What is the difference between 201 and 304 stainless steel? How to choose the right stainless steel material, let me help you to answer!

304 stainless steel has strong corrosion resistance: the essential difference between 201 and 304 stainless steel is mainly reflected in the different elements contained in the two. The chromium and nickel content of 304 stainless steel far exceeds that of 201 stainless steel, and the corrosion resistance and stamping performance of 304 stainless steel are far better than 201, and 304 stainless steel is generally used in complex environments and requires strong corrosion resistance. It is used in relatively dry environments or places where stainless steel is not required.

201 stainless steel is easy to rust: 201 stainless steel contains high manganese, while the nickel content is very low, the surface is very bright with dark and bright, and the high manganese content is easy to rust.

304 stainless steel is 1.6 times more expensive than 201: 304 stainless steel contains 18 chromium and 8 nickel, while 201 stainless steel has only 12 chromium and less than 1 nickel. The rust prevention and cost of stainless steel are related to chromium and nickel, so the price of high-quality 304 stainless steel is much higher than that of 201.

304 is more cost-effective than 201: Although the price of 304 stainless steel is much higher than that of 201, in the process of use, some customers have reported that the service life of products made of 201 is 2 years, while the service life of products made of 304 is 5.5 In 2018, the price of 304 is 1.6 times more expensive than that of 201, but the service life of a single 304 is 2.75 times longer than that of 201. Naturally, you will understand which is more cost-effective.

The recycling value of 304 stainless steel is high: the recycling discount of completely discarded 304 stainless steel is generally 63% of the original price, while the recycling price of discarded 201 stainless steel is generally only 35% of the original price, because the available active ingredients of 201 stainless steel are too few.