When purchasing stainless steel products, it is common to see the word stainless steel followed by the number 304 or 316. These two numbers refer to the stainless steel model. However, it is difficult for anyone to tell the difference between stainless steel 304 and 316. Today we will differentiate the two in detail from the perspectives of chemical composition, density, performance, application fields, etc. I believe you will have a clear understanding of these two stainless steels.
304 Stainless Steel VS 316 Stainless Steel
1.Chemical Composition
304 Stainless Steel (%)
|
C |
Si |
Mn |
P |
S |
Ni |
Cr |
|
≤0.08 |
≤0.75 |
≤2.0 |
≤0.04 |
≤0.03 |
8.0~11.0 |
18.0~20.0 |
316 Stainless Steel (%)
|
C |
Si |
Mn |
P |
S |
Ni |
Cr |
Mo |
|
≤0.08 |
≤0.75 |
≤2.0 |
≤0.04 |
≤0.03 |
10.0~14.0 |
16.0~18.0 |
2.0~3.0 |
2.Density
|
Item |
Density (g/cm3) |
|
304 Stainless Steel |
7.93 |
|
316 Stainless Steel |
7.98 |
3.Performance
-
Corrosion Resistance
316 stainless steel has better corrosion resistance than 304 stainless steel. 304 stainless steel has the same anti-corrosion properties as ordinary stainless steel. However, the 2% molybdenum contained in 316 stainless steel helps make the grade resistant to chlorine while improving its resistance to acids and alkalis.
Therefore, 316 stainless steel is more suitable for manufacturing products for use in marine environments exposed to chlorides or other oxidants, although 304 stainless steel still has excellent corrosion resistance.
-
High Temperature Resistance
Temperature resistance is an important attribute to consider when products are used in high temperature environments. 304 stainless steel has higher temperature resistance and its melting point is 50 to 100 °F higher than 316 stainless steel.
304 Stainless Steel: It has good heat resistance; however, 304 stainless steel may cause corrosion when it is continuous used at 425-860 °C (797-1580 °F) .
316 Stainless Steel: It has good heat resistance at temperatures above 843 ℃ (1550 ℉) and below 454 ℃ (850°F).
To summarize the performance characteristics of the two, 304 stainless steel is acid-resistant, alkali-resistant, high-density, polished without bubbles, high toughness, and good processing performance; in addition to the performance characteristics of 304 stainless steel, 316 stainless steel is also resistant to corrosion by special media, which can improve the resistance to chemicals. Corrosion resistance to hydrochloric acid and ocean, improves corrosion resistance to salt water halogen solutions.
4.Application Areas
304 Stainless steel has a wide range of applications. Pots, pans, cups, tableware, and food equipment commonly used in households are all made of 304 stainless steel, while 316 stainless steel is commonly used in food, machinery, petroleum and other fields, and is more common in the manufacturing industry.
|
Item |
Application Areas |
|
304 Stainless Steel |
Used for drinking purified water, domestic drinking water, cold water, hot water, gas, medical gas, household products, cabinets, indoor pipelines, water heaters, boilers, bathtubs, auto parts, building materials, chemicals, food industry, agriculture, and ship parts. |
|
316 Stainless Steel |
Used for drinking purified water, domestic drinking water, cold water, hot water, gas, medical gas, seawater equipment, chemistry, fuel, papermaking, oxalic acid, fertilizer equipment, food industry, and coastal facilities. |
In daily use, which stainless steel should be chosen? The cost of 304 stainless steel is lower than that of 316 stainless steel. When the requirements for corrosion resistance are not high, you can choose the more cost-effective 304 stainless steel. When the requirements for heat resistance and corrosion resistance are high, you can choose 316 stainless steel.
In short, both have their own advantages and cannot be compared from a single perspective. Which one to choose depends on analyzing your own usage scenarios. There is no need to blindly pursue 316 stainless steel.
