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According to Chemical Compositions of the content of chromium and nickel, 304 stainless steel is made up of 18% chromium (Cr) and 8% nickel (Ni), but the main difference is the carbon content.
Chemicals (%) of 304, 304L and 304H
| Grade | C | Mn | Si | P | S | Cr | Mo | Ni | N | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 304 | min. max. |
– 0.08 |
– 2.0 |
– 0.75 |
– 0.045 |
– 0.030 |
18.0 20.0 |
– | 8.0 10.5 |
– 0.10 |
| 304L | min. max. |
– 0.030 |
– 2.0 |
– 0.75 |
– 0.045 |
– 0.030 |
18.0 20.0 |
– | 8.0 12.0 |
– 0.10 |
| 304H | min. max. |
0.04 0.10 |
– 2.0 |
– 0.75 |
-0.045 | – 0.030 |
18.0 20.0 |
– | 8.0 10.5 |
What’s the difference between 304, 304H and 304L?
304L is ultra-low carbon stainless steel, the carbon content is reduced to less than 0.03%, which can avoid intergranular corrosion, and theoretically the effect of stress corrosion resistance is stronger than 304, but the effect is not obvious in practical applications. The purpose of reducing carbon and adding titanium is the same, but the 321 smelting cost of adding titanium is higher, the steel is thicker, and the price is more expensive.
H in 304H refers to high temperature, high carbon content is the guarantee of high temperature strength. GB150 requires austenitic steel to be used at 525 ° C or more, carbon content is not less than 0.04%, carbide is strengthening phase, especially high temperature strength. Better than pure austenite.
Among the three, the highest carbon content is 304H, and the lowest carbon content is 304L, while the 304 stainless steel has a carbon content between the two. The higher the carbon content, the worse the corrosion resistance of stainless steel and the easier it is to rust. The difference in carbon content also causes the price to vary, or the different requirements for that sentence.
The two main variants of grade 304 are the low carbon form 304L and the high carbon form 304H.
304L has a maximum of 0.30% carbon. This reduces the tendency for carbide precipitation when welding. Carbide precipitation can result in intergranular corrosion.
304H has between 0.04 and 0.1% carbon. This gives it greater strength at high temperature but does make it more vulnerable to carbide precipitation when welding.
Since 304 has as having a maximum of 0.08% carbon, there are potential overlaps in the specifications which means that it is not uncommon to find dual specification.
304L clearly has less than 0.08% carbon and can, therefore, be described as 304/304L.
304 may have up to 0.08% carbon so if its carbon content is between 0.04 and 0.08% carbon it can be described as 304/304H.
Mechanical properties of 304, 304L, 304H
