Letter 40586

Testing for 304 vs. 316 Stainless Steel?  

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Hi there, I once saw an engineer personnel use a small machine to determine the Moly in it to evaluate if its a 304 or 316 material. I was wondering if anyone know the name of it and where could I find one in Canada. Thanks for you help. :)

Bob Lum
Construction Company - Toronto, Ontario

Letters 6060 and 33549 don't name a specific machine, but do describe chemical tests and a simple spark test, Bob.

Ted Mooney, P.E.  finishing.com Brick, New Jersey

In previous employment we used a yellow liquid (the bottle was covered in french writing). By removing the surface oxide using emery cloth and pouring a small amount of the liquid on this area it turns brown if there is molybdenum present. If there is no molybdenum then it remains yellow. So if it turns brown it is 316 if it stays yellow it's 304.

Neil Tokell
- Notts, England

I would suggest portable XRF.

Terry Tomt
- Auburn, WA, USA

I am Abbas from Malaysia
I want to know how to differenciate SS304 and SS316

I saw some people test the both by liquid and a battery

A drop of liquid in the stainless steel surface and keep the one side of the battery in the liquid and other on the Stainless steel itself
if the liquid drop turns red then it is SS316 otherwise SS304
if anyone knows abt this plz let me know the following


1) What is that liquid
2) Composion of that liquid
3) How to get that liquid
4) what is the name of the test

I will be more thankful if anyone let me know about this.

Syed Abbas
Student - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

I want to know what is the easiest way to find out difference between 304 grade and 316 grade? Like any simple test, b'coz both look alike, and workers are not able to figure out which is 304 and 316?

Peter Jacob
fabrication shop engineer - Dubai, U.A.E.

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