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MATERIAL RECORD

316L Stainless Steel

A practical 316L stainless steel grade reference covering common designations, low-carbon context, typical uses and selection limits.

Austenitic · Mo alloyedUNS S31603 EN 1.4404 JIS SUS316L

COMMON DESIGNATIONS

Grade identifiers

UNS — Unified Numbering System designation
S31603
EN — European standard number
1.4404
JIS — Japanese Industrial Standards designation
SUS316L

These are commonly cited designation mappings. They do not establish one-to-one equivalence for every product form or specification; confirm the required standard and material certificate.

MATERIAL PROFILE

A low-carbon grade in the 316 family

316L is the low-carbon variant in the 316 family; common designation references include UNS S31603, EN 1.4404 and JIS SUS316L. The British Stainless Steel Association explains that lower-carbon variants were developed to reduce the risk of intercrystalline corrosion after weld-related heat exposure. Molybdenum-bearing 316 grades are considered for service that needs greater resistance to localized corrosion than 304, subject to the actual conditions.

GRADE COMPARISON / 01

How 304, 316L and 430 differ

Compare the alloy families and published chemistry ranges first. They help explain where each grade is commonly considered, but they do not replace a check against the service environment and the specified product standard.

Typical composition ranges (% by mass)

0 — 20%

Cr · Chromium Ni · Nickel Mo · Molybdenum

304

304 Stainless Steel

Austenitic

A widely used austenitic chromium-nickel grade for general-purpose applications that need formability and corrosion resistance.

304 Stainless SteelEach bar shows the listed minimum-to-maximum range on a shared scale from zero to twenty percent. A dash means no range is listed in that reference table; it does not mean the element is physically absent.05101520Cr17.5–19.5%Ni8–10.5%Mo—
Chromium
17.5–19.5%
Nickel
8–10.5%
Molybdenum
Not listed in this table

Selection context

For chloride-rich or more aggressive corrosive service, assess 316/316L or another grade against the actual environment. Grade 304 is not a universal choice; this summary does not qualify material for a specific application.

316L

316L Stainless Steel

Austenitic · Mo alloyedThis page

A low-carbon 316 grade with molybdenum, considered where more resistance to localized corrosion is needed than a basic 304 grade provides.

316L Stainless SteelEach bar shows the listed minimum-to-maximum range on a shared scale from zero to twenty percent. A dash means no range is listed in that reference table; it does not mean the element is physically absent.05101520Cr16–18%Ni10–14%Mo2–3%
Chromium
16–18%
Nickel
10–14%
Molybdenum
2–3%

Selection context

The low-carbon designation and molybdenum addition do not make 316L immune to corrosion. Temperature, chloride concentration, crevices, surface finish, fabrication and the governing standard all affect selection.

430

430 Stainless Steel

Ferritic

A ferritic chromium stainless steel commonly specified in sheet form for mildly corrosive and indoor applications.

430 Stainless SteelEach bar shows the listed minimum-to-maximum range on a shared scale from zero to twenty percent. A dash means no range is listed in that reference table; it does not mean the element is physically absent.05101520Cr16–18%Ni—Mo—
Chromium
16–18%
Nickel
Not listed in this table
Molybdenum
Not listed in this table

Selection context

430 belongs to the ferritic family, while 304 and 316L are austenitic. Check the service environment, fabrication route and required product standard before comparing or substituting grades.

Ranges follow the cited British Stainless Steel Association reference tables for these grade designations. A dash means that table lists no range, not zero content. Product-form standards can differ; verify the specification and mill certificate before ordering.

Composition references

British Stainless Steel Association

APPLICATION CONTEXT

Where it is commonly considered

Often evaluated for chemical and process equipment, food and pharmaceutical facilities, coastal architecture and other applications where the specified environment calls for a molybdenum-bearing austenitic grade. Confirm the exact product standard and service conditions.

SELECTION NOTE

Match the grade to the full environment

The low-carbon designation and molybdenum addition do not make 316L immune to corrosion. Temperature, chloride concentration, crevices, surface finish, fabrication and the governing standard all affect selection.

MATERIAL RECORD

External references

4 cited sources

These sources support the short reference above. Use the contractual product standard, current mill documentation and service conditions for engineering and purchasing decisions.

  1. British Stainless Steel AssociationIndustry associationComparison of 304/316 and 304L/316L
  2. British Stainless Steel AssociationDesignation referenceChemical compositions of austenitic stainless steel grades
  3. World StainlessDesignation referenceStainless steel grades in ISO 15510:2010
  4. WikipediaBackground referenceSAE 316L stainless steel

Continue through the grade index

All stainless grades
304304 Stainless Steel430430 Stainless Steel