316 vs 316L stainless steel pipe
316 vs 316L stainless steel pipe(Difference between 316 and 316L stainless steel pipe)
316 and 316L are two kinds of stainless steel materials. The main differences between 316 and 316L stainless steel tubes are chemical properties, mechanical properties, practical applications, and prices.
316 vs 316L stainless steel pipe chemical properties
| UNS | C | Mn | P | S | Si | Cr | Ni | Mo | |
| TP316 | S3160 | ≤0.08 | ≤2.00 | ≤0.045 | ≤0.030 | ≤1.00 | 16.0-18.0 | 11.0-14.0 | 2.0-3.0 |
| UNS | C | Mn | P | S | Si | Cr | Ni | Mo | |
| TP316L | S31609 | ≤0.035 | ≤2.00 | ≤0.045 | ≤0.030 | ≤1.00 | 16.0-18.0 | 11.0-14.0 | 2.0-3.0 |
316L stainless steel tubes have lower carbon content than 316 stainless steel tubes. It can be said that "316L" is an ultra-low carbon 316 stainless steel tube.
Carbon has a detrimental effect on corrosion resistance. Especially for stainless steel tubes that require welding, the corrosion resistance of low-carbon 316L stainless steel tubes is not as large as that of 316 stainless steel tubes.
In order to obtain the best corrosion resistance, the welded section of the 316 stainless steel tube needs post-weld solution annealing. The 316L stainless steel tube does not require post-weld solution annealing.
316 vs 316L stainless steel pipe mechanical properties
| Heat Treatment | Temperure Min.℉（℃） | Tensile Strength Ksi(MPa) | Yield Strength Ksi(MPa) | Elongation | |||||
| TP316 | Solution | 1900(1040) | ≥75(515) | ≥30(205) | ≥35 | ||||
| Heat Treatment | Temperure Min.℉（℃） | Tensile Strength Ksi(MPa) | Yield Strength Ksi(MPa) | Elongation | |||||
| TP316L | Solution | 1900(1040) | ≥70(485) | ≥25(170) | ≥35 | ||||
The tensile strength of 316 stainless steel pipe is larger than that of 316L stainless steel pipe. The tensile strength of 316 stainless steel is greater than 515MPa. The tensile strength of 316L stainless steel is only required to be greater than 485MPa. This is because carbon (C) is a strong austenite forming element and can be significant. Improve the strength of steel.
Application of 316 vs 316L stainless steel pipe
The corrosion resistance and weldability of the 316L stainless steel pipe are significantly better than those of the 316 stainless steel pipe, so the user generally prefers the 316L stainless steel pipe.
316L stainless steel pipe has strong corrosion resistance and can be used as a water pipe.
Prices of 316 vs 316L stainless steel pipe
In terms of production cost, the 316 stainless steel pipe has a slightly lower production cost than the 316L stainless steel pipe. Therefore, the price of the 316L stainless steel pipe is higher than that of the 316 stainless steel pipe.
