300 Series stainless steel are classified as austenitic, and are hardenable only by cold working methods. These grades of stainless Steel have chromium (approx. 18 to 30%) and nickel (approx. 6 to 20%) as their major alloying additions.

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Type 304  is the most widely used alloy of all stainless steels as it resist corrosion and maintain their strength at high temperatures. 304 is often used as it is the most cost-effective option, though 321 and 316 especially, offer better corrosion resistance. 

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In the case of 304L and 316L, carbon has been taken out. The “L” stands for “low carbon.” Lower carbon alloys are less susceptible to carbide precipitation in the Heat Affected Zone (HAZ) than their standard type counterparts.