Guides/Comparisons
316 vs 316L stainless steel
316-vs-316l-stainless-steelStainless steel 316 and Stainless steel 316L at a glance
This page compares Stainless steel 316 and Stainless steel 316L using only values that carry a source, a test condition and an evidence level. Ranges run across temper, heat treatment and product form, measured at room temperature where the source says so.
- Composition: Carbon (316 up to 0.08%; 316L up to 0.03%).
- Yield strength: the ranges overlap (316 193 to 213 MPa; 316L 170 to 290 MPa).
- Tensile strength: the ranges overlap (316 480 to 620 MPa; 316L 485 to 558 MPa).
- Density: the ranges overlap (316 7.87 to 8.07 g/cm³; 316L 7.99 to 8.03 g/cm³).
- Young's modulus: the ranges overlap (316 190 to 205 GPa; 316L 193 to 200 GPa).
- Thermal conductivity: the ranges overlap (316 13 to 17 W/(m·K); 316L 14.6 to 16.2 W/(m·K)).
- Melting point: the ranges overlap (316 1,375 to 1,440 °C; 316L 1,390 to 1,440 °C).
- Thermal expansion: the ranges overlap (316 16.5 to 18.2 ppm/K; 316L 16 to 16.5 ppm/K).
- Yield strength for each unit of density (calculated from each grade's midpoint values): Stainless steel 316 25.5 MPa per g/cm³; Stainless steel 316L 28.7 MPa per g/cm³.
"Higher" means the whole range is higher, not just one value. Where a value is a specified minimum, the table says "at least".
Side by side
| Property | Stainless steel 316 | Stainless steel 316L |
|---|---|---|
| Yield strength | 193 to 213 MPa | 170 to 290 MPa |
| Tensile strength | 480 to 620 MPa | 485 to 558 MPa |
| Density | 7.87 to 8.07 g/cm³ | 7.99 to 8.03 g/cm³ |
| Young's modulus | 190 to 205 GPa | 193 to 200 GPa |
| Thermal conductivity | 13 to 17 W/(m·K) | 14.6 to 16.2 W/(m·K) |
| Melting point | 1,375 to 1,440 °C | 1,390 to 1,440 °C |
| Service temperature | 750 to 925 °C | no data |
| Thermal expansion | 16.5 to 18.2 ppm/K | 16 to 16.5 ppm/K |
| Yield strength per densitycalculated | 25.5 MPa per g/cm³ | 28.7 MPa per g/cm³ |
Composition
| Element | Stainless steel 316 | Stainless steel 316L |
|---|---|---|
| Iron | balance | balance |
| Chromium | 16 to 18% | 16 to 18% |
| Nickel | 10 to 14% | 10 to 14% |
| Molybdenum | 2 to 3% | 2 to 3% |
| Carbon | up to 0.08% | up to 0.03% |
| Manganese | up to 2% | up to 2% |
| Silicon | up to 0.75% | up to 0.75% |
| Phosphorus | up to 0.045% | up to 0.045% |
| Sulfur | up to 0.03% | up to 0.03% |
| Nitrogen | up to 0.1% | up to 0.1% |
Shares are as printed in the sources, by weight.
When to use which
| Material | Best for | Weakest at |
|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel 316 | Chloride-bearing and marine-grade service where 304 would pit, in annealed sheet, bar and plate | Crevice and pitting attack in seawater condenser tubes, intergranular attack after heating between 500 and 900 C, and modest strength next to precipitation-hardened grades |
| Stainless steel 316L | Welded parts in chloride or marine service, and vacuum hardware that is vacuum-fired | Long holds near 650 C form sigma phase, and seawater service needs a pitting resistance equivalent number greater than 40 (Wikipedia) |
Where each is used
| Material | Use |
|---|---|
| Stainless steel 316 | Aerospace structures |
| Stainless steel 316 | Chemical storage, food processing and oil refining equipment |
| Stainless steel 316L | Aerospace structures |
| Stainless steel 316L | Parts exposed to marine atmospheres |
| Stainless steel 316L | Ultra-high-vacuum chamber walls (laboratory) |