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What is 316 Stainless Steel, and What Are the Advantages?
Stainless steel is one of the common metals used in many sectors such as the automotive industry, health equipment, and making cookware products. It’s classified in various grades, such as 302, 304, 316, 321 stainless steel, etc. Each of these grades has their unique characteristics and are best suitable for particular applications.
What is 316 stainless steel anyway? It’s a standard molybdenum grade and is usually the second most sought stainless steel grade next to 304 stainless steel. It has a Brinell hardness of 79 and ultimate tensile strength of 84,100 psi. Keep reading down here as we explore more about the 316 stainless steel and its advantages.
What is 316 Stainless Steel?
316 stainless steel is a type of stainless steel composed of 3% molybdenum, 0.08% carbon, 14% nickel, and 18% chromium. Molybdenum is what makes the 316 stainless steel more corrosion-resistant than the other types of stainless.
Due to its increased resistance to chloride corrosion, the 316 stainless steel is also called marine grade stainless steel.
The low carbon of 316 stainless steel is called 316L, while that with higher carbon content is identified as 316H. Another variant of the 316 stainless steel is the stabilized 316Ti. The 316H offers better thermal stability and creep resistance, while the 316L is a superior choice where metal works involve high temperatures and are highly corrosion resistant. The SS316Ti provides better resistance to intergranular corrosion.
As mentioned above, stainless steel is used in a wide of applications, including cookware. But why? It’s durable and looks great. The 316 stainless steel is an excellent choice in the cookware industry because of the additional molybdenum that cookware resistant to corrosion, increases heat tolerance, and prevents pitting. Additionally, it can handle continuous use under high temperatures (more than 1472 degrees F) even than most food cooking processes would need.
The 316 stainless steel is commonly referred to as the “food-grade stainless steel,” although it’s not an official classification. It’s more resistant to chemicals in various applications, especially where acidic and salt compounds are involved.
What are the Advantages of 316 Stainless Steel?
There are many benefits or advantages of the 316 stainless steel. They include:
High corrosion and chlorine resistance
On top of chromium and nickel, 316 stainless steel has molybdenum as part of its elements, making it superior to various chemical agents likely to cause corrosion. For this reason, 316 stainless steel is a suitable and ideal metal for making surgical and food-related products.
Durable
The 316 stainless steel is tough; it lasts long even when exposed to high temperatures and impact.
Better resistance to cracking and pitting
The 316 stainless steel has better resistance to stress corrosion cracking (SCC), improved protection against pitting, and better creep resistance.
Easy to fabricate
Since the 316 stainless steel is strong, it’s easy to mold it to different shapes without cracking it. It has a good form and weld property.
Even when exposed to heat treatment, it will not harden; thus, you can still fabricate it.
Bottom Line
The 316 stainless steel is one of the great stainless grades available. It’s versatile and used for different applications. In addition, it’s resistant to pitting, corrosion, and acidic components. Most importantly, it offers good machinability.
Check out stainless steel saute pan to cook food on a non stick deep frying pan.
