Letter 24025

Using 304 or 316 Stainless Steel Mirror Polished bathroom fittings?  

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We have a dilemma whether to use 304 or 316 Stainless Steel in manufacturing bathroom fittings with the mirror polished finish.
Is there a chance of tea staining occurrence if used within 5 km form the sea shore?

Thank you,

Zoran Desovski, Design Engineer
- Sydney, NSW, Australia

Being 5 km from the ocean should be sufficient in a bathroom to use 304SS. IF there is any normal problem in the area with mist from the ocean, you would want to use 316SS.

Lee Kremer Stellar Solutions, Inc. McHenry, Illinois

The sea may or may not be a problem, but the quality of the water used in the bathroom is more important.

304 will not resist corrosion as well as 316, but you also have to consider the surface toughness in this application as it will be cleaned under unknowable circumstances--perhaps using acidic and/or abrasive cleaners along with whatever trace chemicals are in the local water.

It is the oxide layer on the surface which actually prevents the SS from rusting, and the oxide layer can be injured.

316 is more resistant to acids than 304. There is a possibility that another steel would be a better choice, check with your steel supplier.

Charles M. Barnard
- Menomonie, Wisconsin