How To Identify 304 Stainless Steel

304 stainless steel is one of the most common stainless steels on the market. It is widely used in food processing, kitchen utensils, medical equipment and other fields with its excellent corrosion resistance and high toughness. In order to ensure product quality and safe use, it is very important to know how to identify 304 stainless steel.

1. Use a magnet test
304 stainless steel belongs to austenitic stainless steel and is usually non-magnetic. Therefore, using a magnet test can help to initially determine whether it is 304 stainless steel. If there is no obvious attraction when the magnet is close to the surface of the material, it may be 304 stainless steel. However, it should be noted that in some cases the processing process will cause 304 stainless steel to have weak magnetism.

2. Chemical composition analysis
Chemical composition analysis using a portable spectrometer or X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF) is the most accurate identification method. The main components of 304 stainless steel are chromium (18-20%) and nickel (8-10.5%). By detecting the ratio of these components, it can be accurately determined whether it is 304 stainless steel.

3. Observe the surface
304 stainless steel has a high surface finish, good gloss and smooth touch. If there is obvious rust or roughness on the surface, it may not be 304 stainless steel.

4. Acid resistance test
304 stainless steel has good corrosion resistance to weak acids. You can use diluted sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid to test the surface of the material to see if there is any corrosion. If there is no obvious change, it may be 304 stainless steel.

5. Price factor
Due to the high production cost of 304 stainless steel, its market price is relatively expensive. If you encounter a stainless steel product with a price significantly lower than the market level, you need to be cautious, as it may not be real 304 stainless steel.

Through the above methods, you can effectively identify 304 stainless steel and ensure that the materials purchased and used meet the expected quality