316 Stainless steel pipe specification

ASTM A312 TP 316/316L Stainless Steel Seamless Pipe, 316/316L SS Seamless and Welded Pipe Manufacturer

316 Stainless Steel Pipe is an austenitic stainless steel pipe known for its excellent corrosion resistance and high temperature strength. It contains molybdenum which enhances its resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride environments. Hence, the pipe can be easily used in marine and seawater applications. Hunan Standard Steel Co., Ltd is a leading supplier and manufacturer of 316 Stainless Steel Pipe products in various sizes and dimensions.

316/316L/316H Stainless Steel Pipe generally refers to ASTM A312 TP316 Pipe. It covers TP316, TP316L, TP316H, TP316Ti, TP316N, TP316LN, the main difference between these grades is the chemical composition of carbon, titanium, nitrogen.

What is stainless steel pipe?

Stainless steel pipe is a long round steel material that is hollow and extends longitudinally. Stainless steel pipe is widely used in petroleum, chemical, medical, food, light industry, equipment and instruments, structural parts, etc. In addition, when the torsional strength and anti-torsion strength are equal, stainless steel is lighter, so it is often used in mechanical equipment parts and engineering structural parts, and is also commonly used as furniture and kitchen utensils, etc. Stainless steel pipes can be divided into seamless stainless steel pipes and welded stainless steel pipes according to the production process.

316 stainless steel material:
316 stainless steel is a brand of stainless steel produced in accordance with American ASTM standards (ASTM A312). 316 is equivalent to China's 0Cr17Ni12Mo2 stainless steel. Japan also quoted the name of the United States and called it: SUS316.

Because 316 stainless steel is added with 2%-3% Mo, its corrosion resistance, atmospheric corrosion resistance and high temperature strength are particularly good. The high temperature resistance can reach 1200-1300 degrees and can be used under harsh conditions; it has excellent work hardening properties. (Non-magnetic); excellent high-temperature strength; non-magnetic in solid solution state; cold-rolled products have good gloss and beautiful appearance; compared with 304 stainless steel, 316 is more expensive.

Specifications and sizes of 316 Stainless Steel Pipe:

The specifications of 316 stainless steel pipes are a series of codes composed of factors such as size, pipe type, surface treatment, etc. The following are some common specifications of 316 stainless steel pipes:

316L-TP316L-SMLS-10S-6M
316L-TP316L-WELD-10S-3M
316L-TP316L-SMLS-40S-4M
316L-TP316L-WELD-80S-5M

In the above codes, "L" stands for low carbon content, "TP" stands for pipe material, "SMLS" stands for seamless pipe, "WELD" stands for welded pipe, "10S, 40S, 80S" stands for thickness grade, and "6M, 4M, 5M" stands for length grade.

The 316 stainless steel pipe wall thickness ranges from 0.5mm to 6.35mm, and the length varies according to customized needs. There are welded, seamless and electric fusion welded pipe types. SS 316 Pipe, 316 Stainless Steel Seamless Pipe ranges from 1/8" to 16" OD, welded pipes range up to 24" and electrofusion welded pipes range up to 100".

Stainless Steel 316 ERW Pipe is welded from the same grade of steel strip and has the same strength as Type 304 but has a higher corrosion resistance due to 4% molybdenum in the composition. ASTM A312 TP 316 ERW Pipe falls under the A312 specification for tubular products and can be used in high temperature and high pressure applications. The most common uses for Stainless Steel DIN 1.4401 Pipe are pollution control, wastewater purification, desalination and marine applications.

Chemical composition of 316 stainless steel:
Carbon C≤0.08,
ManganeseMn≤1.5,
SiliconSi≤1.5,
Phosphorus P≤0.04,
Sulfur S≤0.04,
Chromium Cr 18.00-21.00
Nickel Ni 9.00-12.00,
Molybdenum 2.00-3.00

Heat treatment:
Melting point: 1375~1450℃
Solid solution treatment: 1010~1150℃
Metallographic structure: The structure is characterized by austenitic structure

Usage: 
SUS316 stainless steel is suitable for use in seawater equipment, chemical, dye, papermaking, oxalic acid, fertilizer and other production equipment; photography, food industry, coastal area facilities, ropes, CD rods, bolts, nuts, etc.

316 seamless stainless steel pipe production process:
316 seamless stainless steel pipes are made from steel ingots or solid tube blanks that are perforated into capillary tubes, and then hot rolled, cold rolled or cold drawn. The production process mainly includes smelting, rolling, piercing, straightening, cutting and other links. Each link has its specific requirements and operating specifications. Only by strictly following the requirements can high-quality 316 stainless steel seamless pipes be produced.

316 stainless steel vs 316L stainless steel:

1. Different ingredients
316l is ultra-low carbon, and l means low carbon, so the carbon content of 316l material is lower than that of 316 material. 316 stainless steel contains 0.08% carbon, while 316l stainless steel only contains up to 0.03% carbon.

Secondly, the contents of other alloying elements in 316 and 316l are also different. 316l stainless steel contains higher molybdenum and nickel elements than 316 stainless steel, while 316 stainless steel contains higher chromium elements.

2. Different heat resistance
316 material can be used intermittently below 1600 degrees, and continuously used below 1700 degrees, but it is best not to use 316 stainless steel in the range of 800-1575 degrees. However, when 316 stainless steel is used continuously outside this temperature range, the stainless steel has good heat resistance.

The resistance to carbide precipitation of 316l stainless steel is better than that of 316 stainless steel, and it can also be used in the temperature range of 800-1575 degrees.

3. Different corrosion resistance
The Mo content of 316l makes this steel type have excellent corrosion resistance and can be safely used in environments containing halogen ions such as chloride ions. Therefore, 316l stainless steel has excellent corrosion resistance. 316 stainless steel is resistant to corrosion from the ocean and corrosive industrial atmosphere.

4. Different welding methods
The welded section of 316 stainless steel requires post-weld annealing treatment to improve its corrosion resistance. But if 316l stainless steel is used, there is no need for post-weld annealing.

5. Different application scopes
In the industrial field, 316l stainless steel is suitable for petroleum, chemical industry, shipbuilding and other fields under high temperature and strong corrosion environment. 316 stainless steel is mostly used in general corrosive environments such as tableware, construction, and chemical industries.

ASTM A312 TP316/316L SS Seamless Pipe Material Specification:

Specifications	ASTM A 312 ASME SA 312 / ASTM A 358 ASME SA 358
Dimensions	ASTM, ASME and API
SS 316/316L Pipes	1/8″ NB – 16″ NB
ERW 316/316L Pipes	1/8″ NB – 24″ NB
EFW 316/316L Pipes	6″ NB – 100″ NB
Size	1/8″NB TO 30″NB IN
Specialized in	Large Diameter Size
Schedule	SCH 20, SCH 30, SCH 40, STD, XS, SCH 60, SCH 80, SCH 120, SCH 140, SCH 160, XXS
Type	Seamless / ERW / Welded / Fabricated / LSAW Pipe
Form	Round, Square, Rectangular, Hydraulic Etc
Length	Single Random, Double Random & Cut Length.
End	Plain End, Beveled End, Treaded

Schedule Chart of ASTM A312 TP316/316L SS Welded Pipe:

Application fields of 316 stainless steel pipe:

316 stainless steel pipe has good corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance, sanitation and environmental protection, high strength and other characteristics, so it is widely used in many fields, mainly including:

1. Chemical industry: used to manufacture containers, reactors, pipelines, pumps and other equipment, can resist the erosion of various acid and alkali liquids, and ensure the safety and stable operation of chemical production equipment
2. Pharmaceutical industry: widely used in pharmaceutical equipment, surgical instruments and surgical implants. Its material will not react chemically with drugs, has good biocompatibility, and can avoid adverse effects on the human body.
3. Food processing field: commonly used in the manufacture of food processing equipment, storage tanks and pipelines, etc. The corrosion resistance can avoid chemical reactions between food and metals, and ensure the quality and sanitation of food.
4. Petroleum industry: can be used for oil extraction, pipelines and refining equipment, etc., and can withstand harsh working environments.
5. Marine engineering: such as ships, offshore oil platforms, marine chemical bases, offshore oil production facilities and various marine engineering environments. Its seawater corrosion resistance and high temperature resistance are excellent.
6. Construction industry: It can be used for building exterior walls, roofs, balconies and other parts in coastal areas, as well as some building structures with high corrosion resistance requirements.
7. Machinery manufacturing: It is used to manufacture mechanical parts, such as shafts, gears, bolts, nuts, etc., because of its high strength and good corrosion resistance, it can adapt to complex mechanical working environments.
8. Automobile manufacturing: It can be used for automobile exhaust systems, fuel systems and other parts, with good high temperature resistance and corrosion resistance.
9. Electronics industry: In the manufacture of some electronic equipment with high requirements for material purity and corrosion resistance, such as semiconductor manufacturing equipment, 316 stainless steel pipes are also used.
10. Energy field: For example, nuclear power plants, etc., have extremely high requirements for material corrosion resistance and safety. 316 stainless steel pipes can be used for some key equipment and pipelines.

Read more: 304 vs. 316 Stainless Steel: Which is Better? or Stainless Steel Seamless Pipe Manufacturing Process