What is the difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel make it from?

There are more than 60 grades of stainless steel. Stainless steel is essentially low-carbon steel that contains chromium of 10% or more by weight. It is the addition of chromium that gives the steel its unique stainless, corrosion-resisting properties. Austenitic 304 and 316 stainless steels are considered surgical or medical-grade stainless steels, they are the most common stainless steels. The key difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel that makes them different is the addition of molybdenum, an alloy that drastically enhances corrosion resistance, especially for more saline or chloride-exposed environments. 316 stainless steel contains molybdenum, but 304 does not.

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Both of these 300-grade steels are known for their excellent welding and forming properties, which give them applications across many industries. These alloys cannot be hardened by heat treatment, but they can develop high strength by cold working.

304 vs 316 Stainless Steel

In pharmaceutical, power generation and chemical process applications, austenitic stainless steels like 304 are typically the first choice. Molybdenum is mainly used for added corrosion resistance in 316, make it ideal for more acidic environments. Certain critical petroleum, chemical processes and marine applications with corrosive chloride gas require the improved pitting and crevice corrosion resistance of 316 molybdenum-modified stainless steels.

300 Series Austenitic &#; Typical Grade: 304 Chromium (17-25%); nonmagnetic, not heat treatable. Can develop high strength by cold working. Molybdenum (up to 7%) can increase corrosion resistance &#; especially pitting and crevice corrosion resistance.

Typical Use: Food & beverage, cryogenic, chemical process, medical (hypodermic needles, implants, stents), instrumentation/chromatography tubing, oil & gas, hydraulic tubing and marine applications. Super austenitic grades (high nickel) extend performance for applications requiring extreme corrosion & oxidation/scaling resistance or higher strengths.

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When looking at 304 stainless steel vs 316, it is hard to notice the difference between them. However, when manufacturing with 304 vs 316 stainless steel, the difference can be huge. Keep reading to learn more about the two most popular types of stainless steel.

304 vs 316: What Makes Them So Popular?

The high levels of chromium and nickel found in 304 and 316 stainless steel provides them with a strong resistance to heat, abrasion, and corrosion. Not only are they known for their resistance to corrosion, they are also known for their clean appearance and overall cleanliness.

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Both types of stainless steel appear in

How Are They Categorized?

Both types of stainless steel appear in wide-ranging industries . As the most common grade of stainless steel, 304 is considered the standard &#;18/8&#; stainless. 304 stainless steel is widely used because it is durable and easy to form into various forms such as stainless steel sheet and stainless steel plate . 316 steel&#;s resistance to chemicals and marine environments makes it a popular choice among manufacturers.

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The five classes of stainless steel are organized based on their crystalline structure (how their atoms are arranged). Out of the five classes, 304 and 316 stainless steel are in the austenitic grade class. The structure of austenitic grade stainless steels makes them non-magnetic and prevents them from being hardenable by heat treatment.

Properties of 304 Stainless Steel

Chemical Composition

Grade Carbon Manganese Silicon Phosphorus Sulfur Chromium Nickel Nitrogen 304 0.08 2 0.75 0.045 0.03 18.0/20.0 8.0/10.6 0.1

What are the Physical Properties of 304 SS?

Physical Property  Value Melting Point &#; Density 8.00 g/cm^3 Thermal Expansion 17.2 x10^-6/K Modulus of Elasticity 193 GPa Thermal Conductivity 16.2 W/m.K

Mechanical Properties of 304 Stainless Steel

Tensile Strength 500-700 Mpa Elongation A50 mm 45 Min % Hardness (Brinell) 215 Max HB

304 Stainless Steel Applications

The medical industry commonly uses 304 SS because it endures the powerful cleaning chemicals without corroding. As one of the few alloys that meets the Food and Drug Administration&#;s sanitary regulations for food preparation, the food industry often uses 304 SS.

Common Applications

• Food preparation: Fryers, food prep tables
• Kitchen equipment: cookware, silverware
• Architectural: siding, elevators, bathroom stalls
• Medical: trays, surgical tools

Properties of 316 Stainless Steel

Chemical Composition

316 contains many similar chemical and mechanical properties as 304 stainless steel. To the naked eye, the two metals look the same. However, the chemical composition of 316, which is made up of 16% chromium, 10% nickel, and 2% molybdenum, is the main difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel.

Physical Properties of 316 SS

Melting point &#; Density 8.00 g/cm^3 Modulus of Elasticity 193 GPa Thermal Expansion 15.9 x 10^-6 Thermal Conductivity 16.3 W/m.K

Mechanical Properties 

Tensile Strength 400-620 Mpa Elongation A50 mm 45% min Hardness (Brinell) 149 max HB

Applications of 316 Stainless Steel

The addition of Molybdenum in 316 makes it much more corrosion resistant than similar alloys. Due to its superior resistance to corrosion, 316 is one of the staple metals for marine environments. 316 stainless steel is also utilized in hospitals because of its durability and cleanliness.

Fun fact: The Chicago Bean is made from 316 stainless steel!

Common Applications:

• Water-handling: boilers, water heaters
• Marine parts- boat rails, wire rope, boat ladders
• Medical Equipment
• Chemical processing equipment

304 vs 316 Stainless Steel: Heat Resistance

Heat resistance is an important factor to consider when comparing the different grades of stainless steel. The melting range of 304 is around 50 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit higher than 316. Although the melting range of 304 is higher than 316, they both have good resistance to oxidization in intermittent service up to 870°C (&#;) and in continuous service at 925°C  (&#;).

• 304 SS: Handles high heat well, but continuous use at 425-860 °C  (797- °F) may cause corrosion.
• 316 SS: Performs best in temperatures above 843 &#; ( &#;) and below 454 &#; (850°F)

Price Difference of 304 Stainless Steel vs 316

What makes 316 more expensive than 304 stainless steel? The increase of nickel content and the addition of molybdenum in 316 makes it more expensive than 304. On average, the price of 316 stainless steel 40% higher than the price of 304 SS.

316 vs 304 Stainless Steel: Which is Better?

When comparing 304 stainless steel vs 316, they both have pros and cons to consider when deciding which one to use for different applications. For instance, 316 stainless steel is more resistant than 304 to salt and other corrosives. So, if you are manufacturing a product that will often face exposure to chemicals or a marine environment, 316 is the better choice.

On the other hand, if you are manufacturing a product that does not need strong corrosion resistance, 304 is a practical and economical choice. For many applications, 304 and 316 are actually interchangeable.

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Kloeckner Metals is a full-line stainless steel supplier and service center. Kloeckner Metals combines a national footprint with the latest fabrication and processing technologies and most innovative customer service solutions.

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