What Are the Differences Between 316L Stainless Steel Pipe and 316 Stainless Steel Pipe?

Many people should know that there are many materials for stainless steel pipes, such as 304, 316, and 316L. However, many people who are not familiar with them often think that 316 and 316L are the same, and they do not know what they represent. Today, let's talk about the differences between 316L stainless steel pipes and 316 stainless steel pipes.

Difference in production cost between 316L stainless steel pipes and 316 stainless steel pipes

316L stainless steel contains less carbon and is easy to weld, so the price of 316L stainless steel pipes is higher than that of 316 stainless steel pipes, but the difference is not significant. In addition, 316L stainless steel can also be called ultra-low carbon steel plate 316 stainless steel.

Difference in strength between 316L stainless steel pipes and 316 stainless steel pipes

The tensile strength of 316 stainless steel pipes is higher than that of 316L stainless steel pipes. The tensile strength of 316 stainless steel pipes is higher than 520 MPa, while the tensile strength of 316L stainless steel pipes is only over 480 Mpa. This is because carbon is a strong element that forms austenite and can significantly improve the strength of stainless steel pipes.

Specific application differences between 316L stainless steel pipes and 316 stainless steel pipes

The cost difference between 316L stainless steel and 316 stainless steel is not significant. The corrosion resistance and weldability of 316L stainless steel are significantly better than those of ordinary 316 stainless steel. From the perspective of manufacturers, stainless steel factories are not willing to produce them because the requirements for ordinary 316 stainless steel are low. Therefore, the actual circulation in the market is mostly low-carbon 316L stainless steel, and ordinary 316 stainless steel is rarely sold unless there are special requirements.

Difference in welding treatment between 316L stainless steel pipes and 316 stainless steel pipes

Carbon has a negative impact on the corrosion resistance of stainless steel pipes. Especially for stainless steel pipes that need to be welded, the corrosion resistance of low-carbon 316L stainless steel is lower than that of 316 stainless steel after welding. The welded section of 316 stainless steel needs to be solution annealed after welding. If 316L stainless steel is used, there is no need for solution annealing after welding.

Difference in corrosion resistance between 316L stainless steel pipes and 316 stainless steel pipes

316L stainless steel pipes have stronger corrosion resistance and are suitable for strong corrosion areas such as the seaside. In addition, 316 stainless steel pipes should not be considered under the former conditions.

Difference in scope of application between 316L stainless steel pipes and 316 stainless steel pipes

In most cases, 304 stainless steel pipes are sufficient to meet application requirements. Because 316L stainless steel pipes are relatively expensive, from the perspective of material cost, the amount of 316L stainless steel pipes used is about 1.5 times that of 304 stainless steel pipes, so the use of 316L steel pipes should be customized.

The above is the relevant answer to the differences between 316L stainless steel pipes and 316 stainless steel pipes. YUHONG focuses on the design, research and development, and production of stainless steel piping systems, and quickly applies them to the industrial field. Thanks to the technicality of the products, they have been well received in the industrial air compression field since their introduction.