the different Between 301 & 304 Stainless Steel

There are several different types of stainless steel on the market. While 301and 304 stainless steel are made up of essentially the same materials, they contain different percentages of certain key materials.

Composition

Type 301 stainless steel consists of 0.15 percent (max) of carbon, 2 percent manganese, 0.045 percent phosphorous, 0.030 percent sulfur, 0.75 percent silicon, between 16.0 and 18.0 percent chromium and between 6.0 and 8.0 percent nickel. Type 304 stainless steel consists of 0.08 percent carbon, 2 percent manganese, 0.045 percent phosphorous, 0.030 percent sulfur, 0.75 percent silicon, between 18.0 and 20.0 percent chromium and between 8.0 and 12.0 percent nickel.

As you can see in the above table, many of the compounds in the two steel alloys are capped at the same values. However, grade 304 stainless steel gets more chromium and nickel than grade 301 does. This tends to make grade 304 stainless more expensive than grade 301 is.

Melting Range

The melting range of 301 stainless steel is between 2,259 degrees Fahrenheit and 2,590 degrees Fahrenheit. Type 304 stainless steel offers a slightly higher, but narrower, melting range than 301 stainless steel. The melting range of 304 stainless steel is between 2,550 degrees Fahrenheit and 2,650 degrees Fahrenheit.

Type 301 stainless steel offers 0.285 pounds per cubic-inch density while type 304e stainless steel offers a density of 0.29 pounds per cubic-inch. Both types of stainless steel offer a mild resistance to corrosion. 301 stainless steel resists oxidation up to 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit and 304 stainless steel resists oxidation to up to 1,650 degrees Fahrenheit.

If total cost is a factor, it is appropriate to consider not only material product costs, but also the lifecycle cost. Over time, the cost-saving benefits of the reduced maintenance Type 304, with its greater percentages of the more important elements, chromium and nickel, will reflect a minimal higher cost per pound vs the lower grade Type 301. The longer life expectancy of Type 304 will outweigh the nominal savings of Type 301 at initial purchase, while the cost trade-off in the long-term performance of Type 304 offers the overall stronger specification than Type 301.

Application

Type 304 will withstand the corrosive actions of acids found in fruits, meats, milk, and vegetables, making it an ideal choice for sinks, tabletops, and appliances. It is immune to foodstuffs, sterilizing solutions, most of the organic chemicals and dyestuffs, and a wide variety of inorganic chemicals. Type 304 is considered the industry standard for food and beverage processing equipment. It is also the definitive specification for hospitals, healthcare clinics, laboratories, restaurants, and food service environments.

Type 301, with its lower set of performance specifications, will prove a suitable choice for less demanding installations such as individual residential applications. If however, the installation will experience high traffic usage such as: public restrooms, dormitories, hotels, assisted living facilities, or schools, Type 304 with its elevated performance envelope should always be specified.

Which One is Better? 

So, to answer the question you’ve been waiting for, “which alloy is better for my application?”

To be honest, the answer depends on your application.

For applications where the material of your custom container won’t be exposed to high temperatures, saltwater, or other high-corrosion conditions, and you need a higher tensile strength, grade 301 SS is probably going to be the right choice.

For more information visit www.sakysteel.com