Hangbo Alloy Group supplies a variety of 316 stainless steel products, including round bars, plates, strips, seamless tubes, forgings, and wires. Below is a comprehensive description of 316 stainless steel.
1.Introduction to 316 Stainless Steel
Description: 316 (UNS S31600) is a molybdenum-containing austenitic stainless steel, a high-performance variant of 304 stainless steel. It is famous for excellent resistance to chloride corrosion (a key advantage over 304) and good high-temperature stability. It maintains reliable mechanical properties in moderate-temperature environments (up to 870°C) and has strong adaptability to harsh media, making it ideal for corrosion-prone industrial, marine, and medical applications.
International Equivalents:
USA: UNS S31600, ASTM 316
CHINA: 0Cr17Ni12Mo2 (per GB/T 20878 standard)
Europe: EN 1.4408, GX5CrNiMo19-11-2
2.Standards for 316
Plates: ASTM A240/A240M, GB/T 4237, EN 10088-2
Round Bars: ASTM A276, GB/T 1220, EN 10088-3
Seamless Tubes: ASTM A312/A312M, GB/T 14976, EN 10216-5
Forgings: ASTM A182/A182M, GB/T 1221, EN 10222-5
3.Chemical Composition of 316
| Element | Content (%) |
|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | ≤ 0.08 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 16.0-18.0 |
| Nickel (Ni) | 10.0-14.0 |
| Silicon (Si) | ≤ 0.75 |
| Manganese (Mn) | ≤ 2.00 |
| Phosphorus (P) | ≤ 0.045 |
| Sulfur (S) | ≤ 0.03 |
| Iron (Fe) | Balance |
| Nitrogen(N) | ≤ 0.10 |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 2.0-3.0 |
4.Physical Properties of 316
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 7.93 g/cm³ |
| Melting Range | 1398-1420 °C |
5.Material Characteristics of 316
Chloride Corrosion Resistance: Outstanding resistance to chloride-containing media (e.g., seawater, brine, chemical solutions with chlorine ions); effectively prevents pitting and crevice corrosion, a critical advantage over conventional stainless steels like 304.
Oxidation Resistance: Good oxidation resistance at temperatures up to 870°C; forms a dense chromium-molybdenum oxide film on the surface to resist high-temperature gas erosion and avoid film spalling during moderate thermal cycling.
Mechanical Strength: Maintains balanced tensile strength, yield strength, and toughness at room and moderate temperatures; low creep deformation under long-term service at 500-600°C, ensuring structural stability of components.
Excellent Formability: Easy to process via cold working (e.g., rolling, stamping, bending) and hot working (e.g., forging, extrusion); can be fabricated into complex-shaped parts without cracking, suitable for customized product manufacturing.
Reliable Weldability: Compatible with standard welding methods (e.g., TIG welding, MIG welding); welded joints retain good corrosion resistance (especially chloride corrosion resistance) and mechanical properties, meeting the performance requirements of industrial equipment.
6.Applications of 316
Marine Engineering: Widely used in offshore platforms, ship hull components, seawater pipelines, and marine pumps; resistant to long-term seawater erosion and marine atmospheric corrosion.
Chemical & Pharmaceutical Industry: Applied to equipment handling chloride-containing or corrosive media, such as chemical reaction kettles, acid-resistant pipelines, pharmaceutical sterile tanks, and heat exchangers for acidic solutions.
Food Processing Industry: Used in food production lines (especially for salty or acidic foods), beverage storage tanks, and dairy processing equipment; meets food-grade hygiene standards and resists corrosion from food additives.
Medical Equipment: Employed in surgical instruments, medical implants (e.g., artificial joints), and hospital disinfection equipment; non-toxic, corrosion-resistant, and easy to sterilize (adapts to high-temperature or chemical disinfection).
Architecture & Outdoor Engineering: Used in outdoor decorative components, coastal building facades, and high-humidity environment handrails; resists atmospheric corrosion and rainwater erosion, maintaining long-term aesthetic appearance.
