Metals · Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel 316
Adds molybdenum for far better resistance to chloride and salt corrosion — the grade to choose for coastal, marine, mining, and road-salt environments
Key Properties
316 is an austenitic stainless steel that adds 2–3% molybdenum to the 304 formula. That molybdenum sharply improves resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion, especially against chlorides found in sea air, de-icing salt, and mining environments.
Its high-temperature performance is comparable to 304, so the reason to choose 316 is corrosion, not heat. It costs roughly 20–30% more than 304, which is justified where maximum corrosion life matters. For welded assemblies, the low-carbon variant 316L is preferred
Typical Applications
Marine / coastal exhaust
Mining equipment
Chemical environments
Corrugated hose
High-corrosion piping
