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Stainless steel 316 vs. 304 testing?

May 22, 2008

hello.....

my company recently did a stainless steel fabrication job from 316 st/st, our customer has told us the base plates are rusting? so we are going to replace them with certified 316 st/st from a laser cutting supplier, the first plates are said to be 316 but the origional company can't provide us with test cert's...
is there any way for us to test for ourselves weather the originals are 316 or 304?

Matt Smith
sheet metal fabricator - York, England

Hi, Matt

To see a number of previous inquiries and responses on this topic, which will offer ideas on everything from instant full analysis with a very expensive alloy sorter / scrap sorter [on eBay or Amazon] X-ray fluorescence machine, down to chemical spot tests, please use this search term on google:

site:www.finishing.com 316 vs. 304

Be aware, however, that the rusting may be due to lack of proper passivation rather than lack of proper grade of stainless. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
May , 2008

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