AISI 316 Stainless Steel Properties, SS 316 Grade Density, Composition, Yield Resistance, Thermal Conductivity

February 5, 2024 Luciano Bertene

AISI 316 stainless steel (UNS S31600)

AISI 316 stainless steel (UNS S31600) is the second most commonly used austenitic stainless steel. Due to the addition of Molybdenum (Mo), SS 316 shows a great improvement in corrosion resistance and certain properties compared to SS304.

Stainless steel 316L (UNS S31603) is the low carbon version of AISI 316. SS 316 is better than SS 304 in terms of corrosion resistance, heat resistance and certain properties, but the price is higher than AISI 304, For more details, check stainless steel grade 304 vs 316 and 316 vs 316L.

SS 316 Datasheet and Specifications

The data sheet and specifications of ASTM SAE AISI 316 stainless steel are listed in the table below, including chemical composition and properties.

Grade 316 Stainless Steel Properties

The properties of AISI ASTM 316 stainless steel such as chemical composition, physical properties, mechanical properties and magnetic properties are summarized in the tables below.

AISI 316 Chemical Composition

Table 1, composition of AISI 316 stainless steel, more results see the stainless steel composition table.

		Chemical Composition Type 316,% (≤)
ASTM	AISI type (UNS)	W	Yes	Mn	P	s	Cr	No	Mo	N
ASTM A276/A276M	316 (UNS S31600)	0.08	1.00	2:00	0.045	0.030	16.0-18.0	10.0-14.0	2:00-3:00
ASTM A240/A240M	316 (UNS S31600)	0.08	0.75	2:00	0.045	0.030	16.0-18.0	10.0-14.0	2:00-3:00	0.10

Grades:

ASTM A276/A276M : Standard Specification for Stainless Steel Bars and Shapes
ASTM A240/A240M : Standard specification for chromium and chromium-nickel stainless steel plates, sheets and strips for pressure vessels and general applications

Mechanical properties

The following tables show the mechanical properties of AISI 316 grade stainless steel, such as yield strength, tensile strength, elongation and hardness, etc.

Table 2, Properties of SS 316 Stainless Steel, data is for 25.4 mm (1 in.) diameter bar

	Mechanical Properties of SS 316
Type	Tensile strength (MPa), ≥	Yield strength, ≥ (MPa) with 0.2% displacement	Elongation by 50 mm (%), ≥	Area reduction (%)	Hardness (HBW), ≤	Illness
316 (UNS S31600)	580	290	50		79 HRB	Annealed sheet
	550	240	60	70	212	Annealed bar
	620	415	45	65	275	Annealed and cold drawn bar

Table 3, ASTM 316 Stainless Steel Properties

		ASTM 316 Mechanical Properties
ASTM	Type	Tensile strength (MPa) ≥	0.2% yield strength ≥ (MPa)	Elongation by 50 mm (%, ≥)	Area Reduction, %, ≥	Brinell hardness (HBW) ≤	Rockwell hardness (HRBW) ≤	products	Conditions
ASTM A240/A240M	316 (UNS S31600)	515	205	40	–	217	95	Plate, Sheet and Strip	–
ASTM A276/A276M		515	205	40	50	–	–	Bars and Shapes	Annealed, hot finished
		620	310	30	40	–	–		Annealed, cold finished, diameter ≤ 12.7 mm
		515	205	30	40	–	–		Annealed, cold finished, diameter > 12.7 mm

Physical properties of SS 316 materials

The technical sheet below shows the physical properties of the SS 316 material, such as density, melting point, thermal conductivity, thermal and magnetic expansion, modulus of elasticity, specific thermal capacity, etc.

Physical Properties of SS 316
Density of 316 stainless steel (g/cm3)	8.03
Melting Point of 316 Stainless Steel	1370-1398℃
Specific heat capacity, J/(Kg·K)	502 at 20℃
Electrical resistivity, μΩ·m	0.74 (20℃)
Magnetic permeability	1.02 (approximate)
Modulus of elasticity (Modulus of elasticity), GPa	193 (28× ¹⁰⁶ psi)
Thermal diffusivity, mm2/s	4.05 (20-100℃)
Thermal conductivity of 316 stainless steel, (W/m·K)	12.1 (20℃)
	16.3 (100℃)
	21.5 (500℃)
Coefficient of thermal expansion, (10 ^-6 /K)	15.9 (20-100℃)
	16.2 (20-300℃)
	17.5 (20-500℃)

316 Magnetic Properties

Type 316 steel is not magnetic, but may be weakly magnetic after cold working.

Heat resistance SS316

SS 316 has good oxidation resistance in intermittent use below 871 °C and continuous use up to 927 °C in air. In the range of 427°C – 857°C, it is best not to continuously use SS 316, but when 316 stainless steel is used continuously outside this temperature range, it has good heat resistance. 316L stainless steel has better resistance to carbide precipitation than AISI 316 and can be used in the above temperature range.

AISI SAE ASTM 316 heat treatment

The heat treatment of AISI 316 stainless steel is summarized in the following content, such as annealing, hardening, etc.

Solution treatment (annealing temperature)

Annealing at a temperature range of 1010-1065 °C and then rapid cooling. The surface of type 316 stainless steel must be thoroughly cleaned before annealing and must be protected with vacuum, hydrogen or inert gas to prevent the formation of an oxide layer during the annealing process.

Homogenization treatment

The temperature for homogenization heat treatment is about 1250°C.

Forging Temperature

The typical forging temperature of AISI 316 stainless steel is 925-1260°C (1700-2300℉).

Hardening

Type 316 SS cannot be hardened by heat treatment, but can be hardened by cold working.

Stress Relief Temperature

When welding 316 stainless steel is not suitable for full annealing, the residual stress can be moderately reduced below 600°C, which makes it have good creep resistance.

Cold work

AISI 316 grade stainless steel is suitable for cold working such as cold heading, cold drawing and cold riveting, but it is harder than carbon steel.

Machining

AISI 316 stainless steel has higher strength and higher work hardening rate than carbon steel and low alloy steel, so it is more difficult to process. Therefore, greater power and lower processing speeds are required, which can result in reduced tool life and difficulty in obtaining a smooth surface.

AISI 316 welding

Type 316 stainless steel has good weldability and does not require preheating, but requires a similar filler material composition but a high alloy content. To avoid solder cracking, ensure that the solder contains 5-10% ferrite during the soldering process. To prevent weld corrosion, the carbon content can be reduced, for example, by using ultra-low carbon 316L stainless steel, stabilized stainless steel or by adding niobium (Nb). For optimum corrosion resistance, smoothness and ductility, SS 316 may require subsequent annealing after welding or heat treatment. Because intergranular corroded chromium carbide is dissolved during the annealing process.

Post-weld heat treatment: If performed, 950-1150°C (1740-2100°F), or stress relief below 650°C (1200°F) to prevent weld deterioration.

Corrosion resistance

AISI 316 stainless steel has better corrosion resistance than 304 stainless steel and has good corrosion resistance in pulp and paper production. Furthermore, SS Type 316 also has good corrosion resistance in aggressive marine and industrial atmospheres.

Following is the application range of corrosion resistance chart of AISI 316 stainless steel in chloride ion medium for reference.

Applications of AISI SAE ASTM 316

The main uses of AISI 316 stainless steel are heat exchangers for pulp and paper equipment, dyeing equipment, film processing equipment, tubes, solenoid valves, clamps, balls, valve bodies, valve seats, nuts, rods valves, flanges and outdoor materials. use in coastal areas, etc. Also used in marine environment and as food grade stainless steel.

Equivalent to AISI 316

ASTM type 316 stainless steel equivalent to ISO, European EN (German DIN, British BSI, French NF), Japanese JIS and Chinese GB standard (for reference).

Table 3, type 316 stainless steel equivalent chart.

Chart equivalent to AISI 316

USA

European Union

Germany

Great Britain (United Kingdom)

ISO

Japan

China

Australia

India

Russia