304 and 316 are both the codes of stainless steel. In essence, they are no different. They are both stainless steel, but they belong to different types when subdivided. The quality of 316 stainless steel is higher than that of 304 stainless steel. On the basis of 304, 316 stainless steel incorporates metal molybdenum, which can further consolidate the molecular structure of stainless steel. Make it more wear-resistant and anti-oxidation, and at the same time, the corrosion resistance is also greatly increased
Performance comparison of 304L and 316L brushed Stainless Steel Plate
The corrosion resistance of stainless steel is far more valuable than its own stain resistance. As an alloy, the first composition of stainless steel is iron, but due to the addition of other elements, it can achieve many desirable application properties. Chromium is the determinant element in stainless steel, at least 10.5% of the composition. Other alloying elements include nickel, titanium, copper, nitrogen and selenium.
The difference between 304L and 316L brushed Stainless Steel Plate is the presence of chromium, 316L brushed stainless steel has better corrosion resistance, especially in the medium environment with high salinity. For applications with outdoor stainless steel products, stainless steel is an ideal corrosion-resistant material for long-term outdoor exposure.
natural corrosion resistance
Different contents of chromium and other elements can show different degrees of corrosion resistance. The two most common stainless steel grades are 304 and 316. Corrosion is a natural phenomenon, just like iron reacts naturally with its surroundings. In fact, very few elements can occur in pure form – gold, silver, copper, and platinum are very few examples.
Chromium oxide forms an intrinsically structured protective film
Rusting is the process by which iron molecules combine with oxygen in water molecules, and the result is a red stain that tends to get worse—corroding more of the material. Of these, iron and carbon steel are more susceptible to this corrosion.
Stainless steel has a natural ability to corrode the surface, how does this come about? Chromium in all stainless steels reacts very quickly in oxygen, just like iron. The difference is that only a thin layer of chromium will be oxidized (usually just a little molecule in the thickness). Incredibly, this thin layer of protection is very durable.
304L brushed stainless steel has a beautiful appearance and low maintenance cost. 304L brushed stainless steel is not prone to rust, so it is often used in cookware and food applications. But it is susceptible to chlorides (typically in high salinity environments). Chloride creates a type of corrosion zone called a “corrosion spot” that extends into the internal structure.
304 stainless steel is the most widely used stainless steel in the world. It contains 16%-24% chromium and up to 35% nickel – and low levels of carbon and manganese. The most common form of 304 stainless steel is 18-8, or 18/8 stainless steel, which refers to 18% chromium and 8% nickel.
316 stainless steel is also a very widely used stainless steel. Its physical and mechanical properties are similar to 304 stainless steel. The difference is that 316 stainless steel contains 2-3% molybdenum , which increases the strength and corrosion resistance. Typically 300 series stainless steels can contain up to 7% aluminum.
304L and 316L brushed stainless steels (as are other 300 series stainless steels) use nickel to maintain their low temperature aesthetics.
Post time: Sep-05-2022