302 and 304 Stainless Steel

Type 304 is a high strength grade of steel.  SAE 304 stainless steel is the most common stainless steel. The steel contains both chromium (between 18% and 20%) and nickel (between 8% and 10.5%)[1] metals as the main non-iron constituents. It is an austenitic stainless steel. It is less electrically and thermally conductive than carbon steel. It is magnetic, but less magnetic than steel. It has a higher corrosion resistance than regular steel and is widely used because of the ease in which it is formed into various shapes. 

 Grade 304 stainless steel is generally regarded as the most common austenitic stainless steel. It contains high nickel content that is typically between 8 and 10.5 percent by weight and a high amount of chromium at approximately 18 to 20 percent by weight. Other major alloying elements include manganese, silicon, and carbon. The remainder of the chemical composition is primarily iron.

The high amounts of chromium and nickel give 304 stainless steel excellent corrosion resistance. Common applications of 304 stainless steel include:

• Appliances such as refrigerators and dishwashers
• Commercial food processing equipment
• Fasteners
• Piping
• Heat exchangers
• Structures in environments that would corrode standard carbon steel.

 304 or 304L in its Full Hard, 3/4 hard, 1/2 Hard and 1/4 Hard conditions are available as well.