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Can I use 304 stainless steel as substitute for monel?

It is so difficult to find MONEL for our Rivet in China. So I want to know if SS304 or ss316 can substitute it. Would you please tell me the property of them?

Ronnie Hou
- Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
2004

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First of two simultaneous responses --

Do not substitute.

The corrosion resistance properties are very different. Each material is good in its own applications, but if one of them is good in a particular application then most likely the other one is not very good in the same application.

Monel is much more expensive than 304 or 316, so there is probably a very good practical reason for monel being specified in the first place.

Bill Reynolds [deceased]
consultant metallurgist - Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
We sadly relate the news that Bill passed away on Jan. 29, 2010.
2004

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Second of two simultaneous responses --

Generally no, Ronnie. The marine corrosion resistance of monel is so much better than the stainless steels that I can't imagine any customer of yours agreeing to such a substitution. Think about it- if it were OK to substitute 304 or 316 for monel, why would anyone want monel at all?

Information about Monel 400 and it's varients can be found on Special Metals' website, and information about 304 and 316 can be found many places, a very good one being the Nickel Institute.

My answer would certainly be an emphatic "NO!"

Lee Gearhart
metallurgist - E. Aurora, New York
2004