Stainless Steel 420 vs 304 – What’s the Difference?

In the world of metal materials, stainless steel has won widespread application due to its excellent corrosion resistance and beautiful appearance. Among the many types of stainless steel, 420 stainless steel and 304 stainless steel have attracted much attention due to their unique properties and wide range of applications. So, stainless steel 420 vs 304 – what’s the difference? Which is better? This article will reveal the answer for you.

Stainless Steel 420 vs 304 – What’s the Difference?

Stainless Steel 420 vs 304 – 1. Differences in Definition:

420 stainless steel：420 stainless steel is a martensitic stainless steel similar to the earliest stainless steel, such as Brinell high-chromium steel. 420 has certain wear resistance and corrosion resistance. Due to its carbon content of about 0.31%, it has high hardness after quenching, and its price is relatively low. However, due to the limited corrosion resistance of the anti-corrosion element nickel content of less than 0.75%, 420 will rust. It is suitable for working environments with general requirements for stainless steel, such as various precision machinery, bearings, electrical equipment, equipment, instruments, transportation vehicles, household appliances, etc. It is mostly used to manufacture parts that are resistant to atmospheric, water vapor, water, and oxidative acid corrosion.

304 stainless steel：304 stainless steel is a common material in stainless steel, which is resistant to high temperatures of 800℃, has good processing performance and high toughness, and is widely used in the industrial, furniture decoration, and food and medical industries. 304 stainless steel pipes are divided into ordinary materials and food-grade materials, but compared to the two, the content indicators of food-grade materials are more stringent. For example, internationally, the definition of 304 stainless steel is mainly 18%-20% chromium and 8%-10% nickel, but food-grade 304 stainless steel contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel, allowing a certain range of fluctuations and limiting the content of various heavy metals.

Stainless Steel 420 vs 304 – 2. Differences in Application:

420 stainless steel is a martensitic stainless steel with high tensile strength and formability, mainly used for parts requiring high strength, high wear resistance, and certain corrosion resistance requirements. For example, important structural components in aviation, aerospace, and marine technology. 304 stainless steel pipe has good corrosion resistance, heat resistance, low-temperature strength, and mechanical properties; good hot workability such as stamping and bending, without heat treatment hardening. It is suitable for food processing, storage, transportation, decoration, etc. If the content indicators meet food-grade standards, it can also be used in the food and medical industries.

Stainless Steel 420 vs 304 – 3. Differences in Performance:

420 stainless steel has certain wear resistance and corrosion resistance, due to its carbon content of about 0.31%, so it has high hardness after quenching, but due to the limited corrosion resistance of the element nickel content of only 0.75% or less, 420 will rust. 304 stainless steel tube contains more than 18% chromium and more than 8% nickel; it has high-temperature resistance, good processing performance, high toughness, and is not prone to rusting, but its hardness is not as high as 420.

Conclusion

Stainless steel 420 vs 304 – which is superior? It mainly depends on the application field. 420 and 304 are two different types of steel with different properties and different application fields. If it is applied to parts with requirements for strength and wear resistance, choose 420 stainless steel; if it is required for corrosion resistance and high-temperature resistance, choose 304 stainless steel. However, if it is only applied in daily life, then choose 304 stainless steel.

Thank you for reading our article and we hope it can help you to have a better understanding of the differences between stainless steel 420 vs 304. If you want to learn more about stainless steel, we would advise you to visit Sino Stainless Steel for more information.

As a leading supplier of stainless steel products across the world, Sino Stainless Steel offers customers high-quality stainless steel strips, stainless steel coils, stainless steel plates, stainless steel sheets, stainless steel bars, and stainless steel tubes at an extremely competitive price.