In our daily life, it is difficult to notice the difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel. However, in the field of processing and manufacturing, the difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel can be huge.
304 and 316 stainless steel both have met food grade standards, but 304 stainless steel is usually used in our home appliances and household containers, and 316 stainless steel is generally used for the production of medical equipment tools.
The corrosion resistance of 304 and 316 stainless steel is similar, but 316 has molybdenum for corrosion resistance on the basis of 304, so the corrosion resistance of 316 is better when the chloride ion content is higher.
As 316 stainless steel has molybdenum and nickel added, so its price is higher than that of 304.
If you are manufacturing a product that will often face exposure to chemicals or a marine environment, 316 stainless steel is the better choice.
On the other hand, if you are manufacturing a product that does not need strong corrosion resistance, 304 stainless steel is a practical and economical choice. For many applications, 304 and 316 are actually interchangeable.
