Stainless Steel - Grade 316 (UNS S31600)

Grade 316L, the low carbon version of 316 and is immune from sensitisation (grain boundary carbide precipitation). Thus it is extensively used in heavy gauge welded components (over about 6mm). Grade 316H, with its higher carbon content has application at elevated temperatures, as does stabilised grade 316Ti.

The austenitic structure also gives these grades excellent toughness, even down to cryogenic temperatures.

Key Properties

These properties are specified for flat rolled product (plate, sheet and coil) in ASTM A240/A240M. Similar but not necessarily identical properties are specified for other products such as pipe and bar in their respective specifications.

Composition

Table 1. Composition ranges for 316 grade of stainless steels.

Grade		C	Mn	Si	P	S	Cr	Mo	Ni	N
316	Min	-	-	-	0	-	16.0	2.00	10.0	-
	Max	0.08	2.0	0.75	0.045	0.03	18.0	3.00	14.0	0.10
316L	Min	-	-	-	-	-	16.0	2.00	10.0	-
	Max	0.03	2.0	0.75	0.045	0.03	18.0	3.00	14.0	0.10
316H	Min	0.04	0.04	0	-	-	16.0	2.00	10.0	-
	max	0.10	0.10	0.75	0.045	0.03	18.0	3.00	14.0	-

 

Mechanical Properties

Table 2. Mechanical properties of 316 grade stainless steels.

Grade	Tensile Str (MPa) min	Yield Str 0.2% Proof (MPa) min	Elong (% in 50 mm) min	Hardness
				Rockwell B (HR B) max	Brinell (HB) max
316	515	205	40	95	217
316L	485	170	40	95	217
316H	515	205	40	95	217