Type 304 Type 316

Carbon 0.08% max. 0.08% max.

Manganese 2.00% max. 2.00% max.
Phosphorus 0.045% max. 0.045% max.
Sulfur 0.030% max. 0.030% max.
Silicon 1.00% max. 1.00% max.
Chromium 18.00-20.00% 16.00-18.00%
Nickel 8.00-10.50% 10.00-14.00%
Molybdenum 2.00-3.00%

Austenitic:
Type 321 contains titanium to tie up the carbon and avoid chromium carbide precipitation in welding.
Type 347 – 348 have columbium tantalum added to tie up the carbon and avoid chromium carbide precipitation in welding. Us

Grade 304 SS Chemical Grade 304L SS

Composition Table
Content by % Chemical Content by %

Carbon 0.08 Max 0.03 Max

Chromium 18.00-20.00 18.00-20.00
Iron Makes up the Balance Makes up the Balance
Manganese 2.00 Max 2.00 Max
Nickel 8.00-12.00 8.00-12.00
Nitrogen 0.10 Max 0.10 Max
Phosphorus 0.045 Max 0.045 Max
Silicon 0.75 Max 0.75 Max
Sulfur 0.030 Max 0.030 Max
rbide precipitation in welding. Use for temperatures from 800to 1650 degrees F.

These two alloys are remarkably similar—but there is one key difference. In grade 304 stainless, the maximum carbon content

This difference of 0.05% carbon content produces a slight, but marked, difference in the performances of the two alloys.

extra-low carbon
s, the maximum carbon content is set at 0.08%, whereas grade 304L stainless steel has a maximum carbon content of 0.03%. The “L” in 304

mances of the two alloys.

content of 0.03%. The “L” in 304L can be interpreted as meaning extra-low carbon.