Stainless Steel 316L

Type 316L stainless steel in a molybdenum bearing austenitic. It is more resistant to general corrosion and pitting than conventional nickel chromium stainless steels such as 302-304. It has the following characteristics:

• Higher creep resistance
• Excellent formability.
• Rupture and tensile strength at high temperatures
• Corrosion and pitting resistance

Shapes vary based on the type of industrial application, e.g. wire, ribbon, strip, sheet and foil sizes to be used in cookware, cutlery, hardware, surgical instruments, major appliances, industrial equipment, and building material in skyscrapers and large buildings.

For example, stainless steel cylinders and tanks are manufactured in 316 grade stainless steel, have proved to offer exceptional resistance in acidic and hard water areas.

Market Applications

• Chemical, pharmaceutical industry
• Surgical and medical tools, surgical implants
• Paper industry digesters, evaporators & handling equipment
• Petroleum refining equipment
• Textile industry equipment, textile tubing
• Scrubbers for environmental control
• Duct works, feed-water tubes, sewage water filters
• Heat exchanger tubes, ozone generators

There are many industrial processes that require a higher level of resistance to corrosion than Type 304 can offer and therefore Type 316 is the answer.

What does the L mean?

L-grades have 0.03% carbon maximum. L-grades are resistant to sensitization in short-term exposures or heat treatments. L-grade often have slightly lower (typically 5,000 psi less) minimum strengths than standard stainless steels.

Most standard grades of stainless steel have 0.08% maximum carbon and are suitable for use in non-welded parts and equipment; in case of welded applications these parts are used for light-gauge applications

Chemistry % by Weight

• Fe 62.045-72%
• Cr 16-18%
• Ni 10-14%
• Mo 2-3%
• Mn 2%
• N 0.1%
• S 0.03%
• C 0.03%
• Si 0.75%
• P 0.045%