Stainless steel is one of the most popular materials used in various industries today. It is known for its durability, corrosion resistance, and aesthetic appeal. When it comes to stainless steel, two grades that are frequently compared are 18-8 and 304. While they may seem similar, these two alloys have distinct differences that are important to understand. In this blog post, we will delve deeper into 18-8 vs. 304 stainless steel and explain everything you need to know about these grades.
What is 18-8 Stainless steel?
18-8 stainless steel, also known as 18/10 or 302 grade stainless steel is one of the most widely used and versatile grades of stainless steel. It contains both chromium (18%) and nickel (8%), which makes it highly corrosion-resistant and heat-resistant. This combination of elements also gives it superior strength compared to other types of stainless steel, making it an ideal material for industrial uses such as food processing equipment, medical tools, kitchen utensils, and many others. Additionally, its bright finish is aesthetically pleasing making it popular in non-industrial settings as well. In terms of performance and durability 18–8 stainless steel makes a great material choice that will serve you well over time.
What is 304 Stainless Steel?
304 stainless steel is a popular type of stainless steel alloy. It contains around 18% chromium and 8% nickel, giving it excellent corrosion resistance and durability. It is commonly used in various applications like kitchen appliances, automotive parts, and construction materials.
Difference Between 18-8 and 304 Stainless Steel
18-8 vs 304 Chemical Composition
The first and most significant difference between 18-8 Stainless Steel and 304 stainless steel is their chemical composition. 18-8 contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel, while 304 contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel with 2-3% molybdenum. The additional molybdenum content in 304 gives it an enhanced resistance to corrosion caused by chlorides, making it ideal for use in marine environments, food processing, and chemical processing applications.
18-8 vs 304 Strength and Durability
While both grades of stainless steel have excellent strength and durability, 304 is the stronger of the two. It is more resistant to deformation, cracking, and wear and tear. Thanks to its higher nickel content, 304 is also more ductile, making it easier to shape and form into various sizes and shapes. 18-8, on the other hand, is easier to machine, which makes it more suitable for certain applications.
18-8 vs. 304 Cost
When it comes to cost, 18-8 is generally more affordable than 304. This is because of its lower nickel content, which is more expensive than the other alloying elements of stainless steel. However, the price difference between the two grades can vary based on various factors such as the size, shape, finish, and application.
18-8 vs 304 Uses
18-8 and 304 are both versatile grades of stainless steel, but their applications differ. 18-8 is commonly used in kitchen utensils, cutlery, and flatware as it is easy to machine and has excellent resistance to corrosion. 304, on the other hand, is used in a wide range of industries, including food processing, dairy, chemical processing, marine, pharmaceutical, and aerospace, among others. Thanks to its superior corrosion resistance, strength, and durability, 304 is ideal for use in harsh environments and applications that require high-performance materials.
Conclusion:
In summary, understanding the differences between 18-8 Stainless Steel and 304 stainless steel is essential if you are working with stainless steel. Their chemical composition, strength and durability, cost, and applications are significant factors that determine which grade is suitable for your needs. While 18-8 is more affordable and easier to machine, 304 is stronger, more resistant to corrosion, and suitable for harsh environments. Regardless of your choice, both grades have their unique properties and can provide excellent performance in various applications.
For More Details:
304 and 304L are 2 most widely used stainless steels in daily life. From small kitchens and kitchens to high-speed rail nuclear power, you can see the characters involved. So what is 304? 304 is actually a stainless steel grade of the American Society for Testing and Materials (abbreviated ASTM), a typical representative of austenitic stainless steel, "3" for the Cr-Ni system, and "04" for the serial number. In the actual trade process, users will order according to different standards. Different standard brand naming rules are different. ASTM and JIS are represented by numbers, and GB and EN are named by ingredients.
Here are a few common stainless steel ordering standards:
Steel Standard Application ASTM A213 Alloy-Steel Tubes For Boiler, Superheater And Heat-Exchanger ASTM A269 Boiler, Heat Exchanger, Superheater & Condenser ASTM A312 Used In Pipeline For Conveying Corrosive Fluid ASTM A240 Stainless steel plate, sheet, and strip for pressure vessels and for general applicationsThere are also differences in the composition of 304 alternative grades in different standards. The GB standard is in full accordance with the ASTM composition system. The range of JIS components is broader, the maximum C content is allowed to be 0.08%, there is no clear requirement for N content, and the minimum Cr content is 18%. The EN standard requires more specific S content, mechanical processing: S = 0.015% ~ 0.030%; welding: S = 0.008% ~ 0.030%; polishing: S ≤ 0.015%. These details must be noted in the order!
In order infomation, you have to write what kind of surface you need. The common order surface for 304 is NO.1 (the hot rolled product is annealed and pickled, also called white roll), 2B (the cold rolled and pickled flat roll, Matte), BA (cold rolled bright annealed roll, mirror), HL (hair plate), etc. There are also differences in different standard surface types.
If customer only care about the grade not the performances. The name of 304/304L/304D is almost the same, so make the choice of 304D which is relatively cheap, which results in stamping cracking.
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