November 27, 2023
Alloy 316 (UNS S31600) and 316L (UNS S31603) are molybdenum-containing austenitic stainless steels that are more resistant to general corrosion and pitting/crevice corrosion than traditional chromium-nickel austenitic stainless steels such as Alloy 304. These alloys also provide higher creep, fracture stress and tensile strength at elevated temperatures. In addition to excellent corrosion resistance and strength properties, Alloy 316 and 316L Cr-Ni-Mo alloys offer the excellent machinability and formability typical of austenitic stainless steels.
Alloy 316/316L (UNS S31600/S31603) is a chromium-nickel-molybdenum austenitic stainless steel developed to improve the corrosion resistance of Alloy 304/304L in moderately corrosive environments. It is commonly used in process streams containing chlorides or halides. The addition of molybdenum improves resistance to general corrosion and chloride pitting corrosion. It also provides higher creep, breaking stress and tensile strength at elevated temperatures.
It is common practice for a 316L to be dual certified as 316 and 316L. The low carbon chemistry of 316L combined with the addition of nitrogen allows 316L to meet the mechanical properties of 316.
Alloy 316/316L is resistant to atmospheric corrosion and moderate oxidizing and reducing environments. It also resists corrosion in polluted marine atmospheres. This alloy has excellent resistance to intergranular corrosion in the welded state. Alloy 316/316L has excellent strength and toughness at low temperatures.
Alloy 316/316L is nonmagnetic in the annealed state but becomes slightly magnetic when cold worked or welded. It can be easily welded and machined through standard shop fabrication practices.
