Many people don't realize there are different grades of stainless steel. They assume it's all the same quality and provides the same level of corrosion resistance. In reality, there are different grades of stainless steel, with the most common being 300 series and 400 series stainless steel grades. Many big exhaust brands use 400 series stainless steel, which is cheaper and makes for a much lower-quality product. These companies won't tell you there's a difference, hoping you won't notice....yet another reason to trust Thermal R & D Performance when you're ready to invest in an upgraded exhaust system for your vehicle.

At Thermal R&D we only use T304 stainless steel for our exhaust systems. We'll explain why in this post and cover what makes T304 stainless steel superior.

T304 Stainless Steel Has A Better Appearance

T304 stainless steel is shinier than 400 series stainless steel because it has a higher concentration of chromium and nickel. For this reason, it's used in a lot of commercial or high-end applications like tools and appliances, as well as kitchen cutlery and accessories. It's also better suited for exhaust systems because these same properties help keep the appearance of the exhaust looking cleaner and brighter.

T304 Stainless Steel Is Resistant To Corrosion and Heat Degradation

The higher chromium and nickel concentration of T304 stainless steel also gives it better resistance to corrosion than 400 series stainless steel. This means it's much less likely to rust due to moisture, either from elements like rain and snow or water vapor that builds up inside the exhaust system. The properties of T304 stainless steel also make it more heat resistant and less likely to degrade or become brittle when exposed to high temperatures.

400 series stainless steel has higher concentrations of carbon and manganese, which give it properties closer to steel and iron, including the propensity to rust. It's also more likely to become brittle or crack when exposed to high temperatures for a prolonged amount of time.

We Offer A Lifetime Warranty On Our T304 Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems

A lot of companies use 400 series stainless steel to reduce costs and pad their profits. But for the above reasons, we choose not to compromise and only use T304 stainless steel for our exhaust systems. It makes for a higher-quality exhaust system and is one of the reasons we offer a lifetime warranty.

Thermal R&D makes exhaust systems for a wide variety of cars and trucks, including popular enthusiast models and smaller niche vehicles other companies won't touch. Our products are manufactured in the USA using the highest quality materials, using processes like mandrel bent tubing and drone-free True Helmholtz Technology.

Check out our videos for more information, or if you have questions, contact us online or call us at (661)723-2872.