Stainless Steel 303 vs 304 vs 316: How to Choose for CNC Machined Parts
Stainless steel 303, 304, and 316 are all austenitic 300-series alloys, but they solve different manufacturing problems. Type 303 adds sulfur to improve chip breaking and machining productivity. Type 304 is the versatile baseline for corrosion resistance, forming, and welding. Type 316 adds molybdenum to improve resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion, especially where chlorides…
