# Stainless Steel 316L

> Marine and medical stainless: molybdenum chemistry that shrugs off chlorides and sterilization cycles.

- Category: Stainless Steels → austenitic
- HTML page: https://fabvector.com/materials/stainless-steel-316l (Portuguese: https://fabvector.com/pt/materials/stainless-steel-316l)
- Price index: $$$ (1–5, 6061-T6 = $)

## Mechanical properties (typical values, not certified minimums)

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 485 MPa |
| Yield strength | 170 MPa |
| Hardness | ≤217 HB |
| Density | 7.98 g/cm³ |
| Machinability | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| Corrosion resistance | ★★★★★ (5/5) |

## When to choose it

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.

## When to look elsewhere

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.

## Typical applications

- Surgical instrument bodies and tips
- Marine fittings and underwater housings
- Chemical and pharma process components
- Semiconductor and vacuum hardware

## Compatible surface finishes

- [As-Machined](https://fabvector.com/md/finishes/as-machined)
- [Passivation](https://fabvector.com/md/finishes/passivation)
- [Electropolishing](https://fabvector.com/md/finishes/electropolishing)
- [Bead Blasting](https://fabvector.com/md/finishes/bead-blasting)
- [Brushed Finish](https://fabvector.com/md/finishes/brushed-finish)
- [Polishing](https://fabvector.com/md/finishes/polishing)
- [Vibratory Tumbling](https://fabvector.com/md/finishes/vibratory-tumbling)
- [Laser Marking](https://fabvector.com/md/finishes/laser-marking)

Industries: medical-devices, marine, oil-and-gas, semiconductors · Instant quote: https://fabvector.com/quote