6-8 Week Production Lead Times

316 Stainless Steel Precision Casting

Securing high-quality 316 stainless steel investment castings for your business has never been easier than with IPC Foundry Group. Whether you're casting a time-tested part, developing a new product, or looking to expand production, we can help you get across the finish line with our expert team. With our fast, focused, and responsive quoting process and production lead times as short as six weeks, you can get to market lightning-fast with IPC.

Casting 101

316 Stainless at a Glance

316 stainless steel is a non-magnetic austenitic steel that contains molybdenum, which enhances its corrosion resistance, especially against chlorides and other industrial solvents. Due to its ability to withstand saltwater and harsh outdoor conditions, it is often referred to as marine-grade steel.

316 stainless is the second most commonly used stainless steel, second only to 304 stainless. It is a staple material in many industries, including aerospace, food processing, brewing & distilling, marine, petrochemical, oil & gas, paper processing, pipes & fittings, and many more.

    • Tensile Strength MPa: 700

    • Yield Strength MPa: 425

    • Elongation: ~33%

    • Hardness 90-95Rb

  • 316 Stainless is also known as:
    S31600, CF8M

  • 316 Stainless has the following composition:

    - 16-18% Chromium
    - ~12% Nickel
    - 2-3% Molybdenum
    - Trace amounts of silicon, manganese, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus
    - Iron remaining balance ~68%

In the Field

What Industries Use
316 Stainless Steel Castings?

316 stainless steel is a ubiquitous material. You'll see it all around you in your daily life, from cookware to tweezers and even your refrigerator. Like all stainless steels, it has a lot going for it, including looks, toughness, and resistance to heat and harsh conditions. As we mentioned above, what sets 316 stainless apart is the addition of molybdenum to the mix; molybdenum provides top-notch corrosion resistance - making 316 the material of choice when your part is tested in challenging, corrosive environments. Below are just a few industries and applications for this material.

Marine

Tough saltwater environments are the perfect place to deploy 316 stainless steel. It is found in boating components, diving gear, dock components, and much more. It is so common that 316 is often called marine-grade stainless steel.

Food & Beverage

316 stainless steel is commonly used in brewing, distilling, and food processing equipment because it is tough, resistant to corrosion, and incredibly easy to clean. Chances are you have stainless steel components in your own kitchen!

Oil & Gas

From offshore components in tough saltwater environments to pipes, valves, brackets, and other fittings. 316 stainless steel is a go-to choice for the oil & gas and petrochemical industries due to its corrosion resistance.

Paper Processing

Much like other industries on this list, 316 serves the paper processing industry with its strength and resistance to corrosion.

Pipes & Fittings

316 is one of the most frequently used materials in piping and other fittings, able to withstand some of the toughest environments, including chloride and acidic environments.

Medical

From surgical equipment and surfaces to tweezers, lab equipment, and other tools, 316 stainless steel is a staple in the medical industry because of its inherent sterility and corrosion resistance to acidic and chloride-rich environments.

Material Comparison

Should I Use 303, 304, or 316
Stainless Steel?

303, 304, and 316 stainless are part of the 300 series austenitic stainless family of alloys, meaning they share a lot of common traits and a similar makeup. What is the difference between them? We’ll take a quick look at each below.

This is just a basic look at each of these materials. If you’d like to learn more about them, contact our team of experts today.

303 Stainless

Machining Minded

303 stainless steel has sulfur in its composition, allowing it to be easily machined. Typically, it is with this machining in mind that it is chosen over 304 stainless.

Bonus advantages:

  • May have shorter lead times due to using machining.

  • 303 allows very complex geometry attainable only through machining

304 Stainless

Jack of All Trades

304 stainless steel is the most commonly used grade of stainless in investment casting. While it isn’t as machinable as its counterpart 303, it offers higher strength, corrosion, heat, and wear resistance. If you don’t need the complexities that machining allows, cast 304 stainless steel may be a great option.

It is also typically cheaper than pouring 316 stainless if your components don’t require advanced resistances.

316 Stainless

King of Resistance

The addition of molybdenum to its chemical composition makes 316 an incredibly durable material that can stand up to some of the toughest environments on the planet, including acidic, chloride-rich, and saltwater environments. If you need next-level corrosion resistance, 316 may be your material of choice.

Cost of Casting

Is 316 Stainless Steel Expensive to Cast?

Casting stainless steel is generally more expensive than casting low-alloyed steel, and 316 is no exception. Its greater strength, heat resistance, corrosion resistance, and more all contribute to its cost, among other factors. However, if your component demands the corrosion resistance and other traits that 316 stainless offers, chances are your upfront investment in the material will pay dividends in long-term performance. As always, nuance is key! Here are just a few additional factors that can contribute to the cost of casting.

  • Investment casting is typically chosen when producing a medium to large-sized volume of parts. Often the more you produce, the lower the overall cost per part.

    If you aren't producing a high volume of parts, perhaps utilizing a different metal forming method (like machining) is a better option.

  • The exact usage scenario for your part can help you choose the right material for the job and provide cost savings.

    As a quick example, 304 and 316 stainless steel are quite similar, with 304 offering less corrosion resistance; if your part doesn't require the level of resistance that 316 affords, you will likely save costs by choosing it over 316.

  • A complex part (e.g. something with overhangs, thin walls, complex patterns, etc.) will have a higher upfront onboarding cost than a more simplistic part. However, these costs begin to shrink when producing a high volume of components.

  • Does your part require heat treating, painting, or other finishing work? This can also increase the end cost of producing your component.

Machining with IPC

Is 316 Stainless Machinable?

You can machine 316 stainless outright or cast parts and do secondary machining for the perfect fit. However, within the 300 series of stainless steels, 303 stainless steel offers the best machinability if you don’t require the corrosion resistance of 316 stainless.

Why Choose IPC?

A Precision Casting Partner
You Can Count On

Tackle your next project with IPC. We’ve built longstanding casting partnerships in dozens of industries. By constantly adding new capacity, implementing new technologies, and sticking to our roots of providing exceptional customer service, IPC Foundry Group is a production partner you can count on now and for years to come.

01

50 Years of Casting Experience

We have a rock-solid reputation for producing quality parts and providing next-level customer service. Throughout our history, we've offered stainless steel castings for thousands of clients across dozens of industries, including marine, mining, petrochemical, solar, food processing, consumer electronics, and more.

02

Perfect Parts Right on Time

Ready to produce a part now? We offer quick, responsive quoting and next-day onboarding for customers ready to start immediately. Our typical production lead times are 6-8 weeks! No surprises or delays with IPC; get your parts right when you expect them.

03

24/7 Production Cycle

Production happens around the clock at IPC. Utilizing both of our domestic foundries (and with international options available), production moves forward 24/7, 365 at IPC.

04

Offshoring Made Easy

Interested in offshoring your production? IPC has international partners standing by, enabling you to offshore your components while maintaining communication with our domestic team. No off-hour meetings, no language barrier, just hassle-free precision cast parts.

Disclaimer

Just the Tip of the Iceberg

This page is designed to provide a quick overview of 316 stainless steel, its properties, and some of its applications. However, for your specific part and casting needs, explore each of the nuances and usage scenarios before committing to an alloy.

IPC Foundry Group has an expert team of engineers standing by to help you make the right material choice for your upcoming project, contact us today!