A comparison of grade 304 vs grade 316 stainless steel.
304 Stainless steel accounts for more than 50% of all stainless steel produced around the world.
Many common household items are made from 304 stainless such as cutlery or your kitchen sink.
Compared to 316 stainless steel, 304 grade stainless is a low-cost option that offers reasonable corrosion resistance in a wide range of applications.
| Grade | Common Name | C% | Si% | Mn% | P% | S% | Cr% | Ni% |
| UNS S30400 | 304 | 0.08 | 1.00 | 2.00 | 0.045 | 0.03 | 18.0-20.0 | 8.0-10.5 |
316 grade stainless steel, commonly known as marine grade, is the most common stainless steel Bridco has in it’s product range. Compared to 304 grade, 316 virtually offers the same mechanical and physical characteristics with better corrosion resistance.
Grade 316 accounts for about 20% of all stainless steel produced globally.
316L is a low carbon option of 316 and often used in welded components, such as our range of cromox chains.
See more on low carbon L grades.
| Grade | Common Name | C% | Si% | Mn% | P% | S% | Cr% | Ni% | Mo% | N% |
| UNS 31600 | 316 | .08 | .75 | 2 | .045 | .03 | 16-18 | 10-14 | 2-3 | .1 |
| UNS S31603 | 316L | .03 | .75 | 2 | .045 | .03 | 16-18 | 10-14 | 2-3 | .1 |
Both 304 and 316 grade stainless steels are used in marine and architectural industries, however grade 316 (marine grade) is more commonly requested due to the additional corrosion resistance.
Some of the above information was kindly provided by Australian Stainless Steel Development Association (AASDA) of which Bridco is a Ruby member.
See www.assda.asn.au