304 vs. 316 Stainless Steel: What's the Difference?
Date:2023-02-22View:491Tags:API 5L line pipe,Seamless Mechanical Tubing,Stainless Steel Seamless Pipe
What is 304 Stainless Steel and Where Is It Used?
304 stainless steel is a highly heat-resistant grade of stainless steel, and offers good corrosion resistance to many chemical corrodents and industrial atmospheres. It is widely used in industrial applications and kitchen equipment. It can be readily welded by all common methods, and has good form-ability.
304L stainless steel is an austenitic chromium-nickel alloy with a low carbon content. It has excellent corrosion resistance, and is especially suited for welding because it has a low carbon content to avoid carbide precipitation which can occur during welding. Its mechanical properties are slightly lower than regular 304 stainless steel, but still offers good toughness and strength.
What is 316 Stainless Steel and Where Is It Used?
316 stainless steel is a type of stainless steel that offers better corrosion and pitting resistance to chlorides than 304 stainless steel. It also has higher levels of strength at elevated temperatures. The addition of molybdenum is what makes it an ideal grade for many applications, such as pumps, valves, textile and chemical equipment, pulp & paper, and marine applications.
316L stainless steel is an alloy of iron, chromium, and molybdenum. It has a low carbon content that helps to avoid carbide precipitation during welding, improving its corrosion resistance. It is often used in industrial and chemical applications, food processing equipment, and parts exposed to marine environments.
The Difference Between 304 and 316 Stainless Steel
304 stainless steel is good for corrosion resistance, strength, welding, and heat resistance. However, 316 stainless steel has an even better performance in these categories due to its variation in alloying elements.
Stainless steel 304 is a low-carbon alloy that is most commonly used for applications where corrosion resistance is required. It contains 18-20% chromium and 8-10.5% nickel, and very small amounts of some other elements. It is the most commonly used grade of stainless steel.
Stainless steel 316 is a higher-carbon alloy than 304, containing 2%-3% molybdenum, which increases its resistance to chemical attack and corrosion. It also has a higher nickel content, which provides better corrosion resistance than 304. It is commonly used in food processing and marine applications.
