SS 316 Sheets & Plates
Giriraj Impex stocks, supplies and exports SS 316 sheet and plate to ASTM A240 / ASME SA240 grades 316 and 316L, dual certified where required, with 316Ti on request. We supply SS 316 sheets from approved mills in cold-rolled thicknesses with 2B, BA, No. 4 and hairline finishes, and SS 316 plates hot rolled, annealed and pickled, with mill test certificates.
SS 316 sheet and plate are chosen over 304 wherever chlorides, acids or aggressive cleaning chemicals are present – chemical and pharmaceutical vessels, marine and coastal construction, food and dairy plants using chlorinated sanitisers, and desalination and water treatment equipment.
Specifications
| Item | Sheet | Plate |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | ASTM A240 / ASME SA240; ASTM A480 general requirements | |
| Grades | 316 (S31600), 316L (S31603), dual certified 316/316L; 316Ti (S31635) on request | |
| Production | Cold rolled | Hot rolled |
| Thickness | Below 4.76 mm | 4.76 mm and above |
| Finishes | 2B, BA, No. 4, hairline | Hot rolled, annealed and pickled |
| Optional tests | IGC test to ASTM A262 Practice E, ultrasonic test (plate) | |
| Documents | Mill test certificate (MTC); third-party inspection on request | |
Chemical composition and mechanical properties
| Grade | UNS | C | Mn | P | S | Si | Cr | Ni | Mo | N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 304 | S30400 | 0.07 | 2.00 | 0.045 | 0.030 | 0.75 | 17.5–19.5 | 8.0–10.5 | – | 0.10 |
| 304L | S30403 | 0.030 | 2.00 | 0.045 | 0.030 | 0.75 | 17.5–19.5 | 8.0–12.0 | – | 0.10 |
| 316 | S31600 | 0.08 | 2.00 | 0.045 | 0.030 | 0.75 | 16.0–18.0 | 10.0–14.0 | 2.00–3.00 | 0.10 |
| 316L | S31603 | 0.030 | 2.00 | 0.045 | 0.030 | 0.75 | 16.0–18.0 | 10.0–14.0 | 2.00–3.00 | 0.10 |
Other elements and footnotes as given in the standard.
| Grade | Tensile strength min, MPa (ksi) | Yield strength min, MPa (ksi) | Elongation in 50 mm min, % | Hardness max, HBW / HRB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 304 | 515 (75) | 205 (30) | 40 | 201 / 92 |
| 304L | 485 (70) | 170 (25) | 40 | 201 / 92 |
| 316 | 515 (75) | 205 (30) | 40 | 217 / 95 |
| 316L | 485 (70) | 170 (25) | 40 | 217 / 95 |
Values for annealed material.
Background and equivalents are on the SS 316 / 316L page.
SS 316 sheet and plate weight chart
Theoretical weights use a density of 8.0 g/cm³ (8.0 kg per square metre per millimetre of thickness). Actual weights vary with thickness tolerance; use the weight calculator for other sizes.
| Thickness, mm | kg per m² | Sheet 1250 × 2500 mm, kg | Sheet 1500 × 3000 mm, kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 4.00 | 12.5 | 18.0 |
| 0.8 | 6.40 | 20.0 | 28.8 |
| 1 | 8.00 | 25.0 | 36.0 |
| 1.2 | 9.60 | 30.0 | 43.2 |
| 1.5 | 12.00 | 37.5 | 54.0 |
| 2 | 16.00 | 50.0 | 72.0 |
| 3 | 24.00 | 75.0 | 108.0 |
| 4 | 32.00 | 100.0 | 144.0 |
| 5 | 40.00 | 125.0 | 180.0 |
| 6 | 48.00 | 150.0 | 216.0 |
| 8 | 64.00 | 200.0 | 288.0 |
| 10 | 80.00 | 250.0 | 360.0 |
| 12 | 96.00 | 300.0 | 432.0 |
| 16 | 128.00 | 400.0 | 576.0 |
| 20 | 160.00 | 500.0 | 720.0 |
| 25 | 200.00 | 625.0 | 900.0 |
Why 316 sheet for harsher environments
The 2–3% molybdenum in 316 and 316L raises resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion, which is what usually ends the life of 304 equipment in coastal air, chlorinated water and chemical splash. In food and pharmaceutical plants, 316L also tolerates the chlorinated and acidic cleaning-in-place chemicals better. For architectural work near the sea, 316 sheet with a smooth finish keeps its appearance far longer than 304. Where conditions exceed 316L – warm seawater, strong brines, hot chloride solutions – duplex, super duplex or higher alloys are used.
Fabrication and ordering
316 and 316L sheet and plate form and weld like 304, using 316L filler metal so the weld keeps its molybdenum. Heat tint should be removed and welds pickled and passivated, because 316 is usually installed where corrosion would otherwise attack an untreated weld. Please give the grade, thickness, finish, sheet or plate size, quantity, any protective film and supplementary tests or inspection.
Sheet and plate quality
SS 316 sheets and plates are supplied solution annealed with finishes to ASTM A480. Cold-rolled sheet has close thickness tolerance and flatness for laser cutting, bending and forming; hot-rolled plate is intended for heavy fabrication. Each sheet or bundle carries the mill marking with grade, specification, heat number and dimensions. Because 316 and 304 look identical, these markings – or a quick molybdenum check with a portable analyser – should be used in the workshop to avoid mixing grades, particularly on projects that use both.
Store sheets indoors, off the floor and away from carbon steel, and protect polished finishes with film until installation.
Applications and related products
SS 316 sheets and plates are used for chemical and pharmaceutical reactors and tanks, dairy and brewery equipment, food machinery, desalination and water treatment equipment, marine and offshore structures, coastal architecture and cladding, and heat-exchanger parts. All stainless flat products are on the stainless steel sheets and stainless steel plates pages, and other materials on the sheets and plates pages. In the same grade we also supply SS 316 pipes, SS 316 round bars, SS 316 flanges and SS 316 pipe fittings.
Frequently Asked Questions
ASTM A240 (ASME SA240) covers SS 316 and 316L plate, sheet and strip, with general requirements in ASTM A480.
Using a density of 8.0 g/cm³, SS 316 weighs about 8.0 kg per square metre for each millimetre of thickness. A 1250 × 2500 mm sheet 1 mm thick weighs about 25 kg.
Its molybdenum content gives better resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion from chlorides in sea air and splash than 304, so it keeps its surface and strength longer.
316L has a lower maximum carbon content (0.030% against 0.08% in ASTM A240) for welded construction. Sheets are often dual certified 316/316L.
Yes. 316Ti (UNS S31635), stabilised with titanium, is supplied on request, mainly for European specifications and elevated-temperature equipment.
Yes. Intergranular corrosion testing to ASTM A262 Practice E can be added to the order, which is common for chemical and pharmaceutical equipment.
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