In brewery equipment, the common stainless steel materials are 304 and 316. How should we choose? They differ in some respects, mainly including the following:
 
Alloy composition: 304 stainless steel contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel, while 316 stainless steel contains 16%-18% chromium, 10%-14% nickel and 2%-3% molybdenum. Therefore, 316 stainless steel is more corrosion resistant in terms of alloy composition.
 
Corrosion resistance: Since 316 stainless steel contains molybdenum, it is more corrosion resistant than 304 stainless steel. In environments such as breweries where there is frequent contact with liquids containing acidic substances, 316 stainless steel is usually the more preferred choice.
 
Price: Since 316 stainless steel contains more alloying elements, its price is usually higher than that of 304 stainless steel. Therefore, in the case of limited budget, it may be more economical to choose 304 stainless steel.
 
Strength: While both 304 and 316 stainless steel have good strength and corrosion resistance, 316 stainless steel is generally slightly better than 304 stainless steel.
 
Application range: Both 304 and 316 stainless steel are widely used in brewery equipment, including fermentation tanks, storage tanks, boiling pots, pipelines, etc. Generally speaking, 316 stainless steel is more inclined to choose 316 stainless steel for parts that are more exposed to acidic substances, such as fermentation tanks and pickling equipment. For some general-purpose equipment, 304 stainless steel is sufficient to meet the requirements.
 
Both 304 and 316 stainless steel are premium materials and are widely used in food processing industries such as breweries. Which material to choose depends on the specific application, budget and corrosion resistance requirements. No matter what kind of stainless steel you choose, you need to ensure that it meets the relevant hygienic standards and perform proper maintenance and maintenance to ensure the performance and quality of the equipment.
 
Warmly welcome to contact Tiantai to customize your brewery equipment.
 
Edited by Cassie
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