304 and 316 are the two most common models. They have different properties and usage scenarios. In this article, we will introduce the differences between these two stainless steels in detail to help you make a wise choice based on your specific needs.
1. Differences in chemical composition
304 stainless steel: It is a general-purpose stainless steel material with a main component of 18% chromium and 8% nickel.
316 stainless steel: Based on 304, it has about 2% molybdenum (Mo) added, and 316 has high corrosion resistance, especially resistant to pitting and crevice corrosion caused by chlorides.
2. Corrosion resistance
304 stainless steel: Suitable for most conventional environments, including air, water, organic chemicals, and many inorganic chemicals. However, its corrosion resistance is limited under certain conditions, such as salt water and environments containing chloride ions.
316 Stainless Steel: 316 contains molybdenum, which gives it excellent corrosion resistance in seawater, salt water, strong acids (such as sulfuric acid), chloride solutions and other highly corrosive environments.
3. Welding performance
304 Stainless Steel: It has excellent welding performance and is suitable for most common welding methods.
316 Stainless Steel: It also has excellent welding properties, and its low carbon content can reduce the risk of intergranular corrosion.
4. Physical properties
304 Stainless Steel: It has excellent toughness and strength.
316 Stainless Steel: Not only does it maintain the properties of 304, but it also has higher hardness and strength due to the addition of molybdenum.
5. Application fields
304 Stainless Steel: It is widely used in household goods, kitchen equipment, architectural decoration, automotive parts and other fields.
316 Stainless Steel: It is mainly used in medical equipment, chemical equipment, marine engineering, food processing machinery and other applications where higher requirements for corrosion resistance are required.
6. Price
304 stainless steel: Relatively low price and good cost performance.
316 stainless steel: High cost due to the molybdenum content, so the price is relatively high.
7. Selection suggestions
If you need stainless steel products for daily household or general industrial use, 304 stainless steel is an affordable and reliable choice.
For applications that need to be exposed to harsh environments for a long time or have particularly high corrosion resistance, 316 stainless steel is recommended.
Conclusion: Both 304 stainless steel and 316 stainless steel have their own advantages and scope of application. Which one to choose depends on your specific needs and budget. If you only need general corrosion resistance and good processing performance, 304 stainless steel is sufficient, but if your application involves extreme conditions or has special requirements for corrosion resistance, 316 stainless steel is a better choice.
