Stainless steel is main part of most of heating element. 304 stainless steel and 304L stainless steel both belong to austenitic stainless steel.The differences between 304 stainless steel and 304L stainless steel are as followings.
1. The chemical composition
The carbon content of 304L stainless steel is less than 0.03%; while the carbon content of 304 stainless steel is less than 0.08%.
2. Different properties
Under normal conditions, the corrosion resistance of 304L stainless steel is similar to that of 304 stainless stee. But after welding or stress relief, 304L stainless steel has excellent resistance to grain boundary corrosion. 304L stainless steel is a low-carbon stainless steel and is mainly suitable for welding process. During welding, the lower carbon content of 304L stainless steel reduces the carbides precipitated in the heat-affected zone near the weld, which effectively improves the resistance to intergranular corrosion of stainless steel and prolongs the service life of stainless steel welds. 304L stainless steel can effectively reduce welding corrosion.
3. Different hardness
According to the hardness standard, the carbon content of 304 stainless steel is slightly higher, and the hardness of 304 stainless steel is better than that of 304L stainless steel, because the level of carbon content directly affects the hardness of stainless steel.
