The difference between 316L stainless steel pipe and 316 stainless steel pipe

Update time : 2023-06-20 09:28:13

　　316L stainless steel pipe is a pipe widely used in construction projects. The shape of the tube is an oblong hollow steel tube. Mechanical equipment, petrochemical equipment, medical equipment, food, and light industry pipelines or mechanical parts will all use 316L stainless steel pipes, The following briefly introduces the difference between 316L stainless steel pipe and 316 stainless steel pipe:

　　01 Difference in production cost: 316L stainless steel has low carbon content and is easy to weld, so the price of 316L stainless steel pipe is more expensive than 316 stainless steel pipe, but the difference is not big. In addition, 316L stainless steel can also be called ultra-low carbon steel plate 316 stainless steel.

　　02 Difference in the strength of stainless steel pipe: The tensile strength of 316 stainless steel pipe is higher than that of 316L stainless steel pipe. The tensile strength of 316 stainless steel pipe is higher than that of 520 MPa~(316L) stainless steel pipe. The tensile strength of 316 stainless steel pipe is only greater than 480 Mpa. This is because carbon is a strong austenite-forming element that can significantly increase the strength of stainless steel pipes.

　　03 The difference in practical application: The cost difference between 316L stainless steel and 316 stainless steel is not large, and the corrosion resistance and weldability of 316L stainless steel are better than ordinary 316 stainless steel. From the producer’s point of view, stainless steel factories are reluctant to produce because the demand for ordinary 316 stainless steel is very low. Therefore, the actual circulation on the market is low-carbon 316L stainless steel. Generally, 316 stainless steel is rarely sold unless there is a specific demand.

　　04 The difference in welding treatment: Carbon hurts the corrosion resistance of stainless steel pipes. Especially for stainless steel that needs to be welded, the corrosion resistance of low carbon 316L stainless steel after welding is lower than that of 316 stainless steel. I thought I could get it. Good corrosion resistance, 316 stainless steel welded section needs solution annealing after welding. If 316 L stainless steel is used, solution annealing after welding is not required.

　　05 The difference in corrosion resistance: 316L stainless steel pipe has stronger corrosion resistance and is suitable for strong corrosion areas such as the seaside. In addition, 316 stainless steel pipes are not recommended to consider the previous conditions.

　　06 The difference in the scope of use: In most cases, 304 stainless steel pipes are sufficient to meet the application requirements. Due to the high price of 316L stainless steel pipe, from the perspective of material cost, the usage of 316L stainless steel pipe is about 1.5 times that of 304 stainless steel pipe, so the usage of 316L stainless steel pipe should be customized.

Previous : Annealing, normalizing, quenching, and tempering of steel pipes

Next : How to judge the quality of spiral steel pipes

Working Pressure of Seamless Steel Pipe

Sep .17.2026

　　Seamless steel pipe actual bearing pressure may be affected by many factors such as the quality of the pipe, processing technology, and use environment Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions Email : pipe@stpipefitting.cn
(SMLS pipe) is a type of pipe produced without welds by deforming the metal as a whole using piercing and rolling techniques. Compared to welded steel pipe, its core advantage stems from the continuity of the material and the uniformity of its structure, providing superior reliability and safety under high pressure, high temperature, and complex stress environments. This makes seamless steel pipe a fundamental and reliable material in the petroleum, chemical, natural gas, and power industries for critical processes and the transportation of hazardous media.

Seamless carbon steel pipe Sch 40

Sep .15.2026

Seamless Carbon Steel Pipe Sch 40 (Schedule 40) is a seamless steel pipe specification that meets the American standard. Its pipe wall thickness is Sch40 (corresponding to the standard wall thickness series), which represents the standard wall thickness under a specific pressure level and is often used in occasions with higher pressure and temperature.

Schedule 80 Carbon Steel Pipe: Thickness, Dimensions & Weight in mm

Sep .10.2026

Schedule 80 Carbon Steel Pipe is made up of carbon steel materials. The carbon steels can vary in composition based on the grades. The strengths and the toughness vary. To have an international and equal identification of the pressure capacities of the pipes, the schedule scale is used. The wall thickness grades of the steel pipe range from Schedule (SCH) 5 to Schedule (SCH) 160. SCH 5 has the lowest pressure resistance, while SCH 160 has the highest.

Steel Pipe Sizes Explained: NPS, OD and Wall Thickness

Sep .08.2026

Steel pipe sizing can be confusing, especially for buyers who are new to piping specifications. A pipe's designated size often differs from its actual dimensions, which can lead to mistakes during purchasing or design.

Have Any Questions?

DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT US ANY TIME.