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Stainless Steel Plate

316/316L Stainless Steel Plate – High-Performance Corrosion-Resistant Alloy

Sandmeyer Steel Company stocks the largest single-site stainless steel plate inventory in North America with thicknesses from 3/16″ through 6″ in 1/8″ increments. Alloy 316/316L stainless steel plate is also available as E-Z Drill for improved machinability.

Available thicknesses for Alloy 316/316L:

3/16"1/4"5/16"3/8"7/16"1/2"9/16"5/8"3/4"7/8"1"1 1/8"
4.8mm6.3mm7.9mm9.5mm11.1mm12.7mm14.3mm15.9mm19mm22.2mm25.4mm28.6mm
1 1/4"1 3/8"1 1/2"1 5/8"1 3/4"2"2 1/4"2 1/2"2 3/4"3"3 1/4"3 1/2"
31.8mm34.9mm38.1mm41.3mm44.5mm50.8mm57.2mm63.5mm69.9mm76.2mm82.6mm88.9mm
3 3/4"4"4 1/4"4 1/2"4 3/4"5"5 1/4"5 1/2"5 3/4"6"
95.3mm101.6mm108mm114.3mm120.7mm127mm133.4mm139.7mm146.1mm152.4mm

Alloys 316 (UNS S31600) and 316L (UNS S31603) are molybdenum-bearing austenitic stainless steels, which are more resistant to general corrosion and pitting/crevice corrosion than the conventional chromium-nickel austenitic stainless steels such as Alloy 304. These alloys also offer higher creep, stress-to-rupture, and tensile strength at elevated temperatures. In addition to excellent corrosion resistance and strength properties, the Alloys 316 and 316L Cr-Ni-Mo alloys also provide excellent fabricability and formability which are typical of the austenitic stainless steels.

Specification Sheet Overview

for Alloy 316/316L (UNS S31600, S31603)
W. Nr. 1.4401, 1.4404:

An Austenitic Stainless Steel Containing Molybdenum Which is More Corrosion Resistant than the Conventional 304/304L Stainless Steel

200/201 Stainless Steel Company

General Properties of 316 Stainless Steel Plate

Alloy 316/316L (UNS S31600/S31603) is a chromium-nickel molybdenum austenitic stainless steel developed to provide improved corrosion resistance to Alloy 304/304L in moderately corrosive environments. It is often utilized in process streams containing chlorides or halides. The addition of molybdenum improves general corrosion and chloride pitting resistance. It also provides higher creep, stress-to-rupture and tensile strength at elevated temperatures.

It is common practice for 316L to be dual certified as 316 and 316L. The low carbon chemistry of 316L combined with an addition of nitrogen enables 316L to meet the mechanical properties of 316.

Alloy 316/316L resists atmospheric corrosion, as well as, moderately oxidizing and reducing environments. It also resists corrosion in polluted marine atmospheres. The alloy has excellent resistance to intergranular corrosion in the as-welded condition. Alloy 316/316L has excellent strength and toughness at cryogenic temperatures.

Alloy 316/316L is non-magnetic in the annealed condition, but can become slightly magnetic as a result of cold working or welding. It can be easily welded and processed by standard shop fabrication practices.

Applications of 316 Stainless Steel Plate

Standards

ASTM……..A 240
ASME……..SA 240
AMS……….5524/5507
QQ-S……..766

Corrosion Resistance

In most applications Alloy 316/316L has superior corrosion resistance to Alloy 304/304L. Process environments that do not corrode Alloy 304/304L will not attack this grade. One exception, however, is in highly oxidizing acids such as nitric acid where stainless steels containing molybdenum are less resistant. Alloy 316/316L performs well in sulfur containing service such as that encountered in the pulp and paper industry. The alloy can be used in high concentrations at temperatures up to 120°F (38°C).

Alloy 316/316L also has good resistance to pitting in phosphoric and acetic acid. It performs well in boiling 20% phosphoric acid. The alloy can also be used in the food and pharmaceutical process industries where it is utilized to handle hot organic and fatty acids in an effort to minimize product contamination.

Alloy 316/316L performs well in fresh water service even with high levels of chlorides. The alloy has excellent resistance to corrosion in marine environments under atmospheric conditions.

The higher molybdenum content of Alloy 316/316L assures it will have superior pitting resistance to Alloy 304/304L in applications involving chloride solutions, particularly in an oxidizing environment.

In most instances, the corrosion resistance of Alloys 316 and 316L will be roughly equal in most corrosive environments. However, in environments that are sufficiently corrosive to cause intergranular corrosion of welds and heat-affected zones Alloy 316L should be used because of its low carbon content.

Composition (Weight Percent)
CCT2CPT3
ALLOYCrMoNPREN1°F (°C)°F (°C)
Type 30418.00.0619.0<27.5
(<-2.5)

Type 31616.52.10.0524.227.5
(-2.5)
59
(15.0)
Type 31718.53.10.0629.735.0
(1.7)
66
(18.9)
SSC-6MO20.56.20.2244.5110
(43.0)
149
(65)
1Pitting Resistance Equivalent, including Nitrogen, PREN=Cr + 3.3Mo + 16N
2Critical Crevice Corrosion Temperature, CCCT, based on ASTM G-48B (6% FeCl3 for 72 hr, with crevices
3Critical Pitting Temperature, CPT based on ASTM G-48A (6% FeCl3 for 72 hr)

Lowest Temperature (°F) at Which the Corrosion Rate Exceeds 5mpy

CORROSION ENVIRONMENTType 316LType 3042205 (UNS S32205)2507
0.2% Hydrochloric Acid>Boiling>Boiling>Boiling>Boiling
1% Hydrochloric Acid8686p185>Boiling
10% Sulfuric Acid122140167
60% Sulfuric Acid<54<59<57
96% Sulfuric Acid1137786
85% Phosphoric Acid203176194203
10% Nitric Acid>Boiling>Boiling>Boiling>Boiling
65% Niitric Acid212212221230
80% Acetic Acid>Boiling212p>Boiling>Boiling
50% Formic Acid104≤50194194
50% Sodium Hydroxide194185194230
83% Phosphoric Acid + 2% Hydrofluoric Acid149113122140
60% Nitric Acid + 2% Hydrocloric Acid>140>140>140>140
50% Acetic Acid + 50% Acetic Anhydride248>Boiling212230
1% Hydrochloric Acid + 0.3% Ferric Chloride77p68p113ps203ps
10% Sulfuric Acid + 2000ppm Cl- + N27795122
10% Sulfuric Acid + 2000ppm Cl- + SO2<<59p<59104
WPA1, High Cl- Content≤50<<50113203
WPA2, High F- Content≤50<<50140167
ps = pitting can occur
ps = pitting/crevice corrosion can occur

WPAP2O5CL-F-H2SO4Fe2O3Al2O3SiO2CaOMgO
1540.200.504.00.300.200.100.200.70
2540.022.04.00.300.200.100.200.70

Chemical Analysis

Weight % (all values are maximum unless a range is otherwise indicated)

Element316316L
Chromium16.0 min.-18.0 max.16.0 min.-18.0 max.
Nickel10.0 min.-14.0 max.10.0 min.-14.0 max.
Molybdenum2.00 min.-3.00 max.2.00 min.-3.00 max.
Carbon0.080.030
Manganese2.002.00
Phosphorus0.0450.045
Sulfer0.030.03
Silicon0.750.75
Nitrogen0.10.1
IronBalanceBalance

Physical Properties

Density

0.285 lbs/in3
7.90 g/cm3

Specific Heat

0.11 BTU/lb-°F (32 – 212°F)
450 J/kg-°K (0 – 100°C)

Modulus of Elasticity

29.0 x 106 psi
200 GPa

Thermal Conductivity 212°F (100°C)

10.1 BTU/hr/ft2/ft/°F
14.6 W/m-°K

Melting Range

2450 – 2630°F
1390 – 1440°C

Electrical Resistivity

29.1 Microhm-in at 68°C
74 Microhm-cm at 20°C

Mean Coefficient of Thermal Expansion

Temperature Range
°F°Cin/in °Fcm/cm °C
68-21220-1009.2 x 10-616.6 x 10-6
68-93220-50010.1 x 10-618.2 x 10-6
68-183220-100010.8 x 10-619.4 x 10-6

Mechanical Properties

At Room Temperature

ASTM
Typical*Type 316Type 316L
0.2% Offset Yield Strength, ksi4430 min.25 min.
Ultimate Tensile Strength, ksi8575 min.70 min.
Elongation in 2 inches, %5640 min.40 min.
Reduction in Area, %69
Hardness, Rockwell B8195 max.95 max.
*0.375 inch plate

Fabrication Data

Alloy 316/316L can be easily welded and processed by standard shop fabrication practices.

Hot Forming

Working temperatures of 1700 – 2200°F (927 – 1204°C) are recommended for most hot working processes. For maximum corrosion resistance, the material should be annealed at 1900°F (1038°C) minimum and water quenched or rapidly cooled by other means after hot working.

Cold Forming

The alloy is quite ductile and forms easily. Cold working operations will increase the strength and hardness of the alloy and might leave it slightly magnetic.

Machining

Alloy 316/316L is subject to work hardening during deformation and is subject to chip breaking. The best machining results are achieved with slower speeds, heavier feeds, excellent lubrication, sharp tooling and powerful rigid equipment.

OperationToolLubrication
CONDITIONS
Depth-mmDepth-inFeed-mm/tFeed-in/tSpeed-m/minSpeed-ft/min
TurningHigh Speed SteelCutting Oil6.230.5.01911-1636.1-52.5
TurningHigh Speed SteelCutting Oil3.110.4.01618-2359.1-75.5
TurningHigh Speed SteelCutting Oil1.040.2.00825-3082-98.4
TurningCarbideDry or Cutting Oil6.230.5.01970-80229.7-262.5
TurningCarbideDry or Cutting Oil3.110.4.01685-95278.9-312.7
TurningCarbideDry or Cutting Oil1.040.2.008100-110328.1-360.9
Depth of cut-mmDepth of cut-inFeed-mm/tFeed-in/tSpeed-m/minSpeed-ft/min
CuttingHigh Speed SteelCutting Oil1.5.060.03-0.05.0012-.002016-2152.5-68.9
CuttingHigh Speed SteelCutting Oil3.110.04-0.06.0016-.002417-2255.8-72.2
CuttingHigh Speed SteelCutting Oil6.230.05-0.07.0020-.002718-2359-75.45
Drill ø mmDrill ø inFeed-mm/tFeed-in/tSpeed-m/minSpeed-ft/min
DrillingHigh Speed SteelCutting Oil1.5.060.02-0.03.0008-.001210-1432.8-45.9
DrillingHigh Speed SteelCutting Oil3.110.05-0.06.0020-.002412-1639.3-52.5
DrillingHigh Speed SteelCutting Oil6.230.08-0.09.0031-.003512-1639.3-52.5
DrillingHigh Speed SteelCutting Oil12.480.09-0.10.0035-.003912-1639.3-52.5
Feed-mm/tFeed-in/tSpeed-m/minSpeed-ft/min
Milling ProfilingHigh Speed SteelCutting Oil0.05-0.10.002-.00410-2032.8-65.6

Welding

Alloy 316/316L can be readily welded by most standard processes. A post weld heat treatment is not necessary.

NOTE: The information and data in this product data sheet are accurate to the best of our knowledge and belief, but are intended for informational purposes only, and may be revised at any time without notice. Applications suggested for the materials are described only to help readers make their own evaluations and decisions, and are neither guarantees nor to be construed as express or implied warranties of suitability for these or other applications. Stainless Steel, Nickel Alloy and Titanium products are classified as sheet if the thickness of the metals is less than 3/16” (4.7mm). If the thickness of the metal is 3/16” (4.7mm) or more, then it is considered a plate.
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