The main differences between 304 and 316 stainless steel fittings are reflected in chemical composition, corrosion resistance, heat resistance, price and application areas.
Chemical composition
304 stainless steel: chromium content is 18%~20%, nickel content is 8%~10%.
316 stainless steel: chromium content is 16%~18%, nickel content is 10%~14%, and 2%~3% molybdenum is added.
Corrosion resistance
304 stainless steel: has good corrosion resistance and is suitable for most conventional environments.
316 stainless steel: because it contains more nickel and molybdenum, it has better corrosion resistance, especially in corrosive media such as marine environment and chemical industry.
Heat resistance
304 stainless steel: resistant to high temperature of 800℃, with good processing performance and toughness.
316 stainless steel: better heat resistance than 304 stainless steel, better oxidation resistance in high temperature environment, and can be used at higher temperatures.
Price
304 stainless steel: relatively low price.
316 stainless steel: Due to its better performance, the price is usually higher than 304 stainless steel.
Application areas
304 stainless steel: Widely used in household goods, auto parts, medical equipment, building materials, chemistry, food industry and other fields.
316 stainless steel: Commonly used in medical, food, machinery, petroleum, chemical, marine and other fields that require higher corrosion resistance and heat resistance.
If the application has high requirements for corrosion resistance (such as marine environment or chemical industry), it is more appropriate to choose 316 stainless steel.
For general purposes (such as furniture, kitchenware, etc.), 304 stainless steel is sufficient to meet the needs and is more economical.