What is Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel (SS) is the name given to a group of Iron based alloys that contain at least 10.5% chromium.
It is versatile and durable and has good resistance to oxidation and corrosion.
What is The Difference Between Stainless Steel 304 and 316
The short answer is Stainless Steel 316 is more corrosion resistant to chemicals.
Due to the added 2% Molybdenum content, it is more resistant to salt corrosion.
See the major difference in the chemical composition below:
Stainless Steel-304
- 18% Chromium
- 8% Nickel
Stainless Steel-316
- 16% Chromium
- 10% Nickel
- 2% Molybdenum (For added corrosion resistance to chlorides, like sea water.)
The major difference in the applications:
304 is the most common of the 300 series and has excellent resistance to corrosion in most applications.
316 is more resistant to sulfuric acid and sulfurous acids, acetic acid, iodides, bromides, chlorides, and also fatty acids at higher temperatures.
When to use 304 vs 316
When it comes to stainless steel camlocks one of the major distinctions made is between the two different grades of steel used in manufacturing. Stainless is desirable as a material in several different industries due to its corrosive resistant benefits and ability to be easily welded. However is there a huge difference in quality between 304 stainless and 316? Is the additional price worth that difference between these 2 grades of steel?
The simplest answer to this question is that it is a matter of application. Industries like homebrew and the food and beverage industry utilize 304 most often because the substances passing through the camlocks are generally free of chloride driven applications (brining being an exception).
316 is generally used in applications where welding is required and is more corrosive resistant due to molybdenum added to the material. Molybdenum helps 316 resist against acids, chlorides and high temperatures that 304 would not be able to withstand.
Industries that Use 304
Home Brew
304 is the prefered choice in home brew due to its better price.
Breweries
304 is also widely used in breweries and microbreweries for brewing beer.
CBD Extractions
The relatively new industries forming around chemical extrations from plants all use 304.
Maple Syryp Industry
Maple Syryp extraction uses a variety of threaded fittings, ball valves and camlock fittings all manufactured in 304.
Industires that currently use Brass
Stainless Steel 304 seems poised to replace brass in many standard applications
Since it is becoming better priced and is a cleaner metal (Contains no Lead)
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