Stainless Steel A4 (316)

Family

Metals

Category

stainless

Density

8 g/cm³ · 8000 kg/m³

Typical property classes

A4-70 Stainless (316), A4-80 Stainless (316)

Grade

316 · UNS S31600

Governing standard

ASTM A276 (bar) · ASTM A240 (plate, sheet and strip)

Yield strength

205 MPa

Tensile strength

515 MPa

Modulus of elasticity

193 GPa

Hardness

≤ 217 HB

Same minimums as 304 — the molybdenum in 316 buys corrosion resistance, not strength. It does raise the permitted hardness ceiling, because the alloy work-hardens less readily.

Minimum values specified by ASTM A276.

Machining

The same gummy, work-hardening behaviour as 304, and for the same reason — the austenitic structure that makes both grades tough is also what makes them awkward to cut.

Corrosion

Adds resistance to pitting and crevice attack, which is what the 2–3% molybdenum buys. This is the grade for coastal air, salt water, swimming pools and chloride process streams.

Welding

Readily welded, but the low-carbon 316L variant is normally chosen for welded assemblies to avoid carbide precipitation at the weld.

Like the workability notes on the wood pages, these lines are not measurements. They carry no units and no single source, and the ratings they mention are relative — a machinability figure is quoted against a bench-mark alloy, not against an absolute scale. Read them as the consensus of the trade, not as a specification.

• Resists chlorides and salt water far better than A2
• Higher cost

Which tools work a material is a property of the family (Metals), not of the individual species — so this list is the same on every metals page, and changes when the tool data changes rather than when this paragraph does.