Material · Stainless Steels
Stainless Steel 316L
Marine and medical stainless: molybdenum chemistry that shrugs off chlorides and sterilization cycles.
Price index: $$$
Instant quote onlineMaterial properties
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 485 MPa |
| Yield strength | 170 MPa |
| Hardness | ≤217 HB |
| Density | 7.98 g/cm³ |
Choose it when
Whenever chlorides are present (sea air counts), for medical devices, and for chemical service: where 304 pits, 316L endures. Electropolished 316L is the pharma reference surface.
Look elsewhere when
If the part lives indoors and dry, 304 performs identically for roughly 25–35% less. Work-hardening punishes very thin walls — design 1 mm walls instead of 0.5 mm where possible.
Compatible finishes
As-Machined
The baseline finish: straight off the machine, fastest and cheapest.
Passivation
Chemical hygiene for stainless: strips embedded iron so the steel can be as stainless as advertised.
Electropolishing
Reverse plating that brightens, deburrs and passivates stainless in one step.
Bead Blasting
The uniform matte look: erases tool marks, hides fingerprints, preps perfect anodizing.
Brushed Finish
The appliance-grade look: directional satin grain on panels, bezels and show faces.
Polishing
Progressive abrasives down to mirror: the finish for optics, molds and show surfaces.
Vibratory Tumbling
Batch deburring by the bowl-full: every edge broken, every burr gone, at volume prices.
Laser Marking
Permanent identification with zero dimensional change: serials, logos and codes burned in, not stuck on.
Typical applications
- Surgical instrument bodies and tips
- Marine fittings and underwater housings
- Chemical and pharma process components
- Semiconductor and vacuum hardware
Compared with similar grades
| Property | Stainless Steel 316L | Stainless Steel 303 | Stainless Steel 304 | Stainless Steel 17-4 PH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 485 MPa | ~620 MPa (cold drawn) | 515 MPa | 1310 MPa (H900) |
| Yield strength | 170 MPa | ~415 MPa (cold drawn) | 205 MPa | 1170 MPa (H900) |
| Hardness | ≤217 HB | ≤228 HB | ≤201 HB | 40–44 HRC (H900) |
| Density | 7.98 g/cm³ | 8.00 g/cm³ | 8.00 g/cm³ | 7.75 g/cm³ |
| Price index | $$$ | $$$ | $$$ | $$$$ |
| Machinability | 3/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 |
Related engineering guides
medical device CNC machining
Medical Device CNC Machining: Material Selection, Traceability and Inspection
A medical device CNC machining sourcing guide covering titanium, stainless steel, PEEK, passivation, traceability and inspection documents.
stainless steel 316L CNC machining
Stainless Steel 316L CNC Machining: Marine, Medical and Chemical Applications
A guide to CNC machining 316L stainless steel parts with passivation, corrosion requirements, tolerance and inspection considerations.
CNC machining for pharmaceutical machinery
CNC Machining for Pharmaceutical Machinery: Hygienic Parts, 316L and Documentation
Sourcing guide for CNC machined pharmaceutical production machinery parts: hygienic design, 316L and electropolishing, FDA-compliant polymers and batch documentation.
biocompatible materials machining
Biocompatible Materials CNC Machining: PEEK, Titanium and 316L Compared
How to choose and specify biocompatible materials for CNC machined medical parts: PEEK, titanium Grade 5, 316L, ISO 10993 context and cleanliness expectations.
CNC machining service by country
Have a part in mind?
Upload CAD or drawings. Eligible CNC work gets an instant estimate; other processes move to engineer review. NDA-protected from the first byte.
Start an RFQ