Boasting unmatched strength, resilience, and versatility, stainless steel wire mesh is a critical material for countless industrial applications. The metal itself has myriad specifications and grades, the most common being types 304 (T-304) and 316 (T-316).
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What's the difference between the two, and how do you know which is best for your needs? Read on for insight.
T-304 vs. T-316 Stainless Steel Alloys
Before diving deeper into the differences in these materials, it&#;s important to understand what an alloy is. An alloy is a metal combined with other elements to create a material not found in nature. For instance, when pure silver is combined with a small amount of copper, the result is sterling silver.
Steel is created by adding chromium to iron, and the stainless variety typically contains a small amount of nickel. The exact percentages of each element determine the grade of the metal.
Stainless steel wire mesh products are used in everything from aerospace and agriculture to mining and machinery. While there's a multitude of variations, T-304 and T-316 are the most widely used.
T-304 is essentially the standard version, and T-316 is premium. Though these alloys look nearly identical to the untrained eye, they're notably different in terms of their durability and resistance to heat and corrosion.
What Is T-304 Stainless Steel?
Type 304 stainless steel is an alloy containing 18% chromium and 8% nickel. In addition to being affordable and supremely versatile, there are many advantages to using the material.
T-304 wire mesh products are:
This type of wire mesh is widely available and comes in a broad range of sizes, wire diameters, and weaves.
T-304 Stainless Steel Metal Mesh Applications & Industries
Many industries rely on T-304 steel hardware cloth, including mining, food production, water filtration, automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, construction, and refinery.
Industrial applications for T-304 include:
Creation of moldings and trim
Equipment tubing and piping
Electrical enclosures
Laboratory use
Particle separation
Screening abrasives and liquids
Sieving
Sorting powders and solid materials
Storage tanks
T-304 is a go-to for various applications, so bear in mind this is by no means an exhaustive list.
What Is T-316 Stainless Steel?
Type 316 stainless steel is an alloy containing 16% chromium and 10% nickel, along with 2% of the chemical element molybdenum. While it's priced slightly higher than T-304, it's just as versatile with many notable benefits.
T-316 wire mesh products are:
More resistant to corrosion than T-304
Non-magnetic
Resilient in extreme temperatures
Resilient in harsh environmental conditions
Resistant to spot welding
Suitable in marine environments
Unlikely to oxidize
Thanks to the small amount of molybdenum, this type of stainless steel is typically recommended for highly corrosive marine environments where T-304 isn't as stable.
T-316 Stainless Steel Mesh Applications and Industries
Like T-304, several commercial sectors rely on T-316 stainless steel hardware cloth. This includes marine technology, food processing, manufacturing, automotive, shipbuilding, aerospace, and the pharmaceutical and medical industries.
Industrial applications for T-316 include:
Boat fittings
Chemical processing and storage
Cisterns and piping
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Containing pressurized gasses or liquids
Heavy welding
Infrastructure
Laboratory use
Machinery
Marine components
Outdoor furnishings
Particle separation
For more information into this material, check out our Stainless Steel Mesh Guide.
Where to Buy the Best Stainless Steel Industrial Mesh
Founded in Berkeley, California, in , TWP Inc. has been a premier industrial wire mesh supplier for more than 60 years. Our woman-owned company carries woven and welded stainless steel sheets, panels, rolls, and laser-cut mesh discs, including a robust selection of T-304 and T-316 grades.
Expert services from TWP Inc. include laser cutting, roll slitting, disc sizing, measuring, and cleaning. We always have a wide variety of products in stock, but if you don't see exactly what you need, we're happy to accommodate custom sizes and quantities. Request a free quote to get started!
Want to discover more about what's trending in your industry? Connect with TWP Inc. on LinkedIn for the latest on wire mesh materials and applications.
Stainless steel wire mesh is a versatile material that delivers durability that countless industries rely on. Stainless steel in itself has dozens of classifications and specifications that can sometimes make it hard for lab technicians and floor engineers to pinpoint the best solution.
Of all the stainless steel classifications, type 304 and type 316 stand as the most popular. So what&#;s the difference?
W.S. Tyler has worked with woven wire mesh of various alloys for over 140 years and is here to ensure you apply the right one to your operation.
In this article, we establish what stainless steel is, what low carbon alloy is, how 304 and 316 stainless steel mesh compare, and which alloy you should use.
What Is Stainless Steel Alloy?What Is Stainless Steel Alloy?
Stainless steel has become one of the most widely used materials throughout the world. There are centuries of research standing behind its manufacturing processes.
Now, no matter which type of steel you are working with, it is most likely classified by the quality of the alloy. That said, a stainless steel alloy must consist of a certain level of carbon and chromium to be considered stainless.
To put this into perspective, this article will compare 304 stainless steel to 316 stainless steel.
Low Carbon Alloy Steel
As stated above, most steel classifications are dictated by the level of carbon that they contain. When an alloy contains less than .03% carbon, it then carries the classification of a low carbon steel, or L-grade.
Having such a limited amount of carbon in the alloy reduces the amount of carbide precipitation. This heightens the alloy&#;s resistance to corrosion.
This is particularly beneficial for applications in which the stainless steel wire mesh is exposed to moisture. In other words, the more carbon that is present in the alloy, the more likely it is to rust and corrode when water is present.
How Do 304 and 316 Stainless Steel Compare?
The main differences between 304 and 316 stainless steel mesh come down to their corrosion resistance, durability, heat resistance, and formability.
Now, 304 stainless steel mesh is an alloy that contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel. On the other hand, 316 stainless steel mesh is an alloy that contains 16% chromium, 10% nickel, and 2% molybdenum.
Because 316 has more nickel and contains molybdenum, it is higher quality than 304. These added benefits allow it to be more resistant to corrosive environments, more stable and durable, and more resistant to extreme temperatures.
That said, there are little to no differences between the two alloys visually. They also carry the same ability to be welded and customized during fabrication.
When it comes to cost, 316 stainless steel wire mesh stands as the most expensive of the two. But these margins are not that significant.
To put this into perspective, if a piece of 304 stainless steel mesh costs $1.00 per square foot then 316 stainless steel mesh would cost somewhere around $1.15 per square foot.
This remains the same regardless if you are using 304/316 regular or L-grade 304/316.
Which Alloy Should I Use?
The alloy that should be used depends on the application. If the mesh is going to be subjected to harsh conditions that introduce corrosive substances, 316 should be applied.
This is because the molybdenum that is added to 316 stainless steel wire mesh, allows it to withstand more corrosive applications.
With that, if you are simply using it to sift non-corrosive materials, such as food particles or aggregates, then a 304 stainless steel mesh will get the job done.
Low carbon steel, whether its 304 or 316, should be applied when welding is needed during fabrication. This is because carbon naturally absorbs heat and may hinder any sort of welding or heat treating process.
So, the higher the carbon content of the alloy the harder it is to be fabricated.
An Effective Operation Starts With Selecting The Right Alloy
The durability of stainless steel wire mesh has made it one of the most versatile materials available. 304 and 316 stainless steel may be the most widely used of the dozens of stainless steel specifications.
As with all alloys, 304 and 316 stainless steel mesh are classified by the quality of the steel as well as the amount of carbon and chromium it contains. That said, the alloy you choose is only one of the many specifications that go into selecting the right woven wire mesh.
If welding is required, stainless steel that contains less than .03% carbon is ideal.
Having worked with woven wire mesh for over 140 years, W.S. Tyler has the expertise needed to guide towards the perfect mesh specifications.
For more information about which mesh specifications work best for you, refer to our article: How to Pick the Right Woven Wire Mesh (Mesh Count, Wire Diameter, and Micron Rating).
Are you interested in learning more about Stainless Steel Wire Mesh Manufacturer? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!