STAINLESS STEEL

AISI 316L | EN 1.4404

Description

316L stainless steel is a low carbon variant of 316. This is easy to remember, as the L stands for "low." But even though it has less carbon, the alloy is very similar to 316 in almost every way. Cost is very similar, and both are durable, corrosion-resistant, and a good choice for high-stress situations.

316L, however, is a better choice for a project that requires a lot of welding as it is resist weld decay better than 316. 316L also is a great stainless steel for high-temperature, high-corrosion uses, which is why it's so popular for use in construction and marine projects.

Neither 316 nor 316L is the cheapest option. 304 and 304L are similar but lower-priced. And neither are as durable as 317L, which have higher molybdenum content and are better for overall corrosion resistance. It is reasonable to expect specifications in these standards to be similar but not necessarily identical to those given in this data sheet.

Applications of 316L

Food preparation equipment particularly in chloride environments
Pharmaceuticals
Marine applications
Architectural applications
Medical implants, including pins, screws and orthopedic implants like total hip and knee replacements
Fasteners
Chemical and petrochemical industry
Food processing and pharmaceutical industry
Medical devices
Marine applications
Architectural applications
Automotive industry
Oil and gas industry
Aerospace industry
Power generation
Water treatment
Construction
Mining and metallurgy
Electronics and electrical industry
Heat exchangers
Pressure vessels
Precision instrumentation
Solar energy systems
Industrial machinery
HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning)
Research and development