| Material Group | M - Stainless Steel |
| Sub-Group | Austenitic Stainless Steel |
| Tensile Strength | 510-710 [N/mm^2] |
| Machinability Range | 40% |
Stainless Steel 316 is an austenitic stainless steel alloy with 17% chromium and 13% nickel. It is the most popular stainless steel when high corrosion resistance is required.
It is a chromium-nickel-molybdenum stainless with low carbon (0.08%) content. The low carbon content combined with high chromium/nickel/molybdenum amount results in soft material with high resistance to machining and a low machinability rating of 40%.
The molybdenum gives 316 better corrosion-resistant properties than 304 stainless, notably higher resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride environments.
It is mainly used in food preparation equipment, laboratory devices, chemical containers, fasteners, and heaf-exchangers.
Equivalent International Designations for Stainless Steel 316
| Name | Explanation | Machinability (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 316 (Regular) | 40% | |
| 316L |
L stands for Low Carbon. The carbon amount is 0.03%, vs 0.08% in the other 316 alloys. It is mainly used in pulp-handling equipment, rubber production, and high-temperature equipment.
|
35% |
| 316LVM |
VM stands for Vacuum Melt required to achieve high-level micro-cleanliness. This alloy is mostly used in medical applications such as bone screws
|
35% |
| 316N |
N stands for Nitrogen. It is produced with 0.10–0.16% nitrogen, which improves resistance against pitting and crevice corrosion. 316N is mainly used for chemical handling accessories.
|
~40% |
| 316F |
F stands for Freecut. It has a minimum content of 0.1% of Sulfur, which enhances its machinability. It is primarily used on Swiss-type Machines (Screw Machines) when productivity is a crucial factor.
|
~50% |
The main characteristic of austenitic stainless is the low carbon content combined with high chromium/nickel content. The result is a ductile material with high resistance to machining. Because of its softness, you must use a sharp and positive cutting edge. One of the biggest problems in machining stainless steel 316 is the forming of notch wear at the depth of the cut line, which results in a burr forming on the workpiece. The best method to avoid notch wear is to constantly change the machining depth.
| Standard | Name |
|---|---|
| sae | 316 |
| wnr | 1.4401 |
| din | X5CrNiMo17-13-3 |
| bs | 316S33, 58J |
| ss | 2343 |
| anfor | Z6CND19.12.03 |
| uni | X5CrNiMo1713 |
| unf | F.3543 |
| js1 | SUS316 |
| Element | Amount |
|---|---|
| Chromium (Cr) | 17% |
| Nickel (Ni) | 13% |
| Manganese (Mn) | 2.00% |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 1.50% |
| Silicon (Si)) | 0.75% |
| Carbon (C) | 0.08% |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.04% |
| Sulfur (S) | 0.03% |
| Application | Vc (m/min) | Vc (SFM) |
|---|---|---|
| Turning | 150-200 | 490-660 |
| Milling | 95-125 | 310-410 |
| Parting | 60-80 | 200-260 |
| Grooving | 90-120 | 300-390 |
| Drilling | 45-60 | 150-200 |
| Honing Size | 0.03-0.05 mm / 0.001-0.002" |
| Rake Angle | 9°-11° |
| Land Angle | Positive |
| Land Widt | 0.20-0.30 mm / 0.008-0.012" |
