17 2 2020 nbsp 0183 32 Grade 316 stainless steel can resist temperatures up to 1600 degrees Fahrenheit Grade 304 stainless steel is weak compared to 316 While grade 304 stainless steel is fine for most other applications type 304 stainless steel is cheaper and easier to fabricate That s why it is used in wheel covers electrical enclosures and general steel pipes 304 vs 316 stainless steel magnetism Both 304 and 316 stainless steel are austenitic grades This implies that they do not possess magnetic properties However this can be changed through processes like cold working For instance there is a slight increase in the magnetic property of stainless steel when it is formed or cut 24 9 2020 nbsp 0183 32 Most stainless steel handed down around the world is Grade 304 It offers the model corrosion resistance strength easy maintenance and formability for which stainless is known While 316 comes in second in the quantities sold it provides highly superior resistant oh corrosion to acids and chlorides The temperature tolerance of grade 316 stainless steel is close to that of grade 304 being just a little bit lower As stated in an AK Steel data sheet for grade 316 stainless steel the melting range of 316 SS is 2 500 176 F – 2 550 176 F 1 371 176 C – 1 399 176 C roughly 50 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit lower than the melting point of grade 304 stainless 12 3 2021 nbsp 0183 32 Difference Between 304 and 316 Stainless Steel Now that you have some idea about what 304 and 316 stainless steel are we can identify the key differences between them 316 Has Higher Molybdenum and Nickel Levels This is the primary distinction between 316 and 304 stainless steel the presence of higher molybdenum and nickel levels in 316

What is the difference between 304 stainless steel amp 316 stainless steel 304 stainless steel and 316 stainless steel looks very similar Both are austenitic non magnetic and non hardenable through heat treatment These stainless steel grades resist corrosion are durable in nature and can be easily formed and fabricated 18 3 2021 nbsp 0183 32 The melting point of 304 stainless steel is higher than its 316 stainless steel counterpart ranging between 2 550 – 2 650 176 F or 1399 – 1454 176 C The stainless steel alloy material stands out with its incredible tensile strength of approximately 621 MPa or 90 KSI Another difference is that 304 grade stainless steel has a higher melting point than 316 grade stainless steel Still it doesn t resist chlorides and chemicals as well as marine grade 316 stainless steel does Often the manufacturer will mark the stainless steel part to indicate its grade It might have a circle with the number 6 in it or 28 7 2017 nbsp 0183 32 One notable difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel is their levels of nickel and chromium The former grade usually has a higher chromium content while the latter generally contains more nickel About 316 Stainless SteelThe most popular 304 grade stainless contains 18 chromium and 8 nickel though other alloys exist within the same grade Stainless steels of the 316 grade include less chromium often around 16 but increase nickel levels and add molybdenum to the mix In most common alloys you ll find 10 nickel and 2 to 3 molybdenum

29 3 2021 nbsp 0183 32 Grade 304 Versus 316 Stainless Steel The 304 versus 316 is a timeless comparison that can be attributed to their striking similarities Both alloys are part of the austenitic stainless steel family one of the five groups of stainless steel These include austenitic martensitic and ferritic stainless steel as well as the PH Grades and Duplex Grades of 7 5 2021 nbsp 0183 32 The main difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel is the fact that 316 stainless contains a significantly increased amount of molybdenum The addition of this transition metal increases 316 s corrosion resistance and also imparts high heat resistance of up to 1600 176 F Similar to 304 316 stainless steel is a chromium nickel stainless The melting range of 316 is 2 500 176 F – 2 550 176 F 1 371 176 C – 1 399 176 C roughly 50 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit lower than the melting point of grade 304 stainless steel Though the stainless steel 304 alloy has a higher melting point grade 316 has a better resistance to chemicals and chlorides like salt than grade 304 stainless steel 19 11 2019 nbsp 0183 32 304 vs 316 Stainless Steel While the main alloys in 300 grade stainless steel are chromium and nickel other additional alloys can include manganese titanium aluminum copper nitrogen phosphorus selenium and molybdenum The key alloy that distinguishes 304 from 316 is the addition of 2 molybdenum in the 316 Outwardly 304 stainless steel and 316 stainless steel look very similar Both are non magnetic austenitic and non hardenable through heat treatment Each of these stainless steel grades will resists corrosion are quite durable and are easily formed and fabricated The difference in their structure is primarily the addition of molybdenum to

304 vs 316 vs 316L stainless steel properties 304 316 and 316L stainless steel formulas are austenitic a term classifying the steel s crystalline structure This structure is achieved via heat treatment at very high temperatures followed by quenching a rapid cooling process locking the structural characteristics in place 9 8 2021 nbsp 0183 32 As the most common grade of stainless steel 304 is considered the standard 18 8 stainless 304 stainless steel is widely used because it is durable and easy to form into various forms such as stainless steel sheet stainless steel plate stainless steel bar and stainless steel tube 316 steel s resistance to chemicals and marine environments makes it a popular 316 Stainless Steel 316 grade is the second most common form of stainless steel It has almost the same physical and mechanical properties as 304 stainless steel and contains a similar material make up The key difference is that 316 stainless steel incorporates about 2 to 3 percent molybdenum 3 4 2021 nbsp 0183 32 304 vs 316 stainless steel The first thing to highlight is the austenitic nature of both of these steel grades and also the high levels of non iron constituents like Chromium and Nickel Chromium present in both of these types of stainless steel increases the metal s tensile strength and makes it highly efficient against corrosion and daily wear and tear 22 10 2021 nbsp 0183 32 While there are no visible differences between 304 and 316 stainless steel there are distinctive chemical differences – the most crucial difference being their chemical compositions 304 stainless steel contains 18 chromium and 8 nickel In contrast 316 stainless steel contains 16 chromium 10 nickel and 2 molybdenum The chemical

27 9 2012 nbsp 0183 32 What s the difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel Posted on September 27 2012 by rob bohn The simple answer is 304 contains 18 chromium and 8 nickel while 316 contains 16 chromium 10 nickel and 2 molybdenum The molybdenum is added to help resist corrosion to chlorides like sea water and de icing salts 304 and 316 Chemical Compostion Comparison max The key difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel in chemical composition is molybdenum element 316 haves 2 – 3 of it however 304 does not have this is the most important factor to decide their use range both grades have similar proportion of other alloys Corrosion Resistance316 vs 304 Stainless Steel Cost We re often asked about the differences between the various grades of stainless steel You want your product to be competitive but experience shows that the cheapest route isn t always the best We tell customers that stainless steel is a wonderful alloy known for its strength durability and mirror like 22 3 2018 nbsp 0183 32 Similar to 304 Grade 316 stainless steel has high amounts of chromium and nickel 316 also contains silicon manganese and carbon with the majority of the composition being iron A major difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel is the chemical composition with 316 containing a significant amount of molybdenum typically 2 to 3 percent by weight vs only trace 13 5 2019 nbsp 0183 32 As part of the five families of stainless steel 304 stainless steel and 316 stainless steel are austenitic grades that contain high levels of chromium and nickel This has the following impact Chromium – Increases tensile strength hardness hardenability toughness resistance to wear and abrasion resistance to corrosion and scaling at elevated temperatures