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Main Difference between 304 Stainless Steel and 316 Stainless Steel
Jan 02, 2019

1.304 stainless steel

304 stainless steel is the most common stainless steel. The steel contains both chromium  18% and nickel 8% metals as the main non-iron constituents. It is an austenitic stainless steel. It is less electrically and thermally conductive than carbon steel and is essentially non-magnetic. It has a higher corrosion resistance than regular steel and is widely used because of the ease in which it is formed into various shapes. Mainly used in household goods、Auto parts (windshield wipers, mufflers, molded products)、Medical equipment, building materials, chemicals, food industry, agriculture, ship parts.


2.316 stainless steel

316 stainless steel contains 16% chromium, 10% nickel and 2% molybdenum . The molybdenum gives 316 better overall corrosion resistant properties than Grade 304, particularly higher resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride environments(like sea water and de-icing salts). It has excellent forming and welding characteristics. It is readily brake or roll formed into a variety of parts for applications in the industrial, architectural, and transportation fields.

 

3.316L stainless steel

Grade 316L, the low carbon version of 316 and is immune from sensitisation (grain boundary carbide precipitation). Thus it can be used in applications where annealing is not possible after soldering and where maximum corrosion resistance is required.