Since there are many examples of different types of stainless steel being used interchangeably in certain fields, people always ask which is better, 430 stainless steel or 304 stainless steel?
430 stainless steel has good thermal conductivity and mechanical properties. It is better in areas such as architectural decoration, fuel burner parts, household appliances, and home appliance parts.
304 stainless steel has strong toughness and corrosion resistance. It is better in industries that require corrosion resistance, such as industry, food, and medical treatment.
Comparison of the performance of 430 stainless steel and 304 stainless steel:
1. Corrosion resistance: 430 stainless steel contains 16.00-18.00% chromium and basically no nickel metal. 304 stainless steel contains more chromium and nickel metal, so the corrosion resistance of 430 stainless steel is not as good as that of 304 stainless steel.
2. Stability: 430 stainless steel is in ferrite form, 304 stainless steel is in austenite form, 304 stainless steel is more stable than 430 stainless steel
3. Toughness: 304 stainless steel has strong toughness, which is stronger than 430 stainless steel
3. Thermal conductivity: 430 stainless steel ferrite has better thermal conductivity than 304 stainless steel austenite.
4. Mechanical properties: 430 stainless steel adds the stable chemical element titanium, and the mechanical properties of the weld are better than 304 stainless steel
430 stainless steel application areas:
1. 430 stainless steel is mainly used for architectural decoration, fuel burner parts, household appliances, and home appliance parts.
2. Add 430F, a steel grade with easy-to-cut properties, to 430 steel, mainly used for automatic lathes, bolts and nuts, etc.
3. Add Ti or Nb to 430 steel and reduce C content to become 430LX, which improves the processing performance and welding performance. It is mainly used for hot water tanks, hot water supply systems, sanitary appliances, household durable appliances, bicycle flywheels, etc.
304 stainless steel application areas:
1. 304 stainless steel has the characteristics of high temperature resistance, good processing performance and high toughness, and is widely used in industry, furniture decoration industry and food and medical industry.
2. 304 stainless steel has strong corrosion resistance and is widely used in the production of equipment and parts that require good comprehensive performance (corrosion resistance and formability).
Summary: 430 stainless steel and 304 stainless steel each have their own advantages; 430 stainless steel has good thermal conductivity and mechanical properties, and is better in the fields of architectural decoration, fuel burner parts, household appliances, and home appliance parts: 304 stainless steel has strong toughness and corrosion resistance. In industries that require corrosion resistance such as industry, food and medical, 304 stainless steel is better.
