SS316 Tube Sheet
Molybdenum-bearing stainless for moderate chloride service — the right choice over 316L whenever the tube-to-sheet joint is purely expanded rather than welded, saving the 316L cost premium without giving up any corrosion resistance where it matters.
Chemical Composition
| Element | Min % | Max % |
|---|---|---|
| Chromium (Cr) | 16.0 | 18.0 |
| Nickel (Ni) | 10.0 | 14.0 |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 2.0 | 3.0 |
| Carbon (C) | — | 0.08 |
| Manganese (Mn) | — | 2.0 |
Mechanical Properties
| Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 515 MPa min |
| Yield Strength (0.2% offset) | 205 MPa min |
| Elongation | 40% min |
| Brinell Hardness | 217 HB max |
Equivalent Grades
| Standard | Designation |
|---|---|
| ASTM / UNS | S31600 |
| EN / DIN | 1.4401 |
| JIS | SUS316 |
316 vs. 316L — Which One
See the full SS316 vs SS316L comparison for the detailed reasoning.
Available Product Forms
SS316 is offered across all structural types, most commonly as Fixed or Floating Tube Sheets with expanded (non-welded) tube joints.
Applications
Chemical processing and moderate chloride service where tubes are expanded rather than welded into the sheet — the most common configuration in general industrial heat exchange. For welded joints, see SS316L.
Advantages & Limitations
Advantages
- Good chloride and pitting resistance from molybdenum
- Lower cost than 316L for non-welded applications
- Widely stocked, standard lead times
Limitations
- Weld sensitization risk if used in a welded joint
- Not suitable for high-chloride/seawater service (use Duplex)
- Marginal cost saving over 316L makes 316L the safer default for many buyers
FAQ
For high-volume orders or where the price difference is more significant at scale, choosing correctly based on joint type (expanded vs. welded) can be a meaningful cost factor. If your joint is genuinely non-welded and the price gap is negligible, many buyers do simply default to 316L for the added margin of safety.
Not recommended without post-weld heat treatment to address sensitization risk. If there's any chance the joint design will change to welded, specifying 316L from the start avoids the complication.
316 is fully austenitic and non-magnetic in the annealed condition, though cold working during fabrication can introduce slight magnetism at the surface — this is normal and doesn't indicate a material defect.