304 vs 316 Stainless Steel Temperature

304 vs 316 Stainless Steel Temperature Performance

As a professional manufacturer and exporter of ASME SA240 Stainless sheet and stainless steel plates, Gangsteel supplies a wide range of grades such as sa240 gr 304, sa240 gr 304l, sa240 gr 316, and sa240 gr 316l.
Understanding the temperature resistance between 304 and 316 stainless steel is essential for engineers and fabricators choosing the right grade for industrial, chemical, or marine applications.

1. Overview of 304 and 316 Stainless Steel

Both 304 and 316 are austenitic stainless steels produced under ASME SA240 stainless steel plate and ASTM A240 stainless plate standards.

• 304 Stainless Steel: The most common stainless steel, containing approximately 18% chromium and 8% nickel.
• 316 Stainless Steel: Enhanced with 2–3% molybdenum, which improves corrosion and heat resistance, especially in chloride environments.

Gangsteel also supplies related grades such as sa240 gr 304h, sa240 gr 304n, sa240 gr 316n, and sa240 gr 316ti for high-temperature and stabilized performance.

2. Temperature Limits of 304 Stainless Steel

Type 304 stainless steel retains excellent mechanical strength up to 870°C (1600°F) for intermittent service and 925°C (1700°F) for continuous exposure.
However, prolonged exposure between 425°C and 860°C may cause carbide precipitation, leading to reduced corrosion resistance.

For improved stability, low-carbon variants such as sa240 gr 304l or nitrogen-strengthened sa240 gr 304ln are recommended for welding and continuous high-temperature service.

3. Temperature Limits of 316 Stainless Steel

316 stainless steel performs slightly better under elevated temperatures.

• Maximum continuous service temperature: 925°C (1700°F)
• Maximum intermittent service temperature: 870°C (1600°F)

The addition of molybdenum allows sa240 gr 316 and sa240 gr 316l to maintain corrosion resistance at higher temperatures and in more aggressive chemical conditions.
Stabilized grades like sa240 gr 316ti and nitrogen-enhanced sa240 gr 316ln offer improved creep strength and weld stability.

4. Comparison Table: 304 vs 316 Temperature Resistance

5. Effect of Temperature on Corrosion Resistance

At elevated temperatures, 316 stainless steel maintains superior resistance to oxidation and chloride attack due to its molybdenum content.
For extremely corrosive environments, Gangsteel recommends higher-alloy grades such as:

• sa240 gr 317l
• sa240 gr 317lmn
• sa 240 gr 904l

These grades provide even better pitting resistance and higher allowable temperature in acid or seawater environments.

6. High-Temperature Alternatives to 304 and 316

For applications exceeding 1000°C, Gangsteel supplies high-temperature alloys under nickel alloy steel plate and duplex stainless types:

• sa 240 type 2205
• sa 240 type 2507
• sa 240 gr 347h
• sa 240 gr 310s

For seamless pipe systems, related high-temperature products include:

• astm a 213/a 213m stainless pipe
• asme sa 213/sa 213m stainless pipe
• asme sa 312/sa 312m stainless pipe

7. Applications Based on Temperature Performance

8. Conclusion

In conclusion, 304 and 316 stainless steels both offer excellent temperature and oxidation resistance.
However, 316—especially its variants sa240 gr 316l, sa240 gr 316n, and sa240 gr 316ti—delivers enhanced corrosion resistance and stability under thermal stress.

Gangsteel provides full-size stainless steel sheets and plates certified to ASME SA240 and ASTM A240 standards, as well as JIS G 4304 stainless steel plate and UNS stainless steel plate materials for global export.