316L, the low carbon version of 316 stainless steel, is immune to grain boundary carbide precipitation (sensitisation). This makes it suited to use in heavy gauge (over about 6mm) welded components.
| Chemical Composition | |
| Chemical Element | % Present |
C | 0.0 - 0.03 |
Cr | 16.50 - 18.50 |
Mo | 2.00 - 2.50 |
Si | 0.0 - 1.00 |
P | 0.0 - 0.05 |
S | 0.0 - 0.02 |
Ni | 10.00 - 13.00 |
Mn | 0.0 - 2.00 |
N | 0.0 - 0.11 |
Fe | Balance |
Applications
Initially developed for use in paper mills 316 stainless steel is now typically used in:
Food processing equipment
Brewery equipment
Chemical and petrochemical equipment
Laboratory benches & equipment
Coastal architectural panelling
Coastal balustrading
Boat fittings
Chemical transportation containers
Heat exchangers
Mining screens
Nuts and bolts
Springs
Medical implants
Grade specifications for 316L stainless steels.
| Grade | UNS No | Old British | Euronorm | Swedish SS | Japanese JIS | ||
| BS | En | No | Name | ||||
316L | S31603 | 316S11 | - | 1.4404 | X2CrNiMo17-12-2 | 2348 | SUS 316L |
Possible alternative grades to 316 stainless steel.
| Grade | Why it might be chosen instead of 316? |
317L | Higher resistance to chlorides than 316L, but with similar resistance to stress corrosion cracking. |
Benefits of using Type 316L Stainless Steel
Benefits of using 316L stainless steel include:
Low carbon content eliminates carbon precipitation in the welding process
Can be used in severe corrosive environments
Improved anti–corrosion scope due to added Molybdenum
Weld annealing only required in high stress applications
Very similar to Grade 316 in chemical composition and mechanical properties
