Stainless Steels are selected for their corrosion resistance characteristics. Many different grades of stainless are used in wire cloth. T304 is the most common, but others are used in specific applications to take advantage of each grade's unique properties. Chrone-Nickle Non-Hardening (Austentic) - Type Description: 304 A general-purpose stainless steel most commonly used in wire cloth. Often referred to as 18-8 (18 % chronium, 8 % Nickle). This is a low carbon variation of type 302. It offers excellent resistance toa wide range of corrosives and atmospheric exposure. When a grade of stainless steel is not specified, it is assumed Type 304 is acceptable. Chrone-Nickle Non-Hardening (Austentic) - Type Description: 304 Generally the same as T-304, except it has an extra low carbon content. (3% Max). This greatly reduces the chances of carbide precipitation forming at the welds. This low carbide grade is generally preferred for the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Chrone-Nickle Non-Hardening (Austentic) - Type Description: 309 L A high temperature stainless steel used in temperatures up to 1700 F. Contains 25% chronium and 12% nickel. Resists scaling. Better corrosive resistance than T-304.