Which is better, stainless steel 304 or 316?

The composition of 304 material is OCr18Ni9; the composition of 316 material is 0Cr17Ni12Mo2. The biggest difference between 304 and 316 is that 316 has 2-3 more nickel than 304, and 2% more MO (molybdenum). So which is better for stainless steel 304 or 316?

First of all, 316 stainless steel contains Mo, which has better corrosion resistance in high temperature environments than 304 stainless steel. Therefore, in high temperature environments, engineers generally choose 316 material parts.

Secondly, 316 mainly reduces the Cr content, increases the Ni content and increases Mo2%~3%. Therefore, its corrosion resistance is stronger than that of 304, and it is suitable for use in chemical, seawater and other environments. Similarly, the cost of 316 is also higher than that of 304. Generally, 316 is used in places with higher requirements instead of 304. So stainless steel 316 is better than 304.