The difference between 304 stainless steel and 316 stainless steel
1.Chemical composition
304 stainless steel mainly contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel, with good corrosion resistance and formability.
316 stainless steel has added 2% -3% molybdenum element on the basis of 304, which makes it exhibit superior corrosion resistance in chloride environments.
2.Corrosion resistance
316 stainless steel has better corrosion resistance due to its molybdenum content, especially in chloride and acidic environments.
304 stainless steel performs well in general atmospheric environments or mildly corrosive environments,
but its corrosion resistance is not as good as 316 stainless steel in environments with high chloride content.
3.Mechanical performance
316 stainless steel typically exhibits better ductility and toughness due to its higher content of nickel and molybdenum, making it suitable for applications that require high strength and toughness.
Although 304 stainless steel is slightly inferior, it still has good comprehensive mechanical properties.
4.Application area
304 stainless steel is widely used in kitchen utensils, tableware, cooking utensils, building decoration and other fields, and is favored due to its good comprehensive performance and low cost.
316 stainless steel is more commonly used in fields such as marine engineering, chemical equipment, and medical devices that require higher corrosion resistance.
5.Health oriented
From a health perspective, both 304 and 316 stainless steel are food grade materials that do not release harmful substances and are harmless to human health.
316 stainless steel may be safer than 304 stainless steel due to its molybdenum content, especially in high-temperature environments.
