Description

316 stainless steel is a corrosion-resistant austenitic stainless steel with excellent strength and durability. It is widely used in various industries, especially in environments where corrosion resistance is critical.

Applications

316 stainless steel is commonly used in applications such as marine equipment, chemical processing, food and beverage industry, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.

Blacksmith Applications

316 Forging Temperature

Forging should be done between 2100°F to 2300°F (1149°C to 1260°C), followed by slow cooling in a furnace or insulating material.

316 Heat Treatment

316 Annealing Temperature

Annealing is typically performed at 1900°F to 2100°F (1038°C to 1149°C) for a sufficient amount of time, followed by air cooling or water quenching.

316 Normalizing Temperature

Normalizing can be carried out at 1850°F to 2050°F (1010°C to 1121°C) for a proper soak time, followed by air cooling or water quenching.

316 Hardening Temperature

316 stainless steel is not hardenable by heat treatment. It achieves its hardness through cold working or strain hardening.

316 Tempering Temperature

Tempering is not applicable to 316 stainless steel as it is a non-hardenable alloy.

Machinability

316 stainless steel has a machinability rating of 45, which indicates that it is more difficult to machine compared to carbon steels. Proper tool selection and machining techniques are necessary.

Weldability

316 stainless steel has excellent weldability with all standard welding methods. It is recommended to use low heat input and proper filler materials for optimal results.