SS316 / SS316L
Stainless Steel
Corrosion-resistant molybdenum-bearing austenitic stainless steel supplied in plate, round bar and custom cut sizes for precision engineering, semiconductor, chemical, food, marine and general industrial applications.
No minimum order| From one cut piece to bulk quantities
EN 10204 3.1 MTC | Heat-number traceability where supplied
Cut to size | Bandsaw cutting for engineering blanks
Malaysia + ASEAN | Klang stock and regional supply support
What is SS316 / SS316L?
SS316 and SS316L are molybdenum-alloyed austenitic stainless steels with better resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion than standard 304/304L in many chloride-bearing and chemical environments. The key difference is carbon: 316L limits carbon to 0.03% max, making it commonly preferred for welded fabrication and thick sections where sensitisation risk must be reduced. SS316 and SS316L are often available as dual-certified material when the heat satisfies both specifications.
Available from E STEEL
SS316 / 316L Plate | Full plate or saw-cut engineering blanks for machining, fabrication, jigs, fixtures and equipment parts.
SS316 / 316L Round Bar | Full length or cut-to-length round bar. E STEEL's current published range extends up to Ø360 mm for selected stock.
Custom Cut Pieces | Supply to your thickness × width × length or diameter × length requirement, subject to cutting method and tolerance agreement.
Physical characteristics
Density approximately 8.0 g/cm³
Excellent toughness, including at low temperatures
Generally non-magnetic in solution-annealed condition
Cold working can introduce measurable magnetism
Good formability and weldability when correct procedures are used
Heat treatment
316/316L cannot be hardened by conventional heat treatment. Solution annealing is commonly performed around 1040–1100°C followed by rapid cooling when restoration of corrosion resistance and microstructure is required after suitable processing.
For finished components, heat-treatment requirements should be reviewed against the applicable code or material standard.
SS316 vs SS316L: which should you choose?
Choose 316 when
The drawing specifically calls for 316 / S31600.
The component is not relying on low-carbon chemistry for welded HAZ performance.
The governing standard or engineering specification requires 316.
You need material certified specifically to the 316 grade requirements.
Choose 316L when
The component will be welded, especially in heavier sections.
You want lower carbon to reduce sensitisation risk.
Post-weld solution annealing is impractical.
The drawing specifies 316L / S31603 / 1.4404.
Can dual-certified 316/316L be used?
Often yes — when the material certificate demonstrates compliance with both requested grade requirements and the governing purchase standard accepts it. Dual certification does not automatically make the material interchangeable with 316H or other high-temperature variants.
Corrosion resistance
The molybdenum addition is the principal reason engineers step up from 304/304L to 316/316L when chloride or chemical exposure becomes more demanding.
Where 316/316L performs well
Many food and beverage processing environments
Pharmaceutical and hygienic equipment
General chemical processing equipment
Coastal atmosphere and marine hardware
Process water and moderately chloride-bearing environments
Equipment requiring improved pitting resistance over 304/304L
Important limitations
“Marine grade” does not mean immune to seawater corrosion.
Warm chlorides, stagnant crevices and high chloride concentration can still cause pitting or crevice corrosion.
Stress-corrosion cracking remains a consideration in hot chloride environments.
For severe chloride service, duplex or higher-alloy stainless grades may be more suitable.
Typical SS316 / 316L applications
Final material selection must consider temperature, chloride level, chemicals, fabrication route, required strength, surface finish and design code.
Semiconductor & electronics | Clean equipment parts, fixtures, brackets, process components and precision-machined hardware.
Chemical & petrochemical | Valves, pump parts, flanges, fittings, tanks and equipment exposed to corrosive process media.
Food & beverage | Processing equipment, tanks, fittings, shafts and components requiring cleanable corrosion-resistant surfaces.
Pharmaceutical | Process equipment, hygienic components, mixing hardware and precision fabricated parts.
Marine & coastal | Fittings, shafts and hardware where 304-class corrosion resistance is insufficient.
General precision engineering | Machined plates, bases, shafts, pins, fixtures and one-off or small-batch engineered components.
Cut SS316 / 316L to the size you actually need
For machined components, starting from a correctly sized blank can reduce material waste, handling and downstream machining time.
Bandsaw cut-to-size
Send your material grade, dimensions and quantity. E STEEL can quote full material or cut pieces based on available stock and the most suitable cutting route.
Plate and round-bar cutting
One-off, prototype and production quantities
Cutting list support
Heat-number and MTC traceability
Machining allowance can be agreed before cutting
What is the main difference between SS316 and SS316L?
Carbon content. 316 allows up to 0.08% carbon while 316L limits carbon to 0.03%. The lower-carbon 316L grade is commonly preferred for welded fabrication because it reduces the risk of sensitisation in the heat-affected zone.
Is SS316L magnetic?
Annealed 316L is generally considered non-magnetic or very weakly magnetic. Cold working, machining and forming can produce some magnetic response because part of the austenitic structure may transform during deformation.
Can SS316 or SS316L be hardened by heat treatment?
No. Conventional heat treatment does not harden austenitic 316/316L. Strength and hardness can increase through cold work. Solution annealing is used to restore the desired austenitic condition after suitable processing, not to harden it like martensitic stainless steel.
Is 316L better than 304L?
316L normally offers better resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in many chloride-bearing environments because it contains molybdenum. That does not mean 316L is automatically the correct choice for every chemical, temperature or seawater application.
Can E STEEL cut SS316 / 316L to custom size?
Yes. E STEEL supplies full material and cut-to-size pieces. Send thickness × width × length for plate, or diameter × length for round bar, together with quantity and any machining allowance or specification requirements.
Can I buy only one piece?
Yes. E STEEL supports no-minimum-order requirements, subject to stock availability and the practical minimum charge for material and cutting.
Does SS316L come with a Mill Test Certificate?
Material can be supplied with EN 10204 3.1 Mill Test Certificate where applicable to the ordered stock. The certificate should be checked against the heat number, ordered grade, product standard and required properties.
Is dual-certified 316/316L acceptable?
It can be, provided the MTC shows the heat complies with both grade requirements and your drawing, customer specification or governing code accepts dual certification. Always confirm when the application is code-controlled.
