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SS 304 vs SS 316: Chemical Resistance Compared

Of 865 source rows rated for both materials at 20 °C, 831 (96 %) have the same rating. SS 304 is rated better in 1 rows and SS 316 in 33. A row is one chemical at one concentration.

Summary

SS 316 is rated better with
Oxidising agents and halogens (+13 points)
Within 10 points of each other
Mineral acids; Organic acids; Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; Alcohols and glycols; Phenols; Ketones and aldehydes; Esters and ethers; Amines and nitrogen compounds; Aromatic hydrocarbons; Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons; Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils; Halogenated hydrocarbons; Foods and beverages

Points are the difference in the share of rows rated A or B.

The two materials

SS 304

Stainless steel 1.4301 (AISI 304)

Stainless steel 304 (1.4301) resists oxidising acids and most organic chemicals. Chlorides cause pitting and stress-corrosion cracking.

Rated rows: 865. A 88 %, B 5 %, C 2 %, D 5 %

All chemicals for SS 304

SS 316

Stainless steel 1.4401 (AISI 316)

Stainless steel 316 (1.4401) contains molybdenum, which improves resistance to chlorides over 304. Hydrochloric acid and other halide acids still cause pitting.

Rated rows: 868. A 89 %, B 4 %, C 2 %, D 4 %

All chemicals for SS 316

Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical class

SS 304, SS 316: Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical classMineral acids: SS 304 63 %, SS 316 65 %. Organic acids: SS 304 96 %, SS 316 98 %. Alkalis: SS 304 100 %, SS 316 100 %. Salts and salt solutions: SS 304 93 %, SS 316 93 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: SS 304 66 %, SS 316 79 %. Alcohols and glycols: SS 304 100 %, SS 316 100 %. Phenols: SS 304 100 %, SS 316 100 %. Ketones and aldehydes: SS 304 100 %, SS 316 100 %. Esters and ethers: SS 304 100 %, SS 316 100 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: SS 304 95 %, SS 316 95 %. Aromatic hydrocarbons: SS 304 100 %, SS 316 100 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: SS 304 100 %, SS 316 100 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: SS 304 100 %, SS 316 100 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: SS 304 88 %, SS 316 88 %. Foods and beverages: SS 304 100 %, SS 316 100 %.Mineral acidsMineral acids, SS 304: 63 % (60)63 %Mineral acids, SS 316: 65 % (60)65 %Organic acidsOrganic acids, SS 304: 96 % (53)96 %Organic acids, SS 316: 98 % (55)98 %AlkalisAlkalis, SS 304: 100 % (22)100 %Alkalis, SS 316: 100 % (22)100 %Salts and salt solutionsSalts and salt solutions, SS 304: 93 % (175)93 %Salts and salt solutions, SS 316: 93 % (175)93 %Oxidising agents and halogensOxidising agents and halogens, SS 304: 66 % (56)66 %Oxidising agents and halogens, SS 316: 79 % (57)79 %Alcohols and glycolsAlcohols and glycols, SS 304: 100 % (58)100 %Alcohols and glycols, SS 316: 100 % (58)100 %PhenolsPhenols, SS 304: 100 % (11)100 %Phenols, SS 316: 100 % (11)100 %Ketones and aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, SS 304: 100 % (33)100 %Ketones and aldehydes, SS 316: 100 % (33)100 %Esters and ethersEsters and ethers, SS 304: 100 % (69)100 %Esters and ethers, SS 316: 100 % (69)100 %Amines and nitrogen compoundsAmines and nitrogen compounds, SS 304: 95 % (38)95 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, SS 316: 95 % (38)95 %Aromatic hydrocarbonsAromatic hydrocarbons, SS 304: 100 % (14)100 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, SS 316: 100 % (14)100 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbonsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, SS 304: 100 % (76)100 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, SS 316: 100 % (76)100 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oilsVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, SS 304: 100 % (48)100 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, SS 316: 100 % (48)100 %Halogenated hydrocarbonsHalogenated hydrocarbons, SS 304: 88 % (24)88 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, SS 316: 88 % (24)88 %Foods and beveragesFoods and beverages, SS 304: 100 % (46)100 %Foods and beverages, SS 316: 100 % (46)100 %
SS 304SS 316
Rating at 20 °C. Only classes with at least 8 rated rows for both materials are shown.

How often the two ratings agree

SS 304, SS 316: How often the two ratings agreeSS 304 A, SS 316 A: 758; SS 304 B, SS 316 A: 12; SS 304 B, SS 316 B: 27; SS 304 B, SS 316 C: 1; SS 304 C, SS 316 B: 11; SS 304 C, SS 316 C: 9; SS 304 D, SS 316 B: 1; SS 304 D, SS 316 C: 9; SS 304 D, SS 316 D: 37.SS 316ABCDSS 304ASS 304 A, SS 316 A: 758758SS 304 A, SS 316 B: 00SS 304 A, SS 316 C: 00SS 304 A, SS 316 D: 00BSS 304 B, SS 316 A: 1212SS 304 B, SS 316 B: 2727SS 304 B, SS 316 C: 11SS 304 B, SS 316 D: 00CSS 304 C, SS 316 A: 00SS 304 C, SS 316 B: 1111SS 304 C, SS 316 C: 99SS 304 C, SS 316 D: 00DSS 304 D, SS 316 A: 00SS 304 D, SS 316 B: 11SS 304 D, SS 316 C: 99SS 304 D, SS 316 D: 3737
Number of source rows for each pair of ratings at 20 °C. Outlined cells are rows where both materials have the same rating.

Chemical classes were assigned by this site, not by the source. Mixtures and trade products without a clear class are not counted.

By chemical class

Chemical classSS 304: rated A or BSS 316: rated A or B
Mineral acids63 % (60 rows)65 % (60 rows)
Organic acids96 % (53 rows)98 % (55 rows)
Alkalis100 % (22 rows)100 % (22 rows)
Salts and salt solutions93 % (175 rows)93 % (175 rows)
Oxidising agents and halogens66 % (56 rows)79 % (57 rows)
Alcohols and glycols100 % (58 rows)100 % (58 rows)
Phenols100 % (11 rows)100 % (11 rows)
Ketones and aldehydes100 % (33 rows)100 % (33 rows)
Esters and ethers100 % (69 rows)100 % (69 rows)
Amines and nitrogen compounds95 % (38 rows)95 % (38 rows)
Aromatic hydrocarbons100 % (14 rows)100 % (14 rows)
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons100 % (76 rows)100 % (76 rows)
Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils100 % (48 rows)100 % (48 rows)
Halogenated hydrocarbons88 % (24 rows)88 % (24 rows)
Foods and beverages100 % (46 rows)100 % (46 rows)

Where the ratings differ most

Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 1 in total.

ChemicalConcentrationSS 304SS 316
Sulfuric Acid20 %DB

Rating scale

A rating marked * is an estimate in the source, not a test result. An estimate is given as one value without a temperature.

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About this data

The ratings come from the chemical resistance list published by Bürkle GmbH, which compiled them from raw-material manufacturers’ data. They describe laboratory tests on the raw material at 20 °C and 50 °C.

A finished part also sees pressure, mechanical stress, welds and mixtures that a laboratory test does not. Treat the rating as a first filter and test under your own conditions before relying on it.