Do you know much about stainless steel?
Do you know the different numbers mean (18/8, 18/10, 18/0, etc)?
First of all, the ‘grade’ of the stainless steel refers to its quality, durability and also temperature resistance. Next, the ‘numbers’ (18/8, 18/10, etc.) refers to the composition of the stainless steel and also refer to the amount of chromium and nickel in the product.
“SS” is short for “Stainless Steel”, “SS304” is short for “Stainless Steel 304”. SUS304 means 304 stainless steel under Japanese standard.
So, what do the ‘numbers’ mean?
The first number,18, refers to the amount of chromium present and the second number refer to the amount of nickel present.
Thus, ‘18/8’ is probably the most commonly used stainless steel and it contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel. This steel is also known as '304' (in the American AISI grade designation system) or 1.4301 in the European BS EN 10088 standard.
304 stainless steel is the most common form of stainless steel which widely used around the world. This is largely due to its excellent corrosion resistance and value. It contains between 16 and 24% chromium and up to 35% nickel, as well as small amounts of carbon and manganese. The most common form of 304 stainless steel is 18-8, or 18/8, stainless steel, which contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel.
304 can withstand corrosion from most oxidizing acids (rust). That durability makes 304 easy to sanitize, and therefore it is an ideal product for kitchen and food applications. It is also common in buildings, décor, and also site furnishings.
