There are significant differences between 400 series and 304 series stainless steels in many aspects. First of all, from the chemical composition, 400 series stainless steel is an alloy mainly composed of iron and carbon, while 304 stainless steel contains high nickel and chromium elements. This difference in composition determines their different characteristics in corrosion resistance and strength.
Secondly, 400 series stainless steel has relatively high strength and hardness, but poor corrosion resistance. In contrast, 304 stainless steel has better corrosion resistance and rust resistance because of its high content of nickel and chromium. Therefore, 400 series stainless steel can be selected in the application scenes that need high strength and hardness, such as tableware and architectural decoration. However, 304 stainless steel is more preferred in occasions where good corrosion resistance and rust resistance are needed, such as food industry and medical devices.
In addition, from the appearance and processability, the color of 400 series stainless steel is relatively dark, while 304 stainless steel has a silvery white appearance. At the same time, because 304 stainless steel has good ductility and plasticity, it is more convenient to process. These characteristics make it possible to choose different stainless steel series according to the requirements in the manufacturing process.
To sum up, there are significant differences between 400 series stainless steel and 304 series stainless steel in composition, corrosion resistance, appearance and processability. Understanding these differences is helpful to make a more appropriate decision when choosing stainless steel materials to meet the needs of different application scenarios.