What Is The Difference Between 304 Stainless Steel And 316 Stainless Steel

Today's life in many appliances are basically stainless steel, and a wide variety of stainless steel on the market, then 304 stainless steel and 316 stainless steel difference?

First, 304 stainless steel and 316 stainless steel difference between which

Stainless steel is a common metal material, corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance, beautiful and other advantages, is widely used in construction, chemical, medical and other fields, the following 304 stainless steel and 316 stainless steel difference in detail:

1, chemical composition: from the chemical composition, 304 stainless steel contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel, while 316 stainless steel contains 16% chromium, 10% nickel and 2% molybdenum. The addition of molybdenum makes 316 stainless steel have better corrosion resistance. Molybdenum improves the corrosion resistance of stainless steel, especially in acidic environments and seawater. Therefore, 316 stainless steel is more suitable for use in marine environments and salt water pools than 304 stainless steel.

2, corrosion resistance: 316 stainless steel has better corrosion resistance than 304 stainless steel. 316 stainless steel can resist chloride corrosion, while 304 stainless steel is susceptible to chloride corrosion. This is one of the reasons why 316 stainless steel is more commonly used in marine environments. In addition, 316 stainless steel is also able to resist corrosion in acidic environments, so it is also widely used in the chemical industry.

2, strength and hardness: 316 stainless steel has higher strength and hardness than 304 stainless steel. This is due to the addition of molybdenum in 316 stainless steel. Molybdenum can improve the strength and hardness of stainless steel, making it more suitable for use in some applications that require higher strength and wear resistance. For example, 316 stainless steel is commonly used in the production of ships, chemical equipment and other occasions that need to withstand greater pressure and wear.

4, magnetic: 304 stainless steel is a non-magnetic material, while 316 stainless steel will produce a certain degree of magnetism in cold processing. This is due to the presence of molybdenum in 316 stainless steel. The addition of molybdenum will make 316 stainless steel in the cold working of a certain degree of magnetism, but in general, 316 stainless steel can still be considered non-magnetic material.

5, price: because 316 stainless steel contains more nickel and molybdenum, so its price is relatively high. In contrast, the price of 304 stainless steel is relatively low. Therefore, when choosing stainless steel materials, price is also a factor to consider.

6, in summary, 304 stainless steel and 316 stainless steel in the chemical composition, corrosion resistance, strength and hardness, magnetism and price and so on there are some differences. According to the specific application requirements, it is very important to choose the right material. If better corrosion resistance is required, especially in acidic environments and seawater, 316 stainless steel can be chosen. If higher strength and hardness are required, 316 stainless steel can be chosen. And if price is an important consideration, it may be more appropriate to choose 304 stainless steel.