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Brushed stainless steel turns up almost everywhere once you start looking: elevator cabins, kitchen countertops, wall panels. The satin grain isn’t there just for looks. It hides fingerprints and light scratches far better than a polished or 2B surface, which is why fabricators and specifiers keep coming back to it.

Brushed stainless steel (also called satin, No.4, or hairline finish) is flat-rolled steel whose surface has been run through abrasive belts to produce a uniform, one-direction grain. Instead of a hard mirror reflection, you get a soft satin sheen that scatters light.

Brushing is not a coating. The belts physically shave a thin layer off the surface in one direction, leaving no plating, no film, no chemical layer to break down. That gives you three practical advantages:

• The finish can’t peel, blister, or wear through the way chrome plating or paint can
• The corrosion resistance of the base grade (304, 316, 430) stays intact
• Damaged spots can be re-grained on-site with a matching abrasive pad

The process follows industry standards such as ASTM A480 (surface finishes for flat-rolled sheet) and JIS G4305. The base material is cold-rolled stainless steel, whose smooth, tight-tolerance surface is what lets the polishing come out even.

Not all brushed stainless steel looks the same. The finish designation comes down to the grit size of the belt and how it’s run. Here are the five you’ll actually see quoted:

Finish Code	Name	Grit Size	Appearance	Best For
No.3	Coarse Brushed	100–120#	Visible, coarse grain	Industrial areas, heavy-use zones
No.4	Satin / Standard Brushed	150–240#	Soft satin, short parallel lines	Elevators, kitchens, architecture
No.6	Fine Satin	240–320#	Smoother, muted grain	Decorative panels, retail fixtures
HL	Hairline	150–320# belt	Long, continuous fine lines	Luxury interiors, elevator doors
SB	Scotch Brite	Non-woven nylon	Soft, very fine satin	Appliances, furniture

No.4 is the default finish worldwide for commercial kitchens, hospital equipment, and architectural trim. Hairline runs a finer, longer grain, which reads as more formal, so it tends to land in luxury elevator interiors and high-end cladding.

Grade	Cr (%)	Ni (%)	Mo (%)	PREN	Corrosion Level	Typical Cost
201	16–18	0.5–1.5	—	~12	Low (dry indoor only)	Lowest
304	18–20	8–10.5	—	~18	Good (general purpose)	Baseline
304L	18–20	8–10.5	—	~18	Good (welded applications)	+5%
316	16–18	10–14	2–3	~24	Excellent (marine/chemical)	+20–50%
316L	16–18	10–14	2–3	~24	Excellent (welded marine)	+25–55%
430	16–18	—	—	~16	Moderate (dry/magnetic)	Lower than 304

PREN (Pitting Resistance Equivalent Number) = %Cr + 3.3×%Mo + 16×%N. A higher PREN resists pitting better, especially anywhere salt or chlorides are in play.

For a deeper comparison between the two most popular grades, see our 304 stainless steel sheet and 316 stainless steel sheet product pages. Our partner division, Wanzhi Machinery, also published a detailed 304 vs 316 stainless steel comparison for brewery tanks that covers surface finish selection for food-grade applications.

Chemical Composition (Typical %)

Element	304	304L	316	316L	430
C (max)	0.08	0.03	0.08	0.03	0.12
Mn (max)	2.00	2.00	2.00	2.00	1.00
Si (max)	0.75	0.75	0.75	0.75	1.00
P (max)	0.045	0.045	0.045	0.045	0.040
S (max)	0.030	0.030	0.030	0.030	0.030
Cr	18.0–20.0	18.0–20.0	16.0–18.0	16.0–18.0	16.0–18.0
Ni	8.0–10.5	8.0–10.5	10.0–14.0	10.0–14.0	0.60
Mo	—	—	2.0–3.0	2.0–3.0	—

Mechanical Properties

Property	304/304L	316/316L	430
Tensile Strength (MPa)	≥ 515	≥ 485	≥ 450
Yield Strength 0.2% (MPa)	≥ 205	≥ 170	≥ 205
Elongation (%)	≥ 40	≥ 40	≥ 22
Hardness (HV)	150–200	150–200	140–180

All brushed stainless steel sheets from Wanzhi Group are manufactured to ASTM A240 certified standards and supplied with Mill Test Certificates (MTC). Third-party inspection (SGS, BV) is available on request.

The brushing process turns a standard cold-rolled sheet into a brushed product through a handful of stages:

Step 1: Base Material Preparation

It starts with cold-rolled stainless steel sheet, usually 2B or BA finish. Cold-rolled sheet gives the smooth, even surface that consistent brushing needs. The base is checked for defects, flatness, and dimensional accuracy before it goes in.

Step 2: Cleaning & Degreasing

Before brushing, the surface gets cleaned of rolling oils, dust, and any contamination. Anything left on the sheet gets ground into the grain by the belt and shows up as streaks or discoloration.

Step 3: Abrasive Belt Polishing

The core operation runs a wide abrasive belt across the sheet in one controlled direction. Grit size sets the finish:

• 100–120 grit → No.3 (coarse)
• 150–240 grit → No.4 (standard satin)
• 240–320 grit → No.6 (fine satin)
• 150–320 grit, specialized belt → Hairline (HL)

Belt speed, contact pressure, and number of passes are all dialed in to hit the target roughness (Ra), typically 0.2–0.8 μm for a No.4 finish.

Step 4: Passivation

After brushing, the sheet goes through nitric or citric acid passivation (per ASTM A967) to rebuild the chromium oxide layer the abrasive may have disturbed. This step matters for corrosion resistance, particularly on 316 used in marine settings.

Step 5: Protective Film Application

A PE or PVC protective film (70–100 micron) goes on the brushed face to stop scratches during handling, fabrication, and shipping. One or both sides, depending on what the customer asks for.

Step 6: Quality Inspection & Packaging

Each sheet is checked for grain uniformity, Ra (measured at center, edge, and transition zones), dimensions, and surface defects, then packed to seaworthy export standard.

1. Fingerprint & Scratch Resistance

The directional grain scatters light, so fingerprints, smudges, and light scratches show up far less than they do on mirror or 2B surfaces. That’s why brushed is the default on high-touch surfaces like elevator panels, handrails, and kitchen gear.

2. Modern Aesthetic Appeal

Architects pick it over mirror polish because it reads quiet and contemporary rather than flashy, and it holds up in both industrial and high-end interiors.

3. Full Corrosion Resistance Retained

Because brushing works on the solid alloy, not a coating, the base grade’s corrosion resistance (304, 316, 430) stays intact. With proper passivation, a 316 brushed sheet behaves the same as a 2B or mirror 316 in a corrosive environment.

4. On-Site Repairability

Damaged spots can be blended out on-site with a matching abrasive pad, following the existing grain. A mirror finish, by contrast, needs a full repolish to fix.

5. Low Maintenance

Brushed stainless steel cleans with warm water and mild detergent. No special products needed. The satin surface holds less dirt and takes standard neutral cleaners.

6. Excellent Fabrication Compatibility

Brushed sheets can be cut, bent, welded, stamped, and deep-drawn without losing the finish. After welding, grind the bead flush and re-brush the area to keep the grain running continuous across the joint.

7. PVD Color Compatibility

Brushed surfaces take PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) color coating well. The grain stays visible through the color layer, which adds depth to gold, rose gold, black, bronze, and champagne tones.

8. Cost-Effective Decorative Solution

Mirror or electro-polishing costs more to run. Brushing gets you most of the same visual effect for less, which is why it’s the default on large B2B orders.

Industry	Typical Application	Preferred Grade	Preferred Finish
Architecture & Construction	Elevator cabins, wall cladding, column covers, door frames	304 / 316L	No.4 / Hairline
Commercial Kitchens	Countertops, splashbacks, range hoods, sink units	304	No.4
Food Processing	Equipment housings, conveyor systems, work tables	304 / 316L	No.4
Home Appliances	Refrigerator panels, dishwasher fronts, oven trim	430 / 304	Hairline / SB
Medical & Laboratory	Diagnostic equipment housings, instrument cabinets, cleanroom panels	316L	No.4
Retail & Commercial	Display fixtures, reception counters, shelving	304	No.4 / HL
Transit Infrastructure	Airport signage, subway kiosks, bus station cladding	304 / 316L	No.4 / HL
Automotive Trim	Decorative trim, grille surrounds, interior accents	304	HL
Brewery & Dairy Equipment	Fermentation tanks, storage vessels, mixing tanks	304L / 316L	No.4 / Electropolished

The brushed finish matters for our machinery division too. Wanzhi Machinery builds stainless steel tanks — including heating and cooling tanks, vacuum mixing tanks, and fermentation tanks — out of 304 and 316L brushed sheet. Those tanks need a No.4 or electropolished interior for hygiene and CIP cleaning, so the finish is doing real work, not just decoration.

One of the stronger combinations in decorative stainless is brushed base plus PVD color. PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) lays a thin, hard titanium nitride layer onto the brushed surface in a vacuum chamber, adding color while the grain stays visible underneath.

Available PVD Colors on Brushed Base

Color	PVD Compound	Popular Applications
Rose Gold	TiN + Au variant	Hotel interiors, jewelry displays
Black Titanium	TiAlN	Elevator panels, appliance trim
Champagne	TiN variant	Architectural facades
Bronze	TiN + Cu variant	Commercial furniture
Blue	TiAlN variant	Decorative panels, signage
Gold	TiN (pure)	Luxury interiors

Anti-Fingerprint (AFP) Treatment

For high-touch surfaces, an optional anti-fingerprint nano-coating can go over the brushed finish, with or without PVD. The transparent layer fills the micro-grooves of the grain, so fingerprints don’t stick as easily and cleaning gets simpler. Useful on elevator doors and reception counters.

The finish costs about the same regardless of grade. What decides it is where the sheet ends up:

Environment	Recommended Grade	Why
Dry interior (furniture, signage, panels)	201 or 430	Lowest cost; sufficient for low-humidity, non-corrosive use
General interior (kitchens, elevators, retail)	304	The industry default; excellent corrosion resistance for most indoor use
Welded applications	304L	Low carbon prevents sensitization at weld seams
Coastal / Marine	316 or 316L	Molybdenum resists chloride pitting — critical for salt-air environments
Food & Pharmaceutical	316L	Superior corrosion resistance with low-carbon weld integrity; food-grade certified
Magnetic applications	430	Ferritic grade; magnetic; lower cost than 304 for dry environments

For 18/10 stainless steel (equivalent to 304) and 430 stainless steel sheet applications, brushing gives the same visual result. The only real difference is how the alloy holds up to corrosion.

Manufacturing Capability

• 15+ years of stainless steel production and export experience
• 60,000+ tons annual production capacity across steel product lines
• Three production bases: Zhengzhou (HQ), Binzhou factory (Shandong), Tianjin factory
• In-house brushing lines: No.3, No.4, No.6, Hairline, SB finishes
• PVD coating chamber for color-coated brushed sheets
• Custom fabrication: cutting, slitting, bending, welding, stamping

Quality Assurance

• ISO 9001:2018 quality management system
• ISO 14001 environmental management
• ISO 45001 occupational health & safety
• SGS certified (both Zhengzhou and Shandong factory)
• CE certification for European market
• In-house testing laboratory: chemical composition analysis, mechanical testing, surface roughness measurement

Global Export Experience

• Exported to 100+ countries across Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America, Middle East
• B2B-focused: MOQ 10–15 tons, volume pricing, customized specifications
• Full export documentation: MTC, COO, SGS/BV inspection reports
• Seaworthy packaging: waterproof kraft paper + PVC film + steel sheet + steel banding + wooden pallets

Integrated Group Advantage

Wanzhi Group isn’t only a sheet supplier. Our machinery division (wz-mach.com) builds processing equipment out of the same brushed sheet we make. That means we see the finish from both sides: as the mill that produces it and as the fabricator that has to weld, polish, and CIP it. When a customer orders jacketed mixing tanks with a No.4 interior, we can supply the sheet and the finished tank, so the grain matches from raw coil to shipped product.

• Stainless Steel Products Catalog — Full range of stainless steel sheets, coils, and plates
• 304 Stainless Steel Sheet — Most popular grade with No.4, HL, 2B, BA, and mirror finishes
• 316 Stainless Steel Sheet — Marine grade with superior chloride corrosion resistance
• 430 Stainless Steel Sheet — Cost-effective ferritic grade for dry environments
• Cold Rolled Stainless Steel Sheet — Base material for brushed finish production
• ASTM A240 Certified Stainless Steel Sheet — International standard compliance
• All Products — Complete Wanzhi Group product catalog
• Stainless Steel Tanks — Food-grade SS tanks using 304/316L brushed interiors
• Stainless Steel Fermentation Tanks — Brewery and winery equipment in brushed SS
• 304 vs 316 Stainless Steel Brewery Tanks — Grade selection guide for food-grade applications

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