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316 & 316L Stainless Steel

Austenitic 316L and 316 stainless steel alloys are highly regarded for their numerous beneficial qualities. Due to their high chromium, molybdenum and nickel contents, these two types of stainless steel alloys have superior corrosion resistance and are highly suitable for marine applications. Austenitic 316 and 316L stainless steels are also an appropriate choice for finishing processes such as annealing, heat treating and machining.

Contact us for more information regarding our 316L and 316 stainless steel options today or call us at 800-748-0271 and we would be happy to assist you with any questions that you may have.

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Applications for 316 & 316L Stainless Steel

Stainless steel 316 alloys are often one of the most suitable choices when choosing a stainless steel that requires extreme corrosion resistance. Some of the applications that benefit from the use of stainless steel alloy 316 and 316L include:

  • Manifold Parts
  • Heat Exchanging Equipment
  • Jet Engine Parts
  • Pharmaceutical Equipment
  • Valve and Pump Parts
  • Petrochemical Industries
  • Chemical Processing and Storage Equipment 
  • Refinery Equipment
  • Medical Devices
  • Marine & High Chloride Environments

316 Stainless Steel Weldability

Stainless steel alloys 316 and 316L demonstrate excellent weldability through all standard fusion methods. Certain heavy welded sections of 316 stainless steel may require post-weld annealing for maximum corrosion resistance, however, this process is not required for 316L.

Key Differences Between 316 & 316L Stainless Steel

Standard 316 stainless steel has an increased molybdenum content over 316L, which provides increased resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion within marine environments. The higher molybdenum content also provides better protection when exposed to high-chloride chemicals and acids. In comparison, 316L stainless steel is a low-carbon variation of 316, with a maximum carbon content of 0.03%. This minimizes harmful carbide precipitation caused by welding, allowing for 316L's use in as-welded condition (with no post-weld annealing), or in corrosive applications.

Great Lakes Forge & 316 Stainless Steel Capabilities

Great Lakes Forge provides complete custom forging capabilities for 316 stainless steel and 316L stainless steel. We can deliver forgings up to 4,000 lbs., in lengths up to 120", and from 3.5" to 18" in diameter/thickness. Forgings are available in a range of "standard" shapes, including:

Additionally, we offer low to medium volume production and prototyping, all with the industry's fastest turnaround times. We can provide numerous milling and rough turning capabilities.

Turnkey Driven Results

We use our in-house machine shop, quality-controlled heat treating processes, and proven testing capabilities to guarantee the quality, consistency, and dimensional accuracy.

In addition to 316/316L stainless steel, Great Lakes Forge can forge over 100 different materials. If you need a specific grade of steel for your project, please don't hesitate to contact us. There's a good chance we have the material you need in our inventory, and if we don't, close relationships with our material providers enable us to bring in the material your project requires quickly and cost-effectively.

Contact Great Lakes Forge for 316 & 316L Stainless Steel Forgings

We have the ability and capacity to exceed your 316 and 316L stainless steel forging needs.

Start your quote today on custom 316 and 316L steel forgings for your application or, get in touch for more information regarding our forging 316 stainless steel processes.