Stainless Steel 304 vs 304L vs 304H vs 304N vs 304LN – What’s the Difference?

In the world of stainless steel, the variety can be overwhelming. Especially when you delve into the intricate differences between the various types of 304 stainless steel, a material that is widely used in a range of industries. From its initial discovery in the 1930s, 304 stainless steel has become a go-to material for its corrosion resistance and versatility. However, as needs and applications have evolved, so has the composition and characteristics of this stainless steel. In this article, we explore the nuances that set apart five specific variations of 304 stainless steel: 304 vs 304L vs 304H vs 304N vs 304LN.

Stainless Steel 304 vs 304L vs 304H vs 304N vs 304LN – What’s the Difference?

1. 304 stainless steel: This is the most basic grade of 304 stainless steel, also known as 18-8 stainless steel. It contains about 18% chromium and 8% nickel, and has good corrosion resistance and mechanical properties. It is suitable for a wide range of applications, such as construction, manufacturing, food processing, etc.
2. 304L stainless steel: 304L is a low-carbon version of 304 stainless steel with a lower carbon content, generally less than 0.03%. This grade has good corrosion resistance and is particularly suitable for applications in corrosive environments, such as the chemical industry, marine engineering, etc.
3. 304H stainless steel: 304H is a high-carbon version of 304 stainless steel with a carbon content typically between 0.04% and 0.1%. This grade has good heat resistance at high temperatures and is suitable for the manufacturing of high-temperature equipment, such as oil refining, furnace manufacturing, etc.
4. 304N stainless steel: 304N is a nitrogen-containing stainless steel that improves strength and corrosion resistance by adding nitrogen. It has higher strength and toughness and is suitable for applications with special requirements, such as high-pressure vessels, chemical equipment, etc.
5. 304LN stainless steel: 304LN is a low-carbon, low-nitrogen version of 304 stainless steel with good corrosion resistance and anti-stress corrosion cracking performance. It is commonly used in corrosive environments such as chemicals and marine engineering.

In addition, there are also some special grades of 304 stainless steel, such as 304DQ, 304DDQ, 304EDQ, etc. They are named according to different processing techniques and special requirements, and are suitable for applications such as stamping, deep drawing, and stretching.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading our article and we hope it can help you to have a better understanding between Stainless Steel 304 vs 304L vs 304H vs 304N vs 304LN. If you want to learn more about 304 stainless steel, we would suggest you visit Sino Stainless Steel.

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