What is Grade 316 Stainless Steel?

Grade 316 stainless steel is a highly versatile material. It has a unique combination of chemical, physical, and mechanical properties that make it an ideal choice for many applications. In this post, we’ll discuss the uses, chemical and physical properties, mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, heat resistance, heat treatment procedures, welding techniques, and machining processes associated with grade 316 stainless steel.

SS 316 chemical composition

Grade 316 stainless steel contains 16-18% chromium and 11-14% nickel content which provides better corrosion resistance than conventional 304-grade stainless steel. It also has molybdenum content which gives it greater pitting and crevice corrosion resistance compared to austenitic grades of stainless steel. Additionally, it contains small amounts of manganese which helps to improve formability and weldability.

GradeCMnSiPSCrMoNiN
316Min016.02.0010.0
Max0.082.00.750.0450.0318.03.0014.00.10
316LMin16.02.0010.0
Max0.032.00.750.0450.0318.03.0014.00.10
316HMin0.040.04016.02.0010.0
max0.100.100.750.0450.0318.03.0014.0

Physical properties of 316 stainless steel

Grade 316 stainless steel has a high melting point at 1425°C (2597°F) making it one of the most thermally stable materials available on the market today. It also possesses good electrical conductivity which makes it suitable for use in electrical devices or components where current needs to be conducted efficiently through the material without causing any losses or damage due to excessive heating or arcing.  The material also exhibits excellent ductility allowing for easy forming when heated up properly during fabrication processes such as stamping or drawing operations.  In addition to these features, it has a relatively low thermal expansion coefficient making it suitable for use in applications where temperature fluctuations are present such as those found in aerospace or industrial environments where extreme temperatures may occur during different operational scenarios or conditions.

Mechanical Properties grade 316 stainless steel

When the solution is annealed or cold worked, depending on the procedure used during fabrication operations, grade 316 stainless steel offers higher strength when compared to other ferritic grades of stainless steel while still keeping good ductility and toughness values at room temperature. When tested in accordance with the ASTM A370 standard for tensile testing, the material can sustain loads up to 900MPa, making it appropriate for use in structural members exposed to tension loads, such as beams, columns, frames, etc. It is suitable for use in applications requiring good yield strengths like fasteners, bolts, screws, etc. because its yield strength ranges between 185-205MPa depending on how much cold work was done on the material during fabrication operations as well as its annealed state before being tested in accordance with ASTM A370 standards. Finally, because ferritic grades tend not to exhibit brittle behaviors even at higher hardness, they are suitable for use in wear-resistant parts like gears, shafts, cams, rollers, etc. where higher hardness values are required than what can be achieved by austenitic grades of stainless steel without sacrificing too much ductility/toughness values. Their hardness values range between 200HBW and 300HBS depending on how much cold work was performed during fabrication operations.

GradeTensile Str (MPa) minYield Str 0.2% Proof (MPa) minElong (% in 50 mm) minHardness
Rockwell B (HR B) maxBrinell (HB) max
3165152054095217
316L4851704095217
316H5152054095217

Equivalent of 316 stainless steel

EUENUSA–GermanyDIN, WNrJapanJISFranceAFTEREnglandBSItalyUNIChinaGBSwedenSSCzechiaCSNAustriaNORMRussiaGOST
X5CrNiMo17-12-2 (1.4401)
316

X5CrNiMo17-12-2

SUS316

Z6CND17-11Z7CND17-11-02Z7CND17-12-02

316S31

X5CrNiMo17-12

0Cr17Ni12Mo2

2347

17346

Uses of 316 stainless steel

The food processing industry frequently uses grade 316 stainless steel because of its excellent hygienic standards and high corrosion resistance. Additionally, it is frequently used in marine and medical applications where corrosion resistance is crucial. Numerous other industries, including construction, paper manufacturing, oil and gas exploration, aerospace engineering, etc., can also use this kind of stainless steel.

Corrosion Resistance

Excellent in a wide range of atmospheric conditions and many corrosive media; usually stronger than 304. In warm chloride environments, pitting and crevice corrosion can happen, and stress corrosion cracking can happen above about 60 °C. Considered resistant to potable water with up to about 1000 mg/L of chlorides at room temperature. At 60 °C, the amount of chlorides in the water drops to about 500 mg/L.

Most people think of 316 as the standard “marine grade stainless steel,” but it doesn’t stand up well to warm seawater. In many marine environments, the surface of 316 does corrode, which usually shows up as a brown stain. This is most likely to happen in cracks and on rough surfaces.

Heat Resistance

Good resistance to oxidation when used intermittently up to 870 °C and continuously up to 925 °C. If water corrosion resistance is important, you shouldn’t use 316 continuously in the range of 425-860 °C. Grade 316L is less likely to form carbides and can be used in the temperatures listed above. At temperatures above 500 °C, grade 316H is sometimes used for structural and pressure-containing applications because it is stronger at those temperatures.

Heat Treatment

Solution Treatment (Annealing): Heat to 1010–1120 °C and cool quickly. These grades can’t be made harder by heating them.

Conclusion:

Grade 316 stainless steel is a very versatile material with good mechanical properties and better corrosion resistance than other steels on the market today. It has a wide range of uses, from medical equipment to construction projects where durability and longevity are important. This is because grade 316 SS is easy to shape and weld, and it is also strong, tough, and hard. These qualities make grade 316 SS an ideal choice for many different industries that need reliable materials that can withstand high temperatures, loads, vibrations, and other stresses. Always check with your local metal supplier before buying any metal products, so you can get technical advice about what you need for your specific application. Thank you!

Read More :

What are the Four Types of Steel? : Which Four Steel Types Exist? Do you know the four groups into which steel is frequently categorized? Steel is graded as a means of classification.

304 vs. 316 Stainless Steel: There are two types of stainless steel, 304 and 316, which are the most common types in the market today. There are a few different types of stainless steel, but the two most common are 304 and 316. Both are strong and durable, but they have some key differences.