Stainless steel is a type of steel. Steel refers to those containing carbon (C) below 2%, which is called steel, and more than 2% is iron. Adding chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), silicon (Si), titanium (Ti), molybdenum (Mo) and other alloy elements during the smelting process of the steel improves the performance of the steel and makes the steel corrosion resistant ( no rust) is what we often say about stainless steel.
What exactly are “steel” and “iron”, what are their characteristics, and what is their relationship?How do we usually say 304, 304L, 316, 316L, and what are the differences between them?
Steel: Materials with iron as the main element, carbon content generally below 2%, and other elements.
—— GB / T 13304－91 《Steel Classification》
Iron: A metal element with atomic number 26. Iron materials have strong ferromagnetism, and have good plasticity and interchangeability.
Stainless steel: resistant to air, steam, water and other weakly corrosive media or stainless steel. The commonly used steel types are 304, 304L, 316, and 316L, which are 300 series steels of austenitic stainless steel.