Stainless 316

Annealing Procedure

1850-2050 F (1010-1121 C), followed by rapid cooling.

Applications

Widely used in industry, it was initially designed for paper mill machinery. It has been used in marine environments and a wide variety of general industrial components.

Cold Workability

Shearing, stamping, heading and drawing can be successfully performed . To remove internal stresses, a post-work annealing is recommended.

Hardening Procedure

This alloy does not respond to heat treatment. Cold work will cause an increase in both hardness and strength.

Hot Workability

All common hot working processes are possible with this alloy. Heat to 2100-2300 F (1149-1260 C). Avoid working this material below 1700 F (927 C). For optimum corrosion resistance, a post-work annealing is recommended.

Machinability

Low speeds and constant feeds will minimize this alloy's tendency to work harden. Tougher than 304 stainless with a long stringy chip, the use of chip breakers is recommended. Many companies now offer premium machinability grades, such as CarTech with their Project 70 and 7000 series.

Principle Design Features

This austenitic stainless steel has an increased molybdenum content to increase its resistance to corrosion when compared to other 300 series alloys. It will resist scaling at temperatures up to 1600 F (871 C) and maintains good mechanical properties and creep strength at high temperatures.

Weldability

All common fusion and resistance methods except oxyacetylene welding have proven successful. Use AWS E/ER316 or 316L filler metal for best results.