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Differences between 316 and 316L stainless steel




Q. What are the differences between 316 and 316L, as it seems that there are some differences. Would 316L be any much difference to corrosion resistance than 316?

Richard Ashley
- Singapore
2002


A. Richard,

316L has lower carbon allowed. It will be less susceptible to sensitization, a condition caused when carbon combines with chromium around the grain boundaries, thereby depleting the grain boundary areas of chromium. That would make the grain boundary areas less corrosion resistant. Sensitization occurs with heating into the 800 °F to 1300 °F region, so it's a welding or annealing problem.

The 316L will also be softer than straight 316, again due to the lower carbon.

Good luck!

lee gearhart
Lee Gearhart
metallurgist - E. Aurora, New York
2002



"Stainless Steel for Design Engineers"

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A. The difference between 316 and 316L is the amount of carbon that is in the material.

316 has .08 Max carbon content while 316L has a .03 Max carbon content.

I am not aware that there is a significant difference in the corrosion resistance of one over the other. The primary reason for using an L grade of stainless steel is that this will reduce the tendency of the material to crack after welding.

If you use a stainless steel with a high carbon content the welds may crack spontaneously as they cool down from the welding. This type of cracking is known as "hot brittleness".

In short, if the item you are fabricating will be welded then use an L grade material. If it is not then it does not matter.

I hope this helps you.

John Holroyd
- Elkhorn, Wisconsin
2002


A. 316 and 316L differ only by the amount on carbon in them. As I understand it, 316 L has lower carbon such that when welded the chromium carbide that forms does not deplete the chromium to the point where the corrosion of the stainless is deleteriously impacted. This effect, known as chromium depletion, shows itself in most plating shops where 316 welded tanks are used. The welded corners typically rust whereas the bulk of the exposed stainless is untouched. 316 has a carbon content of 0.08% Max whereas 316L is 0.03% Max.

milt stevenson jr.
Milt Stevenson, Jr.
Syracuse, New York
2002


A. The main difference is the lower carbon content, 316 being 0.030, 316L being as low as 0.016. Other elements are also somewhat lower,such as sulfur, phosphorus and copper. The 316L is more ductile when annealed, and is markedly more corrosion resistant, especially after welding. 316L is much more weld friendly than 316, as it is less susceptible to intergranular corrosion, after welding or air service up to 1600 °F (intermittent) 1700 °F (continuous), due to carbide precipitation. In 316 carbide precipitation will occur between 900 F-1070 F after 9 hours, whereas 316L will precipitate carbides between 900 °F - 1010 °F after 181 hours, 316L showing much more resistance to sensitization.

Jeff Swayze
- Kelowna, B.C., Canada
2002


A. The Temperatures at which the precipitation of Chromium carbides is present is between 1004-1553 °F.

Source: ASM Materials Engineering Dictionary [affil link on Amazon]

Purusha Bonnin
- Barberton, Ohio, US
2007


A. www.sandmeyersteel.com/images/316-316L-317L-Spec-Sheet.pdf
Hope it helps

Richard Macedo
- Herve, Belgium
August 4, 2010




Q. Beside sending the materials to labs, is there a cheaper or easier way to test the difference in carbon content in order to differentiate 316 vs 316L, e.g., by hardness test? if this is possible, what is the difference in term of the hardness? please comment

Pat Png
industrial supplies - Singapore
January 6, 2009



Q. How do we differentiate between 316L gasket & 316 gasket?

Mahadev Gosavi
hobbyist - India
July 15, 2009



Q. What are the differences between 316, 316L & 316LN, as it seems that there are some differences. Would 316LN be any much difference to corrosion resistance than 316 & 316L?

kathir san
student - India
December 7, 2010




Q. CAN WE USE THE WELDING ELECTRODE 316L INSTEAD OF 316.

SHANMUGAM GOPI
qc - KSA
February 17, 2011


A. Hi Shanmugam. Welding is not my area of expertise, but I'd say "yes" because suppliers these days often give you 316L when you buy 316 anyway because it's easier for them to manufacture, stock, and sell just the single product now that the cost differential has declined.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, finishing.com
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
June 2013




Q. I'm so happy to see the difference between ss 316L & ss 316. Thanks. my question is how a lay man (like me) can understand the product, i.e., if we buy a set of bolt, nut, & washer, how can we understand which one is ss 316L and ss 316? Is there is any symbol in that product?
Thanks & Regards

Sidhik Ahamed
- Doha, Qatar
November 14, 2012


A. Hi Sidhik.

The cost differential has decreased to the point where some suppliers offer just the single 316L product anyway. I am not aware of a marking system, but it really shouldn't matter for bolts, nuts, & washers anyway because (as I understand it and per the earlier remarks on this page) the value of the 316L product only comes into play when it is subjected to welding temperatures.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, finishing.com
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
November 14, 2012




Q. What is the recommended welding procedure and the consumable for welding of SS 316 and SS 316L?

Abhijeet Deshpande
- Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
June 18, 2013



"Stainless Steels"
by ASM

on AbeBooks

or Amazon

(affil links)

Q. I need to convince someone that strainers of SS316L material had better corrosion resistance then S316.

I have a document wherein a certain supplier has used S316 strainers for Nitric acid application and what are the effects if SS316L is used for nitric acid application?

Also what are effects of seawater on following material SS316 and SS316L strainers?

Neil Pereira
- Mumbai, Maharashtra, & India
August 13, 2013



A. 316L has less carbon than 316, and therefore is more corrosion resistant. Otherwise, the composition is the same.

Lyle Kirman

Lyle Kirman
consultant - Cleveland Heights, Ohio
August 15, 2013




Q. Is there a major difference in formability or ductility between 316 and 316L?

Bill Perkins
fastener manufacturing - Gallatin, Tennessee, USA
August 20, 2013



A. Hi Bill-

No, there's no difference in ductility or formability due solely to the carbon content difference of 316 and 316L. Now, you might see a difference in a specific group of two samples, if they've been given different levels of cold rolling or working. I've seen 'annealed' 300 series stainless steels with tensile strengths between 70 ksi and 120 ksi, just due to the processing done by different mills at different times. That can make a difference in your formability.

Good luck!

lee gearhart
Lee Gearhart
metallurgist - E. Aurora, New York
August 29, 2013


Q. Hello,

I need to know which one is cheaper in price, 316 or 316L, please help me with this information

SHAJI JOSEPH
- Chicago, Illinois
September 27, 2013


A. Hi Shaji. 316 is slightly easier to make and more widely specified, and therefore is sometimes slightly less expensive.

But there seems to be no particular downside to substituting 316L for 316, so I am seeing a trend where steel warehouses seem to be stocking only 316L in some shapes, in which case you get the same thing at the same price whichever you specify.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, finishing.com
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
September 30, 2013



Q. What happens if I weld a 316 pipe to a 316L fitting? Do I increase the chance of corrosion?

N Nasiri
- Toronto, ON. Canada
October 30, 2013


A. Hi Nasari. To my knowledge the corrosion situation would be no worse than a 316 pipe welded to a 316 fitting.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, finishing.com
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
November 5, 2013




Q. AISI 316L WIRE IS USED FOR MANUFACTURE OF EMITTING ELECTRODES IN ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATORS (SPIRAL TYPE) BY SOME MANUFACTURERS, AND A FEW USE AISI 316. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE AND WHICH IS SUPERIOR?

KRISHNAN CHIDAMBARAM
- Ranipet, Tamilnadu, India
November 23, 2013




If I am going for purchase of SS316L then how can I check that it is SS316L not SS316??

Sachin Saboo
- Singrauli, MP, India
December 12, 2013


A. One way is to have the stainless steel analysed for carbon.

Lyle Kirman
- Cleveland, Ohio, USA
December 18, 2013




What does 'L' stand for in 316L?

Doods Verzosa
- Doha Qatar
November 14, 2017



Hi Doods. Milt has told us that "316 has a carbon content of 0.08% Max whereas 316L is 0.03% Max."
So the difference is that 316L has lower carbon content, and it's probably best to say the "L" stands for 'low carbon'.

Regards,

pic of Ted Mooney
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
November 2017




Q. Dear All,

I have different question regarding the S.S.316 and S.S.316L.

I want to use this material for tablet (pharma) handling.

Sometimes we face problem of tablets getting black spot.

So which material is good to avoid black spot on tablets?

dattatraya abhang
- AHMEDABAD, Gujarat
January 17, 2018



A. Dattatraya,
316 and 316L are nearly identical. It's not about which material you have, but how clean that surface is.

ray kremer
Ray Kremer
Stellar Solutions, Inc.
supporting advertiser
McHenry, Illinois
stellar solutions banner
January 18, 2018




Unable to get bids on SS316L roof

Q. I have been looking for a Chinese contractor to build for me a roof of 1300 sqm made of SS316L arches, columns and tendons. 7 companies have already rejected the project by simply saying that they do not work with that material. They would not specify why. Could somebody help me understand why?

ISACK EYAL
L.D. WINTER Ltd. - Hadera, ISRAEL
September 2, 2018


A. Hi Isack. The first possibility is that the components (for example corrugated sheet roofing and hollow tubing columns) may simply be unavailable in SS316L. Other possible problems include difficulty in fabricating: SS3xx work hardens, so they may not be able to cut it and drill it with the tools they customarily use. If welding is required, their welders may not be experienced with this material.

As a course of action I suggest you do some internet research into what shapes are available and unavailable so there is a workable design, and then consider trying to retain a construction contractor experienced in working with this material rather than general roofing contractors. Good luck.

Regards,

pic of Ted Mooney
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
September 2018




Gray/Black surface of austenitic steel wire

April 20, 2020

Q. Dear all

I am working in a wire drawing facility. We buy the austenitic steel rods and draw to required dimensions. The usual process route is:
1. Immersing wire rod into a lubricant carrier bath
2. Pre-drawing with a lubricant
3. Degreasing the pre-drawn wire 50 °C, rinsing at 50 °C
4. Batch annealing 1040 °C
5. Salt bath pickling 400 °C
6. Mix acid pickling 50 °C
7. Immersion in lubricant
8. Final drawing

Recently on certain wire rods on different places of a coil, I discovered gray patches on the wire surface after mix acid pickling. These gray patches are not all over the coil but certain places, especially in the middle of the coil. I checked literature and they said it Chromium carbides which occur due to sensitization during annealing. But the question is if it is CrC then the whole coil should be grayish which is not the case. Has anybody seen such gray surface/patches on austenitic wires? Can anybody suggest me at least what I can call it (technically) so it will be easier for me to find the solution? Any suggestion will be more than welcome :-)

Have a great time!

BR
Ridwan

Ridwaan Ali
- Pakistan




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