As a pizza oven manufacturer, we always uphold the concept of excellence when choosing materials for our pizza ovens, and strive to bring consumers the best product experience. Among many materials, stainless steel stands out with its unique performance advantages and has become an indispensable key element in our pizza oven manufacturing.

As we all know, many different grades of stainless steel are on the market. Commonly used are 201, 304, and 430. these three stainless steels show significant differences in chemical composition, physical properties, and application scenarios. Next, we will explore the differences between these three types of stainless steel.

1. Introduction to Stainless Steel

201 Stainless Steel contains approximately 16-18% chromium, 3.5-5.5% nickel, and 5.5-7.5% manganese. 201 SS has lower corrosion resistance but is more affordable and easier to work with due to its lower nickel content.

304 Stainless Steel is one of the most commonly used grades due to its versatility and excellent corrosion resistance. It contains 18-20% chromium and 8-10% nickel, making it highly resistant to rust and stains. It is also non-magnetic, making it ideal for food processing equipment and medical devices.

The composition of 430 stainless steel is mainly composed of iron, chromium, carbon, silicon, manganese, phosphorus and sulfur, among which chromium is the main alloying element, with chromium content ranging from 16.00% to 19.00%, which gives stainless steel good corrosion resistance.

2. Strengths and Weaknesses of Each Grade

201 Stainless Steel

Strengths:

-Low price: suitable for some occasions that do not require high material performance.

-High density, no bubbles, pinholes and other characteristics after polishing, can be used to make decorative pipes, industrial pipes and other products.

-Good formability: it can be quickly formed into different shapes.

-Easy to weld: 201 stainless steel can be welded using all standard fusion welding techniques.

Weaknesses:

-Low corrosion resistance: easy to rust, especially in humid or salt water environment.

-Hardness, toughness is not as good as 304 stainless steel, easy to have scratches during processing.

304 Stainless Steel

Strengths:

-High temperature resistance: can maintain excellent stability even at extreme temperatures up to 800°C.

-Excellent corrosion resistance: 304 stainless steel contains a high content of chromium, which forms a protective oxide layer on the surface when exposed to oxygen. This oxide layer acts as a barrier to prevent further corrosion and ensures the longevity of the material.

-Good formability: Due to its low carbon content (0.08%), 304 Stainless Steel can be easily machined into various shapes or manufactured into different products.

-High weldability: 304 Stainless Steel can be welded using a variety of common welding methods and usually achieves good weld results.

Weaknesses:

-Prone to corrosion in chloride-rich environments.

430 Stainless Steel

Strengths:

-Better corrosion resistance: lower chromium content, good oxidation resistance and corrosion resistance.

-Good formability: can be quickly formed into different shapes.

-Magnetic, suitable for occasions that require magnetic tools to pick up.

-Weldability: good heat treatment performance and weldability, obvious processing advantages.

Weaknesses:

-Limited corrosion resistance: 430 stainless steel does not contain nickel and is susceptible to corrosion by acids and chlorides.

-Poor high temperature resistance: The high temperature strength of 430 stainless steel is lower than that of other grades, limiting its use in high temperature applications.

3. The Application of Each Grade

201 stainless steel

It is mainly used for decorative pipes, industrial pipes, building materials and other occasions that do not require high corrosion resistance and aesthetics. It can also be used to make some low-end kitchenware accessories.

304 stainless steel

It is widely used in food production, medical, chemical equipment, nuclear energy and other fields due to its excellent corrosion resistance and processability. It is also commonly used to make kitchen utensils, tableware, insulated cups and other appliances that require direct contact with food. In building field, it can be used to make door and window accessories, handrails, structural shapes and so on.

430 stainless steel

It is mainly used for the production of tableware, kitchenware and other daily necessities, because of its relatively low cost and certain corrosion resistance. It can also be used to make some equipment or accessories with magnetic requirements, such as magnetic tool holders and so on. In building field, it can be used to make some decorative parts or accessories of non-load-bearing structure.

Our QQ Portable Pizza Oven can be customized according to your needs. Contact us for the most cost-effective and personalized service.