What are the differences in material properties between stainless steel 316 and 316L?
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The difference between stainless steel grades 316 and 316L lies in their carbon content: the limit for 316 is 0.8%, while for 316L it is 0.3%; the nickel and chromium contents are the same in both grades. What differences in properties do this cause in the material? What application scenarios are these two materials suitable for respectively?
I’m not sure which materials science textbooks cover such issues.
It mainly depends on the application scenario: choose 316L for corrosive environments or applications that require welding; opt for 316 if high strength is required