Stainless steel grade 304 vs. 316: Importance and differentiation


You would anticipate that stainless steel never stains yet you would not be right; particularly in the event that you are utilizing them in a mechanical setting. Like different metals, it is affected to oil, markings and inevitably rust. Stainless steel is no special case. Being for more than 5 decades in the stainless steel industry, we suggest all users to never pass judgment on stainless steel by its name.

Since stainless steel is utilized for numerous applications, it is built to adjust to every circumstance.

All steels have the same basic iron and carbon composition, but stainless steel also contains a healthy dose of chromium—the alloy that gives stainless steel its famous corrosion resistance.

Hence, when you evaluate stainless steel in regard to the end user application, stainless steel becomes hard to understand. Hence, on the basis of the mixture of chemical components, stainless steel is classified by grades.  Each grade is most appropriate for a specific purpose.
With regards to stainless steel, the two most ordinarily utilized grades are: Grade 304 and 316.

Here’s every depiction to enable you to comprehend which one is best suited for your application.

  • Grade 304 is a most versatile and widely used across the globe largely due to its excellent corrosion resistance and value. In the event that you have any stainless steel food or kitchen appliances, it is likely produced using grade 304. It is also commonly used in construction, site furnishings and in decor. Grade 304 stainless steel comes with one shortcoming where we start looking for another similar grade but with this feature: it is defenceless to corrosion from marine environments or chloride solutions. Hence, 316 comes in picture.

  • Grade 316 was produced with added corrosion resistance feature in the high saline environment. It has marginally higher nickel content, yet is recognized by the addition of molybdenum (Mb). This mixture increases corrosion resistance property, especially against chlorides and other mechanical solvents. This grade of stainless steel is determined and utilized as a part of high-saline situations and in numerous mechanical applications including preparing chemicals. Because of its non-responsive qualities, 316 stainless steel is additionally utilized as a part of the produce of surgical instruments.

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