stainless steel en 1.4401 aisi 316 Material

What material is 1.4401 316?
Stainless steel types 1.4401 and 1.4404 are also known as grades 316 and 316L respectively. Grade 316 is an austenitic grade second only to 304 in commercial importance. 316 stainless steel contains an addition of molybdenum that gives it improved corrosion resistance.

 

What is the equivalent material of 1.4401?

EN 1.4401 equiv. (SUS316) material belongs to the austenitic stainless steel family, similar to EN 1.4301 equiv.. It contains 18% chromium, 10-14% nickel, and 2.5% molybdenum, exhibiting non-magnetic properties.

 

What is the standard for Stainless steel EN 1.4401 pipe?
Stainless steel EN 1.4401 (AISI 316) pipes are manufactured to international standards such as ASTM A312 and EN 10217-7, specifying 16-18% chromium, 10-14% nickel, 2-3% molybdenum, tensile strength ≥520 MPa, and are widely used in corrosive environments like chemical processing and marine engineering.

 

Chemical Composition (% by weight)

	316		316L
Element	Min	Max	Min	Max
C	-	0.08	-	0.035
Mn	-	2	-	2
Ni	10	14	10	15
Cr	16	18	16	18
Mo	2	3	2	3
S	-	0.03	-	0.03
Si	-	1	-	1
P	-	0.045	-	0.045

 

Annealed 316 stainless steel mechanical properties

Temper	Annealed			Cold worked (approx. 20%)
Material	316	316L		316	316L
Tensile Rm	75	70	ksi (min)	102-131		ksi (min)
Tensile Rm	515	485	MPa (min)	700-900		MPa (min)
R.p. 0.2% Yield	30	27	ksi (min)	73-102		ksi (min)
R.p. 0.2% Yield	205	182	MPa (min)	500-700		MPa (min)
Elongation (2" or 4D gl)	35		% (min)	40		% (min)

 

Physical Properties (Room Temperature)

Specific Heat (0-100°C)	500	J.kg-1.°K-1
Thermal Conductivity	16.3	W.m -1.°K-1
Thermal Expansion	15.9	μm/μm/°C
Modulus Elasticity	193	GPa
Electrical Resistivity	7.4	Ohm-cm
Density	7.99	g/cm3

 

Which is better, 316 or 316L?
Both 316 and 316L are austenitic stainless steels containing molybdenum, offering excellent corrosion resistance. However, they differ in their carbon content.
316 has a higher carbon content (≤0.08%), resulting in slightly higher high-temperature strength, making it suitable for high-temperature environments such as industrial furnaces.
316L has a lower carbon content (≤0.03%), which reduces sensitization during welding and minimizes the risk of intergranular corrosion. This makes it an ideal choice for welded structures where post-weld corrosion resistance is critical, such as in chemical processing, offshore engineering, or medical equipment.