SAE / ANSI / AISI 316 is the second most commonly available/widely used type of stainless steel after the SAE/ANSI/AISI 304. Considered the generic workhorse, SS 304 can serve in most situations with great success. However, while both are typically used in industry, SS AISI 316 is used in even harsher environments where there is a need for:
AISI 316 stainless steel is commonly used for equipment in the pharmaceutical industry
In comparison, SS AISI 316 boasts better resistance to chloride-rich conditions than the typical SS 304 thanks to the molybdenum addition.
Also known as surgical stainless steel, marine steel, 316S16 (as per the British Standard), SS 316 is an austenitic chromium-nickel alloy. As a consequence it:
It is also worth noting that SS AISI 316 can withstand extremely corrosive environments and is easily shaped, welded and machined. Using standard fusion methods, it is very popular in a wide range of applications including the following sectors:
Additional reasons why AISI 316 is used in the aforementioned sectors include:
A marina bollard manufactured from Stainless Steel AISI 316
Heat treatment is achieved via an annealing procedure where the product is heated up to 1900 °C, followed by adequately quick (three minutes) air cooling down to 400-800 °C. This must be done with great care to avoid a reprecipitation of chromium carbides that adversely affect the corrosion resistance properties of SS AISI 316. As is the case with all austenitic stainless steels, SS AISI 316 cannot be hardened through heat treatment procedures.
Iron (Fe) | 68.5% |
Chromium (Cr) | 16.25% |
Nickel (Ni) | 11.5% |
Molybdenum (Mo) | 2.5% |
Manganese (Mn) | 1% |
Silicon (Si) | 0.5% |
Nitrogen (N) | 0.05% |
Carbon (C) | 0.04% |
Phosphorus (P) | 0.023% |
Sulfur (S) | 0.015% |
Material Density | 8000 kg/m3 |
Elastic Modulus | 193 GPascal |
Mean Thermal Expansion Coefficient | 16.5 μm/m/oC |
Mean Thermal Conductivity | 18.9 W/m*K |
Specific Heat Capacity | 500 J/kg*K |
Electrical Resistivity | 740 (nΩ*m) |
Melting Onset | 1380 oC / 2510 oF |
Melting Completion | 1400 oC / 2550 oF |
Embodied Energy | 53 MJ/kg |
Calomel Potential | -50 mV |
Max Tensile Strength | 580 MPascal |
Yield Tensile Strength | 290 MPascal |
Elongation | 40% (50 mm) |
Elongation at break | 50% (50 mm) |
Rockwell Hardness | 95 |
Brinell Hardness | 219 |