430 stainless steel and 304 stainless steel are both common stainless steel materials, and the main differences between them are chemical composition and performance.
304 stainless steel (also known as 18-8 stainless steel) is a food-grade stainless steel, which is widely used in food, medical and other industries. Its main components include iron, chromium (18%-20%), nickel (8%-10%), and sometimes molybdenum (2%). 304 stainless steel has excellent corrosion resistance, heat resistance and toughness, and is easy to process and weld.
430 stainless steel (also known as 18-0 stainless steel) is a type of iron, chromium (16%-18%), carbon (0.).12%), sometimes also containing manganese and nitrogen. 430 stainless steel has poor corrosion resistance, but it is easy to machine and form, and it is relatively low.
In general, the performance of 304 stainless steel is better than that of 430 stainless steel, because it has better corrosion resistance and heat resistance, and is more suitable for food, medical and other industries with high hygiene requirements. However, 430 stainless steel may be a more economical choice in some occasions where high strength corrosion resistance is not required, such as decoration, automotive interiors, etc.
Which is good and which is suitable depends on your use occasion and comprehensive economic cost before making a decision.