304 vs 316 Stainless Steel
The definitive comparison for PMI inspectors and material engineers.
| Property | 304 | 316 |
|---|---|---|
| ---------- | ----- | ----- |
| Cr | ~18% | ~16–18% |
| Ni | ~8% | ~10–14% |
| Mo | — | ~2–3% |
| Chloride resistance | Good | Excellent |
316's molybdenum content is the key differentiator. Specelex XRF measures Mo in seconds to confirm 316 vs 304 in PMI workflows.