SS 316 and low-carbon 316L in sheets, plates, coils, pipes and bars to ASTM A240 and EN 10088. Molybdenum 2–3% for chloride and marine service, stated on the Mill Test Certificate with every shipment.
316 costs meaningfully more than 304, and the reason is one element: molybdenum. If your application involves chlorides, that element is not optional and 304 will fail regardless of how well it was fabricated.
PREN — Pitting Resistance Equivalent Number — quantifies resistance to chloride pitting. 316 sits around 24 to 28 against 18 to 20 for 304. Specifying 304 for coastal, marine or chloride-bearing chemical service is a false economy: it pits, and the failure is usually not repairable.
As with 304, the L designation is the carbon limit and it governs welded performance. For 316 the stakes are higher, because the applications are usually more aggressive to begin with.
For welded pressure vessels, chemical piping and marine fabrication, 316L is the default rather than the upgrade. Most EU pressure equipment work under PED will specify it.
On specifications: the figures above reflect standard industry specifications for this product. Your actual batch values are confirmed on a NABL-accredited Certificate of Analysis issued against your specific lot — provided with every shipment, and with sample orders before you commit to bulk. We do not ask buyers to take a specification on trust.
Mill Test Certificate is provided with every shipment. Molybdenum content is stated on the certificate — check it, since Mo is what you are paying the premium for.
For 316 the Mill Test Certificate matters more than for any other common grade, because molybdenum content is invisible and it is the entire basis of the price difference.
HS Code 7219 (flat, width 600mm+) · 7220 (flat, under 600mm) · 7304 / 7306 (pipes). Weight certificate with bundle breakdown provided.
MOQ is discussed at order stage based on form and dimensions. PMI verification recommended on first orders. Payment by advance TT, LC at sight, or DP/DA case by case.
Molybdenum. 316 contains 2 to 3 percent molybdenum, which 304 does not, and it is what gives 316 resistance to chloride-induced pitting corrosion. The alloying cost is the price difference. If your application involves saltwater, coastal air or chloride-bearing chemicals, that element is not optional.
Not in chloride service. 304 pits in salt exposure, and pitting corrosion is usually not repairable once it starts. PREN, the Pitting Resistance Equivalent Number, puts 316 at roughly 24 to 28 against 18 to 20 for 304. In coastal, marine or chemical applications with chlorides present, substituting 304 is a false economy.
The carbon limit. 316 permits up to 0.08 percent carbon; 316L is restricted to 0.03 percent. Lower carbon prevents sensitisation during welding, where chromium carbides form at grain boundaries and leave the surrounding metal open to intergranular attack. For welded vessels, chemical piping and marine work, 316L is the default rather than an upgrade.
Check the Mill Test Certificate, which states full chemistry including molybdenum against ASTM A240 or the applicable EN standard. Because molybdenum is invisible and is the entire basis of the price difference between 304 and 316, Positive Material Identification by XRF on the physical material is worth arranging on first transactions.
Flat-rolled stainless 600mm wide and above falls under HS Code 7219; below 600mm under 7220. Seamless pipes fall under 7304, welded pipes under 7306 and bars under 7222. We declare the correct code based on the form ordered.
Yes, on request. It is an inspector-signed Mill Test Certificate required for pressure equipment applications in the EU under PED 2014/68/EU. Specify it at enquiry stage, since it has to be arranged at the mill rather than issued retrospectively.
Technical drawings welcome. FOB or CIF pricing within 24 hours. Third-party inspection available.
Technical drawings welcome. FOB or CIF pricing, samples available.
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