304 vs. 316 stainless steel wire mesh: which one should I use?

Stainless steel wire mesh is a versatile material that provides the durability that countless industries rely on. Stainless steel itself comes in dozens of classifications and sizes, sometimes making it difficult for lab technicians and floor engineers to determine the best solution. 

Of all the stainless steel classifications, Type 304 and Type 316 are the most popular. So what's the difference? 

 

In this article, we'll determine what stainless steel is, what a low-carbon alloy is, how 304 and 316 stainless steel mesh compare, and which alloy you should use. 

What is stainless steel alloy?

Stainless steel has become one of the most widely used materials in the world. There are centuries of research behind its manufacturing process.

Now, no matter what type of steel you use, it is most likely classified by the quality of the alloy. That is, a stainless steel alloy must contain a certain level of carbon and chromium in order to be considered stainless steel.

From this perspective, this article will compare 304 stainless steel to 316 stainless steel.

 

Low Carbon Alloy Steels

As mentioned above, most steels are classified by the carbon content they contain. When the carbon content of an alloy is less than 0.03%, it is classified as a low carbon steel or L grade. 

Having such a limited amount of carbon in an alloy reduces the amount of carbide precipitation. This improves the corrosion resistance of the alloy.

This is particularly beneficial for applications where stainless steel wire mesh is exposed to moisture. In other words, the more carbon present in the alloy, the more likely it is to rust and corrode when water is present. 

 

What's the difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel?

The main differences between 304 and 316 stainless steel wire mesh are 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 contains more nickel and molybdenum, it has a higher quality than 304. These additional benefits make it more resistant to corrosive environments, more stable and durable, and more resistant to temperature extremes. 

That said, there is little visual difference between these two alloys. They also have the same ability to be welded and customized in the manufacturing process.

In terms of cost, 316 stainless steel wire mesh is the most expensive of the two. But those margins are not as significant. 

To put this in perspective, if a piece of 304 stainless steel mesh costs $1.00 per square foot, then 316 stainless steel mesh costs about $1.15 per square foot.

This remains the same whether 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 will be subjected to harsh conditions that introduce corrosive materials, then 316 should be used.

This is because the molybdenum added to 316 stainless steel wire mesh allows it to withstand more corrosive applications.

With this, if you are only using it to screen non-corrosive materials, such as food particles or aggregates, then 304 stainless steel mesh will do the job. 

When welding is required in the manufacturing process, use low carbon steel, either 304 or 316. This is because carbon naturally absorbs heat and can impede any type of welding or heat treatment process.

Therefore, the higher the carbon content of the alloy, the more difficult it is to fabricate.