In modern industrial production, stainless steel materials are widely used because of their excellent corrosion resistance, wear resistance and good processing properties. However, there are many types of stainless steel, with 301 and 304 stainless steels being the two most common. So, what is the difference between 301 and 304 stainless steel? This article will analyze in detail from the aspects of chemical composition, physical properties, and corrosion resistance.
First of all, in terms of chemical composition, the main difference between 301 and 304 stainless steel is the carbon content and nickel content. The carbon content of 301 stainless steel is about 015%, chromium content is about 12%, nickel content is about 8%. Whereas, 304 stainless steel has a carbon content of about 008%, chromium content is about 18%, nickel content is about 8%. It can be seen that 304 stainless steel has a higher chromium and nickel content than 301 stainless steel, which is the main reason why it has better corrosion resistance.
Secondly, from the perspective of physical properties, the strength and hardness of 301 and 304 stainless steel are higher, but the strength and hardness of 304 stainless steel are slightly higher than that of 301 stainless steel. In addition, 304 stainless steel also has better toughness and plasticity, which makes it easier to form during processing and reduces the difficulty of processing.
Furthermore, from the perspective of corrosion resistance, the corrosion resistance of 304 stainless steel is significantly better than that of 301 stainless steel. This is mainly due to the high chromium and nickel content in 304 stainless steel, which forms a dense protective film of chromium oxide, which effectively prevents the erosion of the inside of the metal by oxygen atoms and other corrosive substances. Although 301 stainless steel also has a certain corrosion resistance, its corrosion resistance is not as good as that of 304 stainless steel.
In addition, 304 stainless steel also has good heat resistance and low temperature resistance. In a high-temperature environment, 304 stainless steel can maintain good strength and hardness, and is not easy to deform. In low temperature environment, the toughness and plasticity of 304 stainless steel will not change significantly, ensuring its performance in various temperature environments.
Finally, from the perspective of application fields, 304 stainless steel is widely used in food processing equipment, chemical equipment, medical equipment and other fields due to its good corrosion resistance and processing performance. Although 301 stainless steel also has certain applications, it is generally only used for some equipment or components that do not require high corrosion resistance due to its poor corrosion resistance.
To sum up, the main differences between 301 and 304 stainless steel are the chemical composition, physical properties, and corrosion resistance. 304 stainless steel has been widely used in various industrial fields due to its high chromium and nickel content, as well as good corrosion resistance, processing properties and heat resistance. 301 stainless steel is mainly used in some equipment or components that do not require high corrosion resistance. Therefore, when choosing stainless steel materials, the appropriate type of stainless steel should be selected according to the specific use environment and requirements.
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