304 stainless steel 304 stainless steel is the most common type of stainless steel in the world due to its excellent corrosion resistance and value. Other commonly used stainless steels are 409 and 430. The slightly higher price than 316 is worth it in areas with high chloride exposure, especially near the ocean or roads with high salinity. 304 stainless steel for outdoor furniture such as railings and bollards, stainless steel is an ideal corrosion-resistant material, but it can only withstand long-term exposure at a grade appropriate for its environment.ģ04 is an conservative and viable choice for most situations, but it does not have the chloride resistance of 316. Stainless steel is usually used 316 stainless steel contains molybdenum. Depending on the grade, it may contain a higher chromium content as well as additional alloying elements such as molybdenum, nickel, titanium, aluminum, copper, nitrogen, phosphorus, or selenium. Stainless steel must contain at least 10.5% chromium. Stainless steel comes in several grades, each with a slightly different alloy composition and therefore slightly different physical properties. What is stainless steel?Īll steels have the same basic composition of iron and carbon, but stainless steel also contains a healthy dose of chromium-the alloy that gives stainless steel its famous corrosion resistance. Stainless steel can withstand more time and mishandle some time recently appearing signs of wear.

Just like standard steel, stainless steel can be marked, discolored, and eventually rusted by fingerprints and grease. Stainless steel is less prone to tarnishing than other iron-based metals, but it is not literally “stainless steel”. The main difference is the addition of molybdenum, an alloy that significantly improves corrosion resistance, especially in environments exposed to more salt or chloride. The two best popular grades of stainless steel are 304 and 316.

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