Austenitic stainless steel is a widespread category of stainless steel, and 304 stainless steel is a specific type of austenitic stainless steel. We can regard austenitic stainless steel as a large family, and 304 is a member of this family.
To understand the relationship between austenitic stainless steel and 304, we can look at it from the following perspectives:
- Composition: The chemical composition of 304 stainless steel contains mainly 18% chromium and 8% nickel. This composition gives 304 excellent corrosion and oxidation resistance, making it ideal for a variety of common applications.
- CHARACTERISTICS: 304 stainless steel is an all-around well-performing stainless steel with high strength and good plasticity. It also has excellent high-temperature resistance and low-temperature toughness, allowing it to work well in a variety of temperature environments.
- APPLICATIONS: Because of its excellent corrosion resistance and mechanical properties, 304 stainless steel is widely used in various fields. For example, in the construction, chemical, food processing, medical equipment and other industries, it is commonly used in the manufacture of pipes, containers, tableware, decorative materials and so on.
Therefore, it can be said that 304 stainless steel is a member of the austenitic stainless steel family, but not all austenitic stainless steel is 304 stainless steel. In different application scenarios and needs, there are other austenitic stainless steel models with different compositions and properties available.