SAE 316L stainless steel
austenitic stainless steel
SAE 316L stainless steel is an austenitic stainless steel and the second most common stainless steel after SAE 304 stainless steel. Its primary alloying constituents after iron are chromium (16–18%), nickel (10–12%), and molybdenum (2–3%). Up to 2% manganese and small (<1%) quantities of silicon, phosphorus, and sulfur are also present. The addition of molybdenum provides greater corrosion resistance than 304, with respect to localized corrosive attack by chlorides, hydrogen embrittlement and to general corrosion by reducing acids, and other acids such as sulfuric acid; while sulfur is added to improve ease-of-tooling/machinability. 316L grade is the low carbon version of 316 stainless steel, which improves relative corrosion-resistance. When cold worked, 316 can produce high yield and tensile strengths similar to duplex stainless steel grades.
It is commonly used in chemical and petrochemical industry, in food processing, pharmaceutical equipment, medical devices, jewellery, luxury watches (especially diver's watches), in potable water piping, wastewater treatment, in marine applications and architectural applications near the seashore or in urban areas.
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