Type 430 stainless steel is made of 17% chromium and 0.12% carbon, whereas type 304 stainless steel contains 18% chromium and 0.08% carbon. Low-carbon, high-chromium 430 is one of the more common ferritic stainless steels, has good corrosion resistance, is also known as 18/0 or 18-0, is one of the 400-series of stainless steels. Type 430 is a ferritic stainless steel that has corrosion resistance approaching that of stainless steels 304/304L. Grade 430 is ferritic in grade, and is magnetic under all conditions, although grade 304 is not ferromagnetic.

Grade 304 contains nickel, which helps provide better corrosion resistance than grade 430. Grade 304 is mostly used for applications that require corrosion-resistant characteristics. Type 304 is easily formed and manufactured, and has a high resistance to corrosion.

Grade 304 has good draw performance when stamped because grade 304 has nickel in it is composition. The presence of nickel makes the 304 stronger against corrosion; this also makes 304 a lot easier to press and to draw.

Stronger Than Most Materials Premium-grade 304 stainless steel is used for appliances and equipment that will have continuous water contact, due to its corrosion resistance. Used in the majority of appliances, 430-grade stainless steel offers excellent corrosion resistance compared with other steel finishes.

Insider tip A 304-grade stainless steel grill is better resistant to corrosion and heat than 430-grade stainless steel. Type 304 withstands most oxidizing acids, and it resists all common corrosion. Stainless steel Classification Of alloy types, Type 304 is a base-grade, chromium-nickel, austenitic stainless steel that has been found to work well in a wide variety of applications.

The most common and costly steel type is type 304, however, the most widely used and cheapest grade is Type 430. It is an inexpensive and alternate approach to type 304. The basic steel alloy is pricier to machine and sand. So, The alloy 430 is somewhat harder to shape, The alloy 304 is easier to shape and welded. Since the 430 does not have any nickel or molybdenum, it is cheaper than either 300 series.

For containers, grade 316 is best, but 430 is an excellent alternative, because it is low-cost as well as being safe for food. Grade 430 is a straight-chrome, ferritic, unhardened grade that combines good corrosion-resistance and shapeability characteristics with beneficial mechanical properties. Grade 430 is recommended for applications that need high-temperature performance.

Nickel increases the overall cost of grade 304, while grade 430 is relatively cheaper. The lack of nickel in grade 430s chemical composition would result in lower shapeability.

The biggest difference in grades is that Molybdenum is added in type 316 for increased corrosion resistance and pitting. While chromiums high-quality mechanical properties in both these metals makes products more resistant to corrosion, the combination of other metals with chromium results in different amounts of protection. Ferritic metals such as 430 are a bit less corrosion resistant, showing wear over time.