Stainless steel 201 304 & 430

Stainless Steel Grade	Main Components	Characteristics	Advantages and Disadvantages	Main Applications
201	Cr17Mn6Ni5	High strength, good formability	Low price, poor corrosion resistance, high manganese content	Some low-end kitchenware, decorative parts
304	Cr18Ni9	Excellent corrosion resistance, high-temperature resistance, good plasticity	High-price, food-grade safety	Kitchen sinks, cabinets, refrigerator shells, tableware, etc.
430	Cr17	Magnetic, good oxidation resistance	Cheap price, not as corrosion resistant as 304 stainless steel	Kitchen appliance shells, cabinet door panels, etc.

How to choose the right stainless steel

When choosing stainless steel, you need to comprehensively consider the following factors according to the actual application environment and requirements:

Corrosion resistance: If you need to resist acid, alkali, and other corrosion, you can choose 304 stainless steel.

Cost: If the budget is limited, you can choose 201 or 430 stainless steel.

Appearance: 304 stainless steel has a good gloss and a more beautiful appearance.

Processing performance: 304 stainless steel has the best processing performance.

Summary

304 stainless steel is the most commonly used material in the kitchen. It has excellent corrosion resistance and high-temperature resistance and is suitable for various kitchen supplies.

201 stainless steel is relatively low in price but has poor corrosion resistance, which is suitable for products with low-performance requirements.

430 stainless steel is cheap and suitable for products with low appearance requirements and high corrosion resistance.

Suggestions:

For items that directly contact food, such as kitchen sinks and tableware, it is recommended to choose 304 stainless steel to ensure food safety.

For items that do not require high corrosion resistance, such as cabinets and refrigerator shells, 430 stainless steel can be selected to reduce costs.