SAE 316L grade stainless steel, sometimes referred to as A4 stainless steel or marine grade stainless steel, is the second most common austenitic stainless steel after 304/A2 stainless steel. Its primary alloying constituents after iron, are chromium (between 16–18%), nickel (10–12%) and molybdenum (2–3%), with small (<1%) quantities of silicon, phosphorus & sulfur also present. The addition of molybdenum provides greater corrosion resistance than 304, with respect to localized corrosive attack by chlorides and to general corrosion by reducing acids, such as sulfuric acid. 316L grade is the low carbon version of 316 stainless steel. When cold worked, 316 can produce high yield and tensile strengths similar to Duplex stainless grades.
It is commonly used in chemical and petrochemical industry, in food processing, pharmaceutical equipment, medical devices, in potable water, wastewater treatment, in marine applications and architectural applications near the seashore or in urban areas.
AISI 316/AISI 316L (1.4401/1.4404/V4A)
Different grades of stainless steel are distinguished according to their chemical composition. Depending on the amounts of special additives contained in the steel alloy, the different proportions determine the physical properties of the material and therefore its possible applications.
One of the most popular stainless steel grade for applications in architecture, industry and especially in the chemical industry is the material AISI 316 or AISI 316L.
Standard Steel Grade Chemical composition % C: Mn: Si: P: S: Cr: Ni: Mo: N: EN 1.4401 - X5CrNiMo17-12-2 <0.07 <2.0 <1.0 <0.045 <0.015 16.5 - 18.5 10.0 - 13.0 2.0 - 2.5 <0.11 EN 1.4404 - X2CrNiMo17-12-2 <0.03 <2.0 <1.0 <0.045 <0.030 16.5 - 18.5 10.0 - 13.0 2.0 - 2.5 <0.11 ASTM AISI 316 - TP316 - UNS S31600 <0.08 <2.0 <1.0 <0.045 <0.030 16.0 - 18.0 10.0 - 14.0 2.0 - 3.0 - ASTM AISI 316L - TP316L - UNS S31603 <0.08 <2.0 <0.8 <0.045 <0.030 16.0 - 18.0 11.0 - 14.0 2.0 - 2.5 - PN 00H17N14M2 <0.03 <2.0 <0.8 <0.045 <0.030 16.0 - 18.0 12.0 - 15.0 2.0 - 2.5 - GOST 03Ch17N13M2 - 03Х17Н13М2 <0.03 1.0 - 2.0 <0.4 <0.030 <0.020 16.8 - 18.3 13.5 - 15.0 2.2 - 2.8 - NF Z3CND17-11-02 <0.03 <2.0 <1.0 <0.040 <0.030 16.0 - 18.0 10.0 - 12.0 2.0 - 2.5 - NF Z7CND17-11-02 <0.07 <2.0 <1.0 <0.040 <0.030 16.0 - 18.0 10.0 - 12.0 2.0 - 2.5 -
1.4404, 1.4401, AISI 316/L - application and specification
Austenitic stainless steel is resistant to intergranular corrosion, used mainly in environments containing harmful chlorides, acids and urea. 316/316L is the basic grade from the CrNiMo group with Molybdenum, the addition of which significantly increases the resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion of steel by 2-3 times.
What is stainless steel AISI 316/AISI 316L?
AISI 316/AISI 316L, also known in German-speaking countries as "Edelstahl 1.4401/1.4404" and "V4A", is a higher-quality alloy compared to the material AISI 304 ("1.4301" and “V2A” in German-speaking countries) with added molybdenum and an increased chromium and nickel content, which means that the material has a higher resistance to corrosion. The addition of molybdenum makes this stainless steel more corrosion and oxidation resistant and very suitable for applying for instance in areas near the sea or in a slightly alkaline environment. This material is easy to process, form and weld.
The abbreviation AISI stands for "American Iron and Steel Institute", which set up the certain standards to which stainless steel grades AISI 304, AISI 316 and AISI 316L should correspond.
The ending "L" has been added to some of the alloys. When comparing AISI 316 and AISI 316L we can see quite identical chemical compositions. However, there is a significant difference – L stands for "low" in relation to the slightly lower carbon content.
V4A, X2CrNiMo17-12-2, 1.4404 – Synonyms of AISI 316/AISI 316L
The stainless steel AISI 316/AISI 316L has become a popular material in today's markets and is being manufactured in various countries around the globe. The rules for forming its name, which consists of alphabetical and numerical symbols, are governed by the regulations and ordinances of each country. In the USA as well as in European and non-European countries, different specific designations systems are used for this stainless steel grade.
Below mirrorINOX would like to give a rough overview of the different names of this material and their origin.
1.4404
1.4404 is the numeric designation for this grade of austenitic stainless steel according to the European Standard, where for the exact designation of material, experts use this option (as for other grades the designations for instance 1.4301, 1.4571 or 1.4404 are preferred).
V4A
Already before the end of the 19th century, it was discovered that the corrosion resistance of steel could be improved by adding nickel and chromium. The decisive step was taken in Germany in 1912. By adding nickel and chromium and by means of the right heat treatment, the optimal combination of excellent corrosion resistance and good mechanical properties was achieved for the first time.
The abbreviations "V2A" and "V4A" consist of the letters "V" for the German word "Versuch" (which means "trial", "test", "experiment") and the letter "A" for "Austenit” ("austenite") plus the figures 2 and 4 indicating the ordinal number of the successful tests in which the inventors reached the required properties of the alloy. These designations are very common in colloquial language of German-speaking countries and some others.
X2CrNiMo17-12-2
The historical German name for AISI 316L is "X2CrNiMo17-12-2". This classification was developed by the German Institute for Standardization (Deutsche Institut für Normung), which is colloquially often referred to as "according to DIN standards" or simply "according to DIN".
The characters X2 in this classification mean that the material contains less than 0.03 percent by weight of carbon that improves significantly the weldability of the material. (For your information: X5 stands for less than 0.07 wt%, X10 – less than 0.10 wt%).
Further symbols in this designation indicate the mass fraction of the alloy elements chromium, nickel and molybdenum in the steel composition, namely: chromium 17.5 wt%, nickel 12.5 wt% and molybdenum 2.5 wt%.
Stainless steel AISI 316/AISI 316L: Properties
The stainless steel with the material number AISI 316/AISI 316L is characterized by excellent resistance to various aggressive media, heat resistance and higher expansion rate. It is much more stable, for example when used in an environment with salty or acidic air.
AISI 316/1.4404 has excellent mechanical and anti-corrosive properties even at more extreme temperatures. AISI 316 is easy to process and to weld, has increased ductility and better formability.
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