So What Are A2 and A4 Stainless Steel Grades
Lets face it! No one is going to get egstatic about a stainless nuts and bolts website. However lets learn the differences in materials between the older terms of USA, SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Designation 304 and 316 stainless. The new terminology ISO 3506 Designation for UK and Europe A2 and A4. A2 being equivilant to 304 and A4 the equivilant of 316. Both A2 and A4 stainless steel are austenitic stainless steels (Austenitic is a term used to describe a type of stainless steel with a face-centered cubic crystal lattice structure that differ in their chemical composition and corrosion resistance). A4 stainless steel is more resistant to corrosion than A2, making it suitable for more demanding environments such as marine engineering
Chemical composition
- A2 – Also known as 304 or 18/8 stainless steel, A2 contains high levels of chromium.
- A4 – Also known as 316, 18/10, or marine grade stainless steel, A4 contains chromium, nickel, and molybdenum. The molybdenum in A4 gives it superior corrosion resistance.
Corrosion resistance
- A2 – A2 stainless steel is resistant to corrosion in most environments, but not as much as A4.
- A4 – A4 stainless steel is highly resistant to corrosion, especially in environments with high chloride concentrations, like saltwater.
Stainless Nuts and Bolts Applications
- A2 A2 stainless steel is common in kitchen equipment, food processing equipment, and automotive parts.
- A4 A4 stainless steel is commonly used in marine applications, the pharmaceutical industry, and chemical processing.
Stainless Nuts And Bolts Identification
You can identify A2 and A4 stainless steel by looking for markings on the head of the fastener. You can also perform a material test to determine the chemistry of the alloy
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