18-8 Vs. 304 Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is an alloy that consists of chromium, nickel and other elements added to iron. The specific alloy mixture and properties determine its group or grade.
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Identification
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Stainless steel is a steel alloy that is resistant to corrosion. It is a hard material, and some grades are difficult to weld and machine.
304
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The most commonly used group of stainless steel is 304, which comes in a wide variety of finishes and forms. It is also popular because it is the most weldable form of stainless steel. Its composition contains 18 to 20 percent copper and 8 to 10.5 percent nickel.
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18-8
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The stainless steel designation 18-8 refers to the amount of chromium and nickel added to the iron. It has 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel added; this is the same proportion as 304. As a result, 18-8 stainless steel is simply another name for 304, or any stainless steel that has the 18-8 percent mixture of chromium and nickel.
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References
- Photo Credit Stainless Steel Sink image by Hedgehog from Fotolia.com
