316 stainless steel is typically ranked second amongst austenitic alloys in importance, only being beat out by 304 stainless steel. Read More…
Leading Manufacturers
Source 21, Inc.
Sound Beach, NY | 631-821-1101We provide the best products in the stainless steel industry. Our customers know they can trust us for quality, affordability, and convenience. Our multiple locations make it easy to get what you need within days!
Cada Stainless & Alloys
Chester, NY | 845-469-3899Cada Stainless is a distributor of stainless steel in strip, coil & sheet. All grades of stainless steel available- annealed, tempered in 301,302,304,316, straight and L grades, 17/4, 17/7, 420,430,440, temper rolling to specific thicknesses & tolerances available.
Metal Associates
Pompton Plains, NJ | 800-838-1978Our company may have started small, but we quickly grew to handle the largest aluminum orders. Our metals are made from the highest quality materials, and we pledge to offer superior service to all our customers. We don’t want customers who use us one time, we want to establish lifelong relationships with customers that last generations. Contact us for more info!
Metalmen Sales Inc.
Long Island City, NY | 800-767-9494Metalmen provides worldwide distribution of all stainless steel. With our wide range of products, we offer expert market advice and complete metalworking as a custom response supplier serving industry.
Industrial Metal Supply Company
Irvine, CA | 818-729-3343,949-250-3343Industrial Metal Supply Company (IMS) is a full line metal distributor serving the needs of metal users since 1948. Now over sixty years old, IMS is renowned for an extensive inventory, robust production capabilities and exceptional customer service. Our product line includes a long list of metals in various alloys, shapes, and sizes; specialty and decorative metals; as well as a large selection of metalworking tools and supplies.
Bobco Metals
Los Angeles, CA | 866-267-8335Industrial Metal Supply CompanyFor over 40 years, Bobco Metals has been a family-owned, leading supplier in the metals industry. We carry a wide selection of metals, including aluminum, stainless steel, and galvanized steel. Bobco Metals prides itself on our high-quality products and excellent customer service. All our customers can depend on Bobco Metals to supply the best metals in the industry. Call or visit our website to learn more! is a metal distributor serving the needs of metal users since 1948. IMS is renowned for an extensive inventory, robust production capabilities and exceptional customer service. Our product line includes a long list of metals in various alloys, shapes, and sizes; specialty and decorative metals; as well as a large selection of metalworking tools and supplies.
316 Stainless Steel - Source 21, Inc.As the standard molybdenum-bearing grade, the molybdenum alloy provides 316 stainless steel with corrosion-resistant properties such as a high resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chlorine-contaminated media.
Common applications of 316 stainless steel include laboratory equipment, food preparation equipment, heat exchangers, chemical containers, boat fittings, welded screens and architectural trim. Although it is deemed the marine grade of stainless steel, 316 stainless steel is also utilized in industries such as medical, manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, construction, electronics, defense and petro-chemical.
Additional advantages of 316 stainless steel are high tensile strength and the ability to maintain mechanical integrity at both extremely high and extremely low temperatures. Possible alternative grades to 316 stainless steel include 904L, 2205, 317L, 316N and 316Ti, which offer similar properties as well as providing increased tensile strength or corrosion resistance depending on the grade.
The 300 level grades of stainless steel are very similar to the 200 level, except for slightly high levels of chromium and nickel, which make them slightly less attack-resistant. A non-magnetic grade of stainless steel, 316 stainless steel specifically contains 16% chromium, 10% nickel and 2% molybdenum. Usually sold in the annealed, or softened condition, 316 stainless steel can be hardened by cold working but not through heat treatment due to the high carbon content.
A version of 316 stainless steel with a much lower carbon content is available, referred to as 316L stainless steel. L-grades of stainless steel have a .03% carbon content maximum, allowing for increased resistance to sensitization from heat treatments. However, 316L stainless steel also cannot be hardened by heat treatment, but through cold working.
Instead, the resistance to sensitization makes 316L stainless steel incredibly useful in heavy gauge welded components due to its increased creep, stress-to-rupture and tensile strength at high temperatures. In addition, 316L stainless steel is much easier to machine than 316 stainless steel due to its decreased carbon content. Overall, both 316 stainless steel and 316L stainless steel offer excellent toughness due to their austenitic structure.
