316 steel is one of the most popular grades available on the market. It combines excellent corrosion resistance with strength and toughness. It also has good formability and weldability. This makes it an ideal material for construction projects where durability is a must.
Grade 316 is part of the Austenitic stainless steel family and it contains 16-18% chromium and 11-14% nickel as well as 2-3% molybdenum. The molybdenum content gives this grade greater resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion than other Austenitic grades of stainless steel.
In addition, molybdenum gives this grade better resistance to chloride environments such as salt and chlorine. Compared to series 304, 316 is not preferred when exposed to warm seawater since it can suffer from chloride-induced pitting and corrosion. However, the low carbon version of this grade, 316L, is immune to this type of sensitisation and has better resistance to stress corrosion cracking.
Weldability of grade 316 is excellent by all standard fusion welding methods, with and without filler metals. However, heavy welded sections may require post-weld annealing. This is a common practice for high corrosion resistance applications such as marine environments and coastal facilities.
Stainless Steel 316 has low magnetic properties but can become weakly magnetic when cold worked. It is also resistant to creep rupture at elevated temperatures. The addition of molybdenum also improves the resistance of this grade against chloride ions in marine environments, making it a great option for oil and gas industry applications.
