316/316L stainless steel powder

316L-type stainless steel is a version of 316 steel alloy, which contains especially low amount of carbon.

Alloys 316 and 316L are molybdenum-bearing austenitic stainless steels, which are more resistant to general corrosion and pitting/crevice corrosion than the conventional chromium-nickel austenitic stainless steels. These alloys also have better mechanical properties at high temperature. Besides excellent properties of corrosion resistance and strength, alloys 316 and 316L also ensure great processing and shaping, which are typical to austenitic stainless steels.

Alloy 316/316L is resistant to atmospheric corrosion, as well as to average oxidising and reducing environment. It is also resistant to corrosion in the marine environment. Alloys 316/316L are frequently used in the process flows, which contain chlorides or halides. By adding some molybdenum, the generic resistance to corrosion and resistance to chloride improve. Alloy 316/316L has excellent strength and tenacity at cryogenic temperature.

However, there is one exception, which is oxidising acids such as nitric acid where stainless steel, which contains molybdenum, is less resistant. Allow 316/316L works best in the processes containing sulphur such as pulp and paper industries.

Alloy 316/316L is not magnetic in the annealed state; however, it can be slightly magnetic due to cold processing or welding.

Usual intended use of 316-type stainless steel is for structures and constructions of exhaust manifolds, furnace parts, heat exchangers, parts of jet engines, equipment of pharmacy and photography, parts of valves and pumps, chemical processing equipment, tanks and evaporators. It is also used to the equipment of cellulose, paper and textile processing and to any other facilities of the marine environment.