Food safety is so important that every country has agencies to ensure that food manufacturers in the U.S. monitor and maintain high levels of safety and hygiene to prevent product contamination. In short, the food production and manufacturing industry relies on qualities of food grade stainless steel to ensure food safety and hygiene standards are met.
SS304 / SUS304 / AISI 304 and SS316 / SUS316 / AISI 316 are two most popular material as food grade stainless steel.
Specifically, in the food industry, stainless steel is exposed to heat, water, and harsh cleaning chemicals. Through those exposures, food grade stainless steel must remain durable, rust/corrosion free, and be easy to sanitize. Further, the pitting resistance means it maintains a surface that's easy to clean and maintain. Finally, the heat resistance of the metal means it can be exposed to extreme temperatures without risking damage. For those reasons, many food makers use stainless steel metal trays in their food-making processes.
Here are main difference between ss304 and ss316 as food grade:
1. The material itself
The main difference between 304 vs 316 stainless steel is that 304 does not contain molybdenum, while 316 contains 2-3% molybdenum and less chromium and more nickel. The addition of molybdenum provides pitting resistance in phosphoric acid, acetic acid and dilute chloride solutions and provides corrosion resistance in sulfurous acid. AISI 304 has a 18% Cr and 8% Ni and therefore known as 18/8 stainless steel, while AISI 316 stainless steel has a 16% Chromium and 10% Nickel.
2. Resisting specific chemicals and production environments.
Salt is known for being exceptionally corrosive to metal compounds. While grade 304 stainless steel is resistant to most corrosives, prolonged exposure to salt can still eat away at it. So, grade 304 stainless wouldn't be suitable for any process requiring repeated, prolonged exposure to salt or saltwater.
Grade 316 stainless, on the other hand, is much more resistant to salt exposure than grade 304. This makes grade 316 stainless steel preferable for food makers that use salt or saltwater in their products, such as lemon or tomato juice.
3. Different price
SS304 is a good, lower-cost alternative for food makers that need a moderately resistant, food grade steel sheet for their manufacturing process. SS316 is more expensive and used more in medical industry. In all, the cost of 316 is about 1.5 times the cost of 304.
So if you need a custom metal form for your food production process, contact Starway MFG for a food grade metal tray or basket quote today!