304 is an economical and practical choice for most environments but it doesn t have the chloride resistance of 316.
Stainless steel grade 304 vs 316 price.
At the time of this writing the price of a 304 2b stainless steel sheet was 1 55 lb.
304 vs 316 stainless steel cost aisi 304 vs 316 stainless steel cost.
Stainless 316 contains more nickel than stainless 304 while 304 contains more chromium than 316.
The slightly higher price point of 316 is well worth it in areas with high chloride exposure especially near the ocean or by heavily salted roadways.
The 316 alloy is usually comprised of a lower amount of chromium 16 and a potentially higher amount of nickel content 10.
Click here to do that.
As part of the five families of stainless steel 304 stainless steel and 316 stainless steel are austenitic grades that contain high levels of chromium and nickel.
This has the following impact.
Stainless 316 is made up of 16 chromium 10 nickel and 2 molybdenum.
For outdoor furnishings like rails and bollards stainless steel is an ideal corrosion resistant material but it will only withstand long term exposure if the grade is appropriate for its environment.
Taking steel plates as an example the cost of 316 is about 1 5 times the cost of 304.
When it comes to applications with chlorinated solutions or exposure to salt grade 316 stainless steel is considered superior.
Chromium increases tensile strength hardness hardenability toughness resistance to wear and abrasion resistance to corrosion and scaling at elevated temperatures.
Prices always fluctuate especially when politics get involved so keep checking in on the market price.
Though the stainless steel 304 alloy has a higher melting point grade 316 has a better resistance to chemicals and chlorides like salt than grade 304 stainless steel.
The two steel grades are comparable in appearance chemical makeup and characteristics.