What Is The Distinctions Between Stainless Steel 303 and 304?

Stainless steel is widely recognized for its strength and its anti-corrosive properties. Besides, they are also aesthetically dependable and thus popular, uasally appears in kitchen accessories, surgical tools, auto bodies, and sculptures. Like other forms of steel, not all stainless steel is the same, stainless steel comes in a variety of grades. 303 and 304 stainless steel are two popular stainless steel grades. What is the distinctions between stainless steel 303 and 304? Let’s take a closer look and compare.

What is 303 stainless steelvs 304 stainless steel?

Grade 303 stainless steel is a non-magnetic, austenitic metal that cannot be hardened by heat treatment. This grade can resists mildly corrosive elements, but it will pit and rust in a marine environment due to the chloride in the salt. Grade 303 stainless steel will resist oxidation in environments up to 1700^o F, but will crack in chloride environments above 140^o F.

Grade 304 stainless steel is also a austenitic stainless steel. It has highly corrosion resistant, not only from weather but also from acids. However, chloride is  one weakness of these steels. If the ions in sodium chloride is founded at the coast, will badly pit grade 304 stainless steel.

304 grade stainless steel is probably the most commonly used grade of austenitic stainless steel. (In austenitic steels, the alloy contains high percentages of nickel and chromium.) It is available in 304 stainless steel sheet, 304 stainless steel coil, 304 stainless steel strip etc. Ronsco routinely stocks.

What is chemical composition of 303 vs 304 stainless steel?

Most grade 304 stainless steel is 18/8, meaning it is composed of 18% chromium and 8% nickel. Besides, it also contains a small amount of carbon, silicon, and manganese. However,  303 stainless steel consists of iron, 17-19% chromium, 8-10% nickel, 2% manganese, 0.2% phosphorus, 0.15% carbon, and 0.15% sulfur. Because of  this grade of steel is categorized by its physical properties rather than its chemical ones, the exact percentages may vary slightly.

How strong is 303 stainless steel vs 304 stainless steel ?

Steel’s strength is a measure of its ability to withstand force without breaking or permanently deforming, including yield strength and tensile strength. Yield strength identifies the point at which steel deforms under stress. Tensile strength identifies the point at which steel breaks under stress. Grade 303 stainless steel’s yield strength runs about 415 MPa, tensile strength hovers around 690 MPa, this grade of steel will elongate 40% before breaking. For 304 stainless steel, it's stronger, durable and high quality, It's tensile strength falls between 520 and 720 MPa, and its yield strength is about 215 MPa, it will elongate up to 70% before breaking.

Can be hardened, welded, or machined of 303 stainless vs 304 stainless steel?

Both 303 and 304 stainless steel can be hardened but not by heat. They have to be solution treated by heating it to about 1850o F to 2048o F and then rapidly cooling it off. And they are also easy to machine, has good machinability, but it needs to be cut with plenty of lubricants and a sharp blade. The one of difference between 303 and 304 stainless steel is that due to 303 stainless steel relatively high sulfur content., it shouldn’t be welded, but it is possible to weld it using alloy 310 electrodes. However, 304 stainless steel is easy to weld, even without fillers, if the welder chooses fillers, they should generally be from grade 308 stainless steel, sections that are heavily welded may need post-welding solution treatment.

How can be applied for 303 stainless steel vs 304 stainless steel?

Due to 303 stainless steel is easy to machine,  it is an excellent choice for manufacturing parts that require extensive machining, usually applied for screws, bolts, gears, shafts, valves, aircraft parts, or screw machine products, but not appropriate for ships, boats, or anything that will be used to transport gas under pressure. For 304 stainless steel, it is tough and economical. It’s easy to fabricate and clean, looks good in nearly any setting, and can withstand significant exposure to corrosive elements. As a result, it is the most commonly used grade of stainless steel on the market. You can find grade 304 stainless steel in just about any product in which steel is the major element—auto trim, wheel covers, kitchen equipment, piping, stainless hardware, and storage tanks.