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What’s the difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel

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). I found the brochure Stainless Steel for Coastal and Salt Corrosion Applications to be very helpful as a general reference for using stainless steel in our area.

Not only is there the danger of exposing all your critical electrical components inside, it could cost you a lot to replace when it shorts out. We’re talking parts damage and replacement, repair costs including labor and downtime. I’ve seen some real horror shows when enclosures rust out. It’s not pretty. The good news is we have a simple cost effective solution. We found that by using 316 stainless steel instead of 304 stainless steel on an outdoor enclosure that will be exposed to the elements (like on an oil rig, for example) not only increases the life span of the enclosure but it is much safer to be around.

304 Stainless Steel:
Stainless steel provides an attractive, clean finish with low maintenance cost
304 stainless steel is the most common form of stainless steel used around the world, largely due to its excellent corrosion resistance and value. It contains between 16 and 24 percent chromium and up to 35 percent nickel, as well as small amounts of carbon and manganese.

The most common form of 304 stainless steel is 18-8, or 18/8, stainless steel, which contains 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel.

304 can withstand corrosion from most oxidizing acids. That durability makes 304 easy to sanitize, and therefore ideal for kitchen and food applications. It is also common in buildings, décor, and site furnishings.

304 stainless steel does have one weakness: it is susceptible to corrosion from chloride solutions, or from saline environments like the coast. Chloride ions can create localized areas of corrosion, called "pitting," which can spread beneath protective chromium barriers to compromise internal structures. Solutions with as little as 25 ppm of sodium chloride can begin to have a corrosive effect.

316 Stainless Steel:
Architectural features like this stainless steel railing are protected from oxidation in wet and salty environments.
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. The addition increases corrosion resistance, particularly against chlorides and other industrial solvents.

316 stainless steel is commonly used in many industrial applications involving processing chemicals, as well as high-saline environments such as coastal regions and outdoor areas where de-icing salts are common. Due to its non-reactive qualities, 316 stainless steel is also used in the manufacture of medical surgical instruments.

Alternative 300-series grades can contain up to 7 percent molybdenum. They provide even better chloride resistance, but such heavy-duty resistance is only necessary in industrial or high concentration exposure conditions.

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