304 vs 316 Stainless Steel

while the two most popular grades of stainless steel might seem identical at a glance, they hold important differences that can lead to substantial savings over the life of your product depending on your intended uses.

304 stainless steel

grade 304 stainless steel is generally regarded as the most common austenitic stainless steel. it contains high nickel content that is typically between 8 and 10.5 percent by weight and a high amount of chromium at approximately 18 to 20 percent by weight. other major alloying elements include manganese, silicon, and carbon. the remainder of the chemical composition is primarily iron.

304 stainless steel is the most common form of stainless steel used around the world due to excellent corrosion resistance and value.

304 can withstand corrosion from most oxidizing acids. that durability makes 304 easy to sanitize, and therefore ideal for kitchen and food applications. it is also common in buildings, decor, and site furnishings.

304 stainless steel does have one weakness: it is susceptible to corrosion from chloride solutions, or from saline environments like the coast. chloride ions can create localized areas of corrosion, called “pitting,” which can spread beneath protective chromium barriers to compromise internal structures. solutions with as little as 25 ppm of sodium chloride can begin to have a corrosive effect.

316 stainless steel

316 grade is the second-most common form of stainless steel. it has almost the same physical and mechanical properties as 304 stainless steel, and contains a similar material make-up. the key difference is that 316 stainless steel incorporates about 2 to 3 percent molybdenum. the addition increases corrosion resistance, particularly against chlorides and other industrial solvents.

316 stainless steel has additional molybdenum that gives it resistance to chlorides and other processing chemicals.

316 stainless steel is commonly used in many industrial applications involving processing chemicals, as well as high-saline environments such as coastal regions and outdoor areas where de-icing salts are common. due to its non-reactive qualities, 316 stainless steel is also used in the manufacture of medical surgical instruments.

the chemical composition of 316 stainless steel includes:  

the chemical composition of 304 stainless steel includes:

304ss applications:

304 - general grade for kitchen equipment and appliances, chemical containers including for transport, and food processing equipment particularly in beer brewing, milk processing, and wine making.

304l - low carbon grade for kitchen equipment and appliances, chemical containers including for transport, and food processing equipment.

304h - high carbon grade for use in petroleum refineries, boilers, heat exchange's and condensers, pipelines, cooling towers, steam exhausts, and electric generation plants.

316ss applications

316 - general grade for food processing, chemical storage and transport, textile dying equipment, cladding of nuclear fuel, and oil refining equipment as well as some medical implants.

316l - low-carbon grade for handling paper pulp as well as the production of rayon, rubber, textile bleaches, and high-temperature industrial equipment. this is the preferred grade for medical implants as it is resistant to sensitization.

316f - free-machining grade for automatic machine screw parts as well as surgical implants and pharmaceutical processing equipment.

316n - high-nitrogen grade with increased resistance to pitting and to corrosion in crevices. used for chemical handling accessories.

if you'd like to discuss a project requiring stainless steel pipe or fittings please send an enquiry.