Stainless Steel 316LMarine-Grade Austenitic Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel 316L is a high-performance marine-grade austenitic stainless steel with enhanced molybdenum content for superior corrosion resistance. Offering exceptional ductility, toughness, and strength, it delivers reliable performance in demanding chemical, medical, and industrial environments where corrosion resistance is critical.
Quick Specifications
Advanced Materials
Marine-Grade Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel 316L is a marine-grade austenitic stainless steel specifically optimized for DMLS additive manufacturing. With enhanced molybdenum content (2.25-3.0%), it provides superior corrosion resistance in chloride environments compared to standard 304 stainless steel. The material exhibits excellent ductility, toughness, and strength while maintaining biocompatibility for medical applications. Its chemical composition complies with ASTM F138 standards for surgical implants, making it ideal for both industrial and medical applications.
Critical Applications
From mission-critical aerospace components to precision medical implants, Stainless Steel 316L delivers unmatched performance in the most demanding applications. Its exceptional superior corrosion resistance in marine and chemical environments, excellent biocompatibility for medical device applications, high ductility and toughness for complex geometries make it essential for applications where failure is not an option.
Medical Devices
Surgical instruments, implants, and medical equipment requiring biocompatibility and corrosion resistance
Chemical Processing
Chemical handling equipment, valves, and components for corrosive environments
Food Processing
Food-grade equipment, processing machinery, and components requiring hygiene standards
Marine Applications
Marine hardware, boat components, and offshore equipment exposed to saltwater environments
Industrial Equipment
Corrosion-resistant industrial components, heat exchangers, and precision machinery parts
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Technical Datasheet
Advanced Manufacturing
Built with Precision DMLS Technology
Stainless Steel 316L is manufactured using Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) technology, providing unmatched strength and precision for mission-critical applications.
Industrial-grade DMLS technology delivers exceptional strength and precision for Stainless Steel 316L production. Our advanced metal powder fusion process ensures optimal mechanical properties and surface quality.
- Layer Height: 20-80 μm. Fine layer resolution delivers smooth surface finish and precise feature definition.
- Tolerance: ± 20-50 μm (small parts), ± 0.2% (large parts). Consistent dimensional accuracy across complex geometries and thin-wall features.
- Build Volume: 400 × 400 × 400 mm. Large production capacity enables efficient manufacturing of multiple parts or assemblies.
Technical Data
Mechanical Properties
Stainless Steel 316L exhibits excellent mechanical properties, making it ideal for functional prototypes and end-use parts that need to meet demanding performance requirements in medical devices and chemical processing applications.
Technical Specifications
| Measurement | Value | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile Strength (Horizontal) | 640 MPa | ISO/ASTM |
| Tensile Strength (Vertical) | 540 MPa | ISO/ASTM |
| Yield Strength (Horizontal) | 530 MPa | ISO/ASTM |
| Yield Strength (Vertical) | 470 MPa | ISO/ASTM |
| Elongation (Horizontal) | 40 % | ISO/ASTM |
| Elongation (Vertical) | 54 % | ISO/ASTM |
| Young's Modulus (Horizontal) | 185 GPa | ISO/ASTM |
| Young's Modulus (Vertical) | 180 GPa | ISO/ASTM |
| Hardness | 89 HRB | ISO/ASTM |
Performance Characteristics
Stainless Steel 316L delivers exceptional mechanical performance with high strength-to-weight ratio for structural applications, effectively handling demanding load conditions. Its balanced mechanical profile allows it to maintain structural integrity while preventing brittleness in critical applications.
These qualities make it well-suited for surgical instruments and medical implants, chemical processing equipment and valves, food processing machinery and components, providing long-term durability in demanding environments. Stainless Steel 316L maintains dimensional stability over time, ensuring consistent performance across temperature and stress variations.
This makes it a reliable choice for applications requiring precise geometries and tight tolerances across medical devices, chemical processing, food & beverage industries. Its versatility and durability allow it to perform consistently across a wide range of mechanical applications, ensuring parts maintain their integrity under repetitive stress and environmental conditions.
Key Strengths
Ideal Applications
Design Considerations
Technical Data
Thermal Properties
Stainless Steel 316L exhibits exceptional thermal stability and outstanding performance in demanding thermal environments.
Technical Specifications
| Property | Value | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal Expansion (25-100°C) | 15.72 ×10⁻⁶/K | ISO/ASTM |
| Thermal Expansion (25-200°C) | 16.75 ×10⁻⁶/K | ISO/ASTM |
| Thermal Expansion (25-300°C) | 17.27 ×10⁻⁶/K | ISO/ASTM |
| Thermal Expansion (25-400°C) | 17.70 ×10⁻⁶/K | ISO/ASTM |
Thermal Performance
Stainless Steel 316L's thermal properties ensure minimal dimensional deviation under fluctuating thermal conditions, making it highly suitable for applications requiring tight tolerances and structural integrity at elevated temperatures. Stainless Steel 316L maintains consistent mechanical performance even in thermally and environmentally variable conditions across medical devices and chemical processing and food & beverage and marine and aerospace and industrial manufacturing and architecture applications.
Its thermal conductivity and insulating properties make it an excellent candidate for electronic enclosures, protective housings, and thermal management applications. Stainless Steel 316L resists thermal fatigue and creep deformation, particularly in cyclic thermal loading environments.
Prolonged exposure to temperatures approaching its upper limit may lead to gradual material degradation. In applications requiring sustained operation in high-temperature environments, consult with our engineering team for material recommendations and design guidelines.
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Operating Range
Thermal Benefits
Thermal Applications
Thermal Considerations
Technical Data
Electrical Properties
Electrical property data for Stainless Steel 316L is not currently available in our database.
Technical Specifications
| Property | Standard | Unit | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical property data not available for this material. Contact our engineering team for specific electrical testing requirements. | |||
Electrical Performance
Electrical property data for Stainless Steel 316L is not currently available in our database. This material may not have been specifically tested for electrical applications, or the data may be available upon request.
If you require electrical performance data for your application, please contact our engineering team who can provide guidance on testing requirements and material suitability.
Resources
Electrical Applications
Electrical Considerations
Technical Data
Chemical Properties
Stainless Steel 316L chemical compatibility data for reference and design considerations.
Chemical Compatibility Chart
| Chemical | Type | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
| Seawater | Salt Solution | Excellent |
| Chloride Solutions | Salt Solution | Excellent |
| Weak Acids | Acid | Good to Excellent |
| Alkaline Solutions | Base | Good |
| Organic Solvents | Solvent | Excellent |
| Food Products | Acid | Excellent |
| Pharmaceutical Solutions | Solvent | Excellent |
| Strong Acids (HCl, H2SO4) | Acid | Moderate |
| Atmospheric Corrosion | Oxidizer | Excellent |
| Industrial Chemicals | Solvent | Good to Excellent |
Chemical Performance
Stainless Steel 316L chemical compatibility data is provided for reference and design considerations. Please refer to the compatibility chart above for specific chemical resistance ratings.
For applications involving chemical exposure, please consult the compatibility chart and contact our team for application-specific guidance.
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Resistance Categories
Chemical Considerations
Design Considerations
Technical Data
Biocompatibility & Compliance
Stainless Steel 316L is biocompatible, meeting ISO 10993-1 (Biocompatibility) standards, making it safe for short-term contact with skin and mucosal membranes.
Compliance Standards
| Property | Compliance | Standard/Regulation |
|---|---|---|
| ASTM F138 | Yes | Standard specification for surgical implant grade stainless steel |
| UNS S31673 | Yes | Unified numbering system designation for 316L stainless steel |
| EN 1.4441 | Yes | European standard for 316L stainless steel |
| ISO 10993-1 (Biocompatibility) | Yes | Biological evaluation for medical devices |
| FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 | Yes | Food contact compliance for stainless steel |
| EU 1935/2004 | Yes | European food contact materials regulation |
| REACH Regulation | Yes | European chemicals regulation compliance |
| RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU | Yes | Restriction of hazardous substances compliance |
Compliance Resources
Medical Applications
Material Datasheets
Download comprehensive technical documentation for Stainless Steel 316L, including safety data, compliance certificates, and design guidelines.
Technical Datasheets
Compliance Certificates
Design Resources
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