In a variety of industrial fields, stainless steel is widely used due to its excellent corrosion resistance and high-temperature properties. There are four common types of stainless steel according to different use environments and media: 304 stainless steel, 316 stainless steel, 321 stainless steel, and 310s stainless steel. Each of them has a unique temperature range and application scenario.
304 stainless steel is a stainless steel that is widely used in general corrosive media and low-temperature applications. It has excellent corrosion resistance and molding properties, and is commonly used in the food industry, chemical, pharmaceutical, petroleum and aviation fields. Due to its good versatility and low cost, 304 stainless steel dominates many industries.
However, in more harsh corrosive media and high temperature and pressure environments, 316 stainless steel becomes a more desirable choice. It contains more molybdenum elements, which enhances corrosion resistance, and is especially widely used in high-demand fields such as marine development, medical equipment, and nuclear power plants. 316 stainless steel has the same temperature range as 304 stainless steel, but exhibits greater stability and reliability in harsher environments.
321 stainless steel is a special kind of stainless steel, which is suitable for high-temperature heat treatment and environments with strong heat corrosion resistance. It stabilizes carbides by adding titanium to improve resistance to intergranular corrosion. Therefore, 321 stainless steel is particularly suitable for use in chemical containers, automobile exhaust pipes and other occasions that need to withstand high temperatures and corrosive media.
Finally, 310S stainless steel is a high-performance stainless steel with excellent oxidation and corrosion resistance. Due to the high percentage of chromium and nickel elements, 310S stainless steel has excellent creep strength and high-temperature performance. It is capable of long-lasting operation at high temperatures and is widely used in high-temperature equipment such as high-temperature stoves, heat exchangers and high-temperature pipes.
To sum up, these four stainless steels have their own characteristics due to their unique temperature range and application scenarios. When selecting stainless steel, it is necessary to consider its performance requirements according to the specific use environment and medium to ensure that the material can meet the actual needs and perform optimally.