromium and as much as 1.2% carbon. The remainder is made up of materials like molybdenum, nickel, and niobium, the amounts of which can affect that particular component’s characteristics and strengths. Whatever the composition, utilizing this alloy for stainless steel square bar stock enables the bars to achieve a wide range of unique benefits, including:

  •     Affordability
  •     Corrosion, thermal, fire, stain, rust, and impact resistance
  •     Ease of fabrication and cleaning maintenance
  •     Environmental friendliness for its recyclability
  •     Material longevity and strength
  •     Pleasing aesthetics

Common Stainless Steel Grades Available

Stainless steel square bar suppliers will have varied stock as there are over 200 grades of stainless steel available, each with a unique composition. AAA Metals carries a large selection of stainless steel grades for square bars, including 303, 304, and 316 stainless steel (SS).

303 SS

The 303 stainless steel grade is non-magnetic, austenitic steel that does not harden through heat treatments. It consists of a standard 18% chromium and 8% nickel composition, with added metal elements such as selenium, sulfur, or phosphorous. 303 is the most readily machineable austenitic stainless steel, with high corrosion and abrasion resistances and temperature bonding capabilities. Manufacturers customarily apply alloy 303 in environments that require heavily machined components. Some examples of 303 SS applications include:

  •     Aerospace fittings
  •     Automated lathes
  •     Bushings
  •     Gears
  •     Nuts and bolts
  •     Screws 
  •     Shafts

304 SS 

304 SS is extremely versatile and one of the most commonly used grades of stainless steel. It has an alloy composition of 18% to 20% chromium and 8% to about 10% nickel as the dominating elements, available in low or high carbon options. This material bears weight easily, particularly as compared to its own weight, with good tensile strength. However, due to its high ductility, it is still easy for manufacturers to fabricate and weld. 304 SS is an economical and durable austenitic grade of stainless steel, with particularly high levels of resistance to corrosion, rust, and thermal conditions. As stainless steel is easy to clean, 304 stainless steel square bars are beneficial in applications with hygienic standards. Additional applications include:

  •     Axles
  •     Chemical storage and transport containers
  •     Fasteners
  •     Food and beverage processing components
  •     Interior or exterior panels, trim, or railings
  •     Kitchen sinks, equipment, and appliances
  •     Structural supports, beams, and concrete footings

316 SS

Like other austenitic stainless steel, manufacturers cannot harden 316 SS through heat-treatment procedures. This grade of stainless steel is composed of chromium, nickel, and a small percentage of molybdenum, among other elements. 316 SS comes second only to 304 SS in popularity for steel of this series. 316 SS offers improved overall corrosion- and thermal-resistant properties as compared to 304, especially in the presence of bromides, chlorides, and iodides, while maintaining excellent welding and forming capabilities. This grade of stainless steel has applications in:

  •     Chemical, food, laboratory, marine, medical, pharmaceutical, and general outdoor equipment
  •     Fittings, particularly for marine vessels
  •     Filtration screens
  •     Furnace components
  •     Heat exchangers
  •     Oil rig pumps
  •     Valves

Metal Square BarPremium Stainless Steel Square Bars from AAA Metals

At AAA Metals Company Inc., we have been distributing stainless steel square bars since 1978. In addition to bars, we carry a variety of high-quality metal in stock, precision-cut, and polished form options for stainless steel angles, discs, forgings, plates, pipes, tubing, and rings. We offer sawing, laser and waterjet cutting, shearing, polishing, and other value-added services to meet all your metal fabrication needs for stainless steel inventory, as well as other metals, alloys, and difficult-to-find materials. 

Our team is committed to providing superior customer service along with quality products, comprehensive and affordable services, and timely deliveries. Contact us today to learn more about our global distribution capabilities, or request a quote for stainless steel square bars to begin your project.