Milwaukee Precision Casting, Inc. is experienced in pouring 316 stainless steel casts for a variety of applications. 316 ss is known for its superior corrosion resistance, making it ideal for any application that is too corrosive for the use of 304 ss. The reason for the higher corrosion resistance is due to the higher molybdenum and nickel content of the 316 grade. 316ss is a ferritic stainless steel, meaning it has a chromium content of 10.5%-27% and a carbon content less than 0.1%. Ferritic stainless steels are slightly magnetic and incapable of hardening through heating.
Though 300 series stainless steel cannot be hardened, it can be solution annealed, resulting with a range of RB 70-100. Chemistry is a factor when achieving a hardness, so the chemistry will determine whether the alloy holds a range of RB 70-75 or holds a range of RB 90-95.
Additional characteristics of 316ss:
- High resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chlorine environments
- Resistant to rust, sodium and calcium brines
- Cast 316 is slightly magnetic
- Good elevated temperature strength
- Austenitic
Ideal for use in harsh environments, 316 ss is particularly useful if exposure to salt, chlorides or chlorinated solutions is an issue. When deciding if 316 is the correct type of stainless steel for your project, make sure to account for both the process and the environmental factors of the application. Common industries and applications include:
- Automotive – commonly used for gears
- Petrochemical - processing equipment
- Paper and Pulp – used for its resistant properties to sulfurous acids
- Food & Dairy
- Marine Environments
- Pharmaceuticals
- Surgical Equipment
- Plates
- Housings
If you’re application or environment does not require resistance to chlorides, chlorinated solutions or salt, check out our page on 304 ss.