Which is better 304 or 316 stainless steel?

Which is better, 316 stainless steel or 304?
When comparing 316 stainless steel and 304, we need to consider the following factors: corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance, use and cost.
Below we will introduce these factors in detail and give a conclusion.
1. Corrosion resistance
316 stainless steel is a molybdenum-containing stainless steel. Due to the addition of molybdenum, it has better corrosion resistance than 304 stainless steel. In most environments, the corrosion resistance of 316 stainless steel is better than that of 304 stainless steel. Therefore, if you are in a harsh environment, such as using it in seawater, chemical reagents, etc., 316 stainless steel is more suitable.
2. High temperature resistance
316 stainless steel has good high temperature resistance and can be used at higher temperatures. However, 304 stainless steel has poor high temperature resistance and is generally not recommended for use in high temperature environments. Therefore, if you need to use stainless steel to work in a high temperature environment, you should choose 316 stainless steel.
3. Uses
In daily life, 304 stainless steel has a wider range of applications. It is widely used in food processing, medical equipment, chemical industry and other fields. 316 stainless steel is more used in seawater equipment and some special fields. Therefore, when choosing stainless steel, you need to choose according to the specific purpose.
4. Cost
Since the material and performance of 316 stainless steel are better than 304 stainless steel, its price is also correspondingly higher. If you are sensitive to cost, you can choose 304 stainless steel because it is more economical in price.
In summary, as to which is better, 316 stainless steel or 304, we can draw the following conclusions:
1. If you need better corrosion resistance and high temperature resistance, you can choose 316 stainless steel;
2. If your application range is mainly in food processing, medical equipment and other fields, you can choose 304 stainless steel;
3. If you are sensitive to cost, you can also choose 304 stainless steel.