What is the difference between stainless steel 304 and 201?
In the eyes of many consumers, there is almost no difference between 304 stainless steel and 201 stainless steel, and it is almost impossible to tell them apart with the naked eye. Here are some ways to distinguish 304 from 201.
1. Specifications: Commonly used stainless steel plates are divided into two types: 201 and 304. In fact, they are different in composition. 304 is of better quality, but more expensive, and 201 is worse. 304 is an imported stainless steel plate, and 201 is a domestic stainless steel plate.
2. 201 is composed of 17Cr-4.5Ni-6Mn-N, which is a Ni-saving steel and an alternative to 301 steel. It is magnetic after cold processing and is used for railway vehicles.
3. 304 is composed of 18Cr-9Ni, which is the most widely used stainless steel and heat-resistant steel. It is used for food production equipment, Xitong chemical equipment, nuclear energy, etc.
4. 201 has a high manganese content, and the surface is very bright with a dark luster. It is easy to rust because of the high manganese content. 304 contains more chromium, and the surface is matte and does not rust. The two are compared together. The most important thing is the difference in corrosion resistance. The corrosion resistance of 201 is very poor, so the price is much cheaper. Because 201 contains less nickel, the price is lower than that of 304, so the corrosion resistance is not as good as that of 304.
5. The difference between 201 and 304 is the nickel content. Moreover, the price of 304 is relatively expensive now, but 304 can at least guarantee that it will not rust during use. (Stainless steel potion can be used for experiments)
6. Stainless steel is not easy to rust because chromium-rich oxides are formed on the surface of the steel body to protect the steel body. 201 material is a high-manganese stainless steel with a higher hardness than 304, high carbon and low nickel.
7. Different composition (201 and 304 stainless steel are mainly distinguished by carbon, manganese, nickel and chromium content)
Steel grade Carbon (C) Silicon (Si) Manganese (Mn) Phosphorus (P) Sulfur (S) Chromium (Cr) Nickel (Ni) Molybdenum (Mo) Copper (Cu)
AISI (304) ≤0.08 ≤1.00 ≤2.00 ≤0.045 ≤0.03 18-20 8-10
AISI (201) ≤0.15 ≤1.00 5.5-7.5 ≤0.05 ≤0.03 16-18 3.5-5.5
The difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel
In fact, the difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel cannot be seen with the naked eye. Many people are confused when they see these numbers. Today, let’s take a look at the difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel.
First, 316 stainless steel contains Mo, which is more corrosion-resistant than 304 stainless steel in high temperature environments. Therefore, engineers generally choose 316 material parts in high temperature environments.
Secondly, there are also differences in the grades; 304 stainless steel corresponds to the Chinese grade 0Cr18Ni9; 316 stainless steel corresponds to the Chinese grade 0Cr17Ni12Mo2.
Third, 316 mainly reduces the Cr content and increases the Ni content and adds Mo 2%~3%. Therefore, its corrosion resistance is stronger than 304, and it is suitable for use in chemical, seawater and other environments. Similarly, the cost of 316 is also higher than 304. Generally, 316 is used in places with higher requirements to replace 304.