Stainless Steel Plate 316 and 316L ASTM A240

316 and 316L Stainless Steel Plate Overview

Grade 316 stainless steel plate is the standard molybdenum-bearing grade of stainless steel plate. The molybdenum gives 316 stainless steel plate better overall corrosion resistant properties than grade 304 stainless steel plate. It has particularly higher resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride environments. 316 stainless steel plate has excellent forming and welding characteristics. It is readily brake or roll formed into a variety of parts for applications in the industrial, architectural, and transportation fields. Grade 316 stainless steel plate also has outstanding welding characteristics. Grade 316L stainless steel plate is the low carbon version of 316 stainless steel plate and is extensively used in heavy gauge welded components.

Penn Stainless Products stocks both 316 and 316L stainless steel plates in plate mill plate and coil plates. A diverse number of widths and lengths are available. 316 and 316L stainless steel plate mill plate comes in widths of 48”, 60”, 72” and 2 meters (78.74”), 84”, 96” and 120”.  The plates come in 96”, 120”, 144”, and 240” in length. We typically stock 316 and 316L stainless steel coil plates in widths including 36”, 48”, 60”, 72” and 2 meters. Stainless steel plate coil is typically inventoried in lengths of in 96”, 120”, 144”, and 240”, but custom lengths are typically available in plate coil.

Chemical Composition of 316 and 316L Stainless Steel Plate

316 and 316L stainless steel plate has a relatively similar chemical composition, however, chemically there is one very important difference. This difference lies in the amount of carbon within each type of stainless steel plate. 316 stainless steel plate is comprised of at most 0.08% carbon while 316L stainless steel plate only contains up to 0.03% carbon. 316 and 316L stainless steel plate both are composed of no more than 2.0% manganese, 0.75% silicon and 0.045% phosphorous. Both 316 and 316L contain at most 0.03% sulfur, between 16.00% and 18.00% chromium, and between 2.0% and 3.0% molybdenum. 316 and 316L stainless steel plate also contains between 10.0% and 14.0% nickel and no more than 0.10% nitrogen.

Mechanical Properties of 316 and 316L Stainless Steel Plate

These stainless steel plates have some very important mechanical properties. Grade 316 stainless steel plate has a minimum tensile strength of 75 ksi and a yield strength at 0.2% of 30 ksi. 316 stainless steel plate has a 40% elongation. On the Brinell hardness scale 316 stainless steel plate has a hardness of 217 and a Rockwell B hardness of 95. There are a few differences in mechanical properties between 316 and 316L stainless steel plate. One of these difference lies in the tensile strength. The minimum tensile strength of 316L stainless steel plate is 70 ksi. The yield strength at 0.2% is 25 ksi. 316L stainless steel has an elongation of 40%, a hardness of 217 on the Brinell scale and a 95 on the Rockwell B scale.

Physical Properties of 316 and 316L Stainless Steel Plate

The density of 316 and 316L stainless steel plate is 0.29 lbM/in^3 at 68℉. The thermal conductivity of grade 316 and 316L stainless steel plate is 100.8 BTU/h ft. at 68℉ to 212℉. The coefficient of thermal expansion is 8.9in x 10^-6 at 32℉-212℉. Between 32℉ and 1,000℉ the coefficient of thermal expansion is 9.7 in x 10^-6, and between 32℉ and 1,500℉ the coefficient of thermal expansion is 11.1 in x 10^-6. The specific heat of 316 and 316L stainless steel plate is 0.108 BTU/lb at 68℉ and at 200℉ it is 0.116 BTU/lb. The melting range of 316 and 316L stainless steel plate is between 2,500℉ and 2,550℉.

Specifications of 316 and 316L Stainless Steel Plate

316 and 316L Stainless Steel Plate Applications and Usage

This type of stainless steel plate has become very popular in the chemical, medical and pharmaceutical industry due to its strong resistance to corrosion. 316 and 316L stainless steel plate has a higher chromium content and molybdenum which makes this type of stainless steel plate resistant to corrosive elements. Because of its composition, 316 and 316L stainless steel plate is more tolerant of corrosion than its 304 and 304L stainless steel plate counterpart. 316 and 316L stainless steel plate also has many applications in the food processing industry, in sinks and splash backs, cutlery, saucepans and other equipment used in the dairy, wine, and beer processing industry.  316 and 316L stainless steel plate is also commonly utilized in the textile and paper processing industry, along with in water treatment and petroleum refining systems. Because of its tolerance for corrosive mediums, 316 and 316L stainless steel plate is utilized in marine environment as well. Another common use for 316 and 316L stainless steel plate is in the production and use of pressure vessels, tanks, heat exchangers, piping systems, flanges, fittings valves and pumps. Additional areas where 316 and 316L stainless steel plate is commonly utilized is in the production of lab equipment and in chemical processing and storage. 316 and 316L stainless steel plate is also found in pollution control equipment and mining tools such as screens. 316 and 316L stainless steel plate is also frequently used in coastal architecture, costal balustrading and in boat fittings. 316 and 316L stainless steel plate can also be made into nuts, bolts, springs, screws, and tubing.

316 and 316L Stainless Steel Plate Processing and Fabrication Options

• Plasma cutting
• Plate saw cutting
• Shearing
• Laser cutting
• Waterjet cutting
• Forming
• Welding
• Machining
• Plate leveling

316 and 316L Stainless Steel Plate FAQs