The Difference Between 304 Security Mesh and 316 Marine Grade Security Mesh

304 Security Mesh

Class 304 is very versatile and is widely used in a variety of outdoor applications, including electrical enclosures, automotive molding and trim, wheel covers, kitchen appliances, hose clamps, exhaust manifolds, storage tanks and piping.

Its combination of 18% chromium and 8% nickel also gives it a good resistance to medium-acid or corrosive solutions, making it suitable for non-rigid applications such as kitchens and food environments. It is a product that is easy to manufacture, clean, and has a variety of finishes and appearances.

However, Class 304 is still susceptible to corrosion by chloride solutions in saline environments. At this position, chloride ions can create a localized corrosion zone known as "pitting" that can diffuse under the chromium barrier of stainless steel and cause further corrosion. Evidence of this corrosion can be seen in the discoloration that appears on its surface, known as "tea staining."

316 Marine Grade Security Mesh

316 Marine grade security mesh is similarly to grade 304, with one notable exception. In addition to chromium and nickel, Marine Grade 316 contains 2% to 3% molybdenum, a hard silver-white metal element used to toughen steel and improve the corrosion resistance of nickel alloys.

The addition of this ingredient allows Marine 316 to have excellent corrosion resistance to other chrome-nickel steels when exposed to chemically corrosive substances such as seawater and brine solutions. Like Class 304, it is also durable, easy to manufacture, clean, solder and surface treated, but unlike Class 304, it provides better salt spray and brine protection.

316 Marine grade security mesh is also more resistant to solutions of sulfuric acid, chloride, bromide, iodide and fatty acids at elevated temperatures and is commonly used in industrial applications involving chemical processing. Due to its non-reactive nature, it is also used in the manufacture of medical surgical instruments and in the manufacture of drugs that must avoid excessive metal contamination.