Difference between Stainless Steel 304 and 316

The Difference between Stainless Steel 304 and 316

Composition, performance, and application scenarios

The main differences between stainless steel 304 and 316 lie in their composition, properties, and application scenarios. Specifically, as follows:

Composition:304 stainless steel mainly contains about 18% chromium and over 8% nickel. On the basis of 304 stainless steel, 316 stainless steel has added approximately 2% to 3% of molybdenum element.

Performance：304 stainless steel has good corrosion resistance and heat resistance, and is suitable for situations with low corrosion or no contact with materials such as general water, controlled gas, wine, milk, CP cleaning solution, etc. 316 stainless steel, with the addition of molybdenum element, further enhances its corrosion resistance, especially its resistance to chloride. It is commonly used in harsh environments such as marine environments, high concentration chloride solutions, and high temperature and pressure.

Application scenarios：304 stainless steel, due to its high cost-effectiveness and strong adaptability, is commonly used in kitchen utensils, kitchenware, building decoration materials, etc. 316 stainless steel, due to its superior corrosion resistance, is mainly used in high-quality application scenarios such as medical equipment, seawater desalination facilities, internal components of petrochemical equipment, and marine structural engineering.

Environmental Protection:Both types of stainless steel meet the requirements of the National Food Safety Standard for the Determination of Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, and Lead in Food Contact Materials and Products, as well as the Determination of Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Nickel, Lead, Antimony, and Zinc Migration. Under normal use, the amount of chromium precipitation is minimal and will not affect personal health.

Therefore, both 304 stainless steel and 316 stainless steel are environmentally friendly.