Stainless steel 304, 304L, 316, 316L What is the difference?
Stainless steel is a common metal material used to make a variety of products, from kitchen appliances to industrial equipment. In stainless steel, 304, 304L, 316 and 316L are common alloy types. Although they are similar in many ways, there are still some differences between them. Each of these is explained below.
1. Stainless steel 304:
Stainless Steel 304 is one of the most common and commonly used stainless steel alloys. It contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel and has good corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance. 304 stainless steel for general use, suitable for indoor and outdoor environments. It has good processing performance and welding performance, and the price is relatively low.
2. Stainless Steel 304L:
Stainless steel 304L is a low-carbon version of 304, and its carbon content is less than or equal to 0.03%. This low carbon content reduces the carbon precipitation of 304L during the welding process, thus reducing the sensitization of the weld. 304L stainless steel has similar corrosion resistance and processing properties to 304, but has better resistance in some specific corrosive environments. It is commonly used for welding components and applications in corrosive environments.
3. Stainless steel 316:
Stainless steel 316 is an alloy containing 2-3% molybdenum. The addition of molybdenum makes 316 stainless steel have better corrosion resistance, especially in the chloride environment. It is more suitable than 304 and 304L stainless steel for use in Marine environments and corrosive environments in the chemical industry. 316 stainless steel also has good high temperature strength and corrosion resistance.
4. Stainless Steel 316L:
Stainless steel 316L is a low-carbon version of 316, and its carbon content is less than or equal to 0.03%. Compared with 316, 316L has similar corrosion resistance and high temperature properties, but has better corrosion resistance during welding. Due to its low carbon content, 316L is suitable for applications that do not require further heat treatment after welding. It is commonly used in pharmaceutical, food processing and biomedical fields.
