Products Description

Alloy 316H (UNS S31609) is a high carbon modification of Alloy 316, specifically developed for elevated temperature service. It offers higher strength at elevated temperatures and is commonly used in structural and pressure vessel applications where temperatures exceed 932°F (500°C). The higher carbon content in Alloy 316H contributes to increased tensile and yield strength compared to Alloy 316/316L. Additionally, its austenitic structure provides excellent toughness even at cryogenic temperatures.In terms of corrosion resistance, Alloy 316H is comparable to Alloy 316/316L and superior to Alloy 304/304L in moderately corrosive environments. It is frequently used in process streams containing chlorides or halides. The alloy exhibits resistance to atmospheric corrosion, as well as moderately oxidizing and reducing environments. It is also resistant to corrosion in polluted marine conditions.In the annealed condition, Alloy 316H is non-magnetic. It cannot be hardened by heat treatment, but it can undergo hardening through cold working. The alloy is easily weldable and can be processed using standard shop fabrication practices.

Overall, Alloy 316H is a suitable choice for applications requiring high strength and corrosion resistance at elevated temperatures. Its combination of mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and fabricability makes it a versatile option for a range of industries and environments.

 
 

Applications

  • Chemical and Petrochemical Processing – pressure vessels, tanks, heat exchangers, piping systems, flanges, fittings, valves, and pumps
  • Food and Beverage Processing
  • Marine
  • Medical
  • Petroleum Refining
  • Pharmaceutical Processing
  • Power Generation — nuclear
  • Pulp and Paper
  • Textiles
  • Water Treatment

Standards

ASTM........A 240
ASME........SA 240

Corrosion Resistance

Alloy 316H is comparable to Alloy 316/316L and superior to Alloy 304/304L. It will exhibit similar corrosion resistance to Alloy 304/304L in process environments that do not attack the latter. However, there are some exceptions to this general rule.In highly oxidizing acids such as nitric acid, stainless steels containing molybdenum are generally less resistant, including Alloy 316H. Therefore, it may not perform as well as other alloys in such environments.Alloy 316H performs well in sulfur-containing service, making it suitable for applications encountered in the pulp and paper industry. It can be used in high concentrations of sulfur at temperatures up to 120°F (38°C).The alloy also demonstrates good resistance to pitting in phosphoric and acetic acids. It performs well in boiling 20% phosphoric acid. Additionally, Alloy 316H is suitable for use in the food and pharmaceutical process industries, where it can handle hot organic and fatty acids without significant product contamination concerns.Alloy 316H exhibits good resistance to corrosion in fresh water service, even with high levels of chlorides. It also offers excellent resistance to corrosion in marine environments under atmospheric conditions.The higher molybdenum content of Alloy 316H ensures superior pitting resistance compared to Alloy 304/304L, particularly in chloride solutions and oxidizing environments.

Chemical Analysis

Weight % (all values are maximum unless a range is otherwise indicated)

Element

316H

316

316L

Chromium

16.0 min.-18.0 max.

16.0 min.-18.0 max.

16.0 min.-18.0 max.

Nickel

10.0 min.-14.0 max.

10.0 min.-14.0 max.

10.0 min.-14.0 max.

Molybdenum

2.00 min.-3.00 max.

2.00 min.-3.00 max.

2.00 min.-3.00 max.

Carbon

0.04 – 0.10

0.08

0.030

Manganese

2.00

2.00

2.00

Phosphorus

0.045

0.045

0.045

Sulfur

0.030

0.030

0.030

Silicon

0.75

0.75

0.75

Nitrogen

0.10

0.10

Iron

Balance

Balance

Balance

 

 

Physical Properties

Density

0.285 lbs/in3
8.00 g/cm3

Electrical Resistivity

74 Microhm-cm at 20°C
29.1 Microhm-in at 68°F

Melting Range

2507 – 2552°F
1375 – 1400°C

Specific Heat

0.11 BTU/lb-°F (32 – 212°F)
500 J/kg-°K (0 – 100°C)

Modulus of Elasticity

29.0 x 106 psi
200 GPa

 

Thermal Conductivity 212°F (100°C)

8.7 BTU/hr/ft2/ft/°F
15 W/m-°K

Mean Coefficient of Thermal Expansion

Temperature Range

 

°F

°C

in/in °F

cm/cm °C

68-212

20-100

8.9 x 10-6

16.0 x 10-6


Mechanical Properties

Values at 68oF (20oC) (minimum values, unless specified)

Yield Strength

.2% Offset

Ultimate Tensile

Strength

Elongation

in 2 in.

Hardness

psi (min.)

(MPa)

psi (min.)

(MPa)

%

 

30,000

205

75,000

515

40

95 Rockwell B

316H also has a requirement for a grain size of ASTM No. 7 or coarser.

Corrosion Resistance

In most instances the corrosion resistance of Alloy 316H will be comparable to Alloy 316/316 L and will have superior corrosion resistance to Alloy 304/304L. Process environments that do not attack Alloy 304/304L will not attack this grade. One exception, however, is in highly oxidizing acids such as nitric acid where stainless steels containing molybdenum are less resistant. Alloy 316H performs well in sulfur containing service such as that encountered in the pulp and paper industry. The alloy can be used in high concentrations at temperatures up to 120°F (38°C).
Alloy 316H also has good resistance to pitting in phosphoric and acetic acids. It performs well in boiling 20% phosphoric acid. The alloy can also be used in food and pharmaceutical process industries where it is utilized to handle hot organic and fatty acids where product contamination is a concern.
Alloy 316H performs well in fresh water service even with high levels of chlorides. The alloy has excellent resistance to corrosion in marine environments under atmospheric conditions.
The higher molybdenum content of Alloy 316H assures it will have superior pitting resistance to Alloy 304/304L in applications involving chloride solutions particularly in oxidizing environments.

Pitting Corrosion Resistance

Crevice Corrosion Resistance

PRE

CPT

CCT

24

20±2

<0

 Pitting Resistance Equivelant (PRE) is calculated using the following formula: PRE = %Cr + 3.3 x %Mo + 16 x %N
Corrosion Pitting Temperature (CPT) as measured in the Avesta Cell (ASTM G 150), in a 1M NaCl solution (35,000 ppm or mg/I chloride ions).
Critical Crevice Corrosion Temperature (CCT) is obtained by laboratory tests according to ASTM G 48 Method F.
 

Fabrication Data

Alloy 316H can be easily welded and processed by standard shop fabrication practices.

Hot Forming Working temperatures of 1700 – 2200°F (927 – 1204°C) are recommended for most hot working processes. For maximum corrosion resistance, the alloy should be annealed at 1900°F (1038°C) minimum and water quenched or rapidly cooled by other means.Cold Forming The alloy is quite ductile and forms easily. Cold working operations will increase the strength and hardness of the alloy and might leave it slightly magnetic.Welding Alloy 316H can be readily welded by most standard processes. A post weld heat treatment is not necessary.Machining Alloy 316H is subject to work hardening during deformation and is subject to chip breaking. The best machining results are achieved with slower speeds, heavier feeds, excellent lubrication, sharp tooling and powerful rigid equipment.

Hot Forming

Working temperatures of 1700 – 2200°F (927 – 1204°C) are recommended for most hot working processes. For maximum corrosion resistance, the alloy should be annealed at 1900°F (1038°C) minimum and water quenched or rapidly cooled by other means.

Cold Forming

The alloy is quite ductile and forms easily. Cold working operations will increase the strength and hardness of the alloy and might leave it slightly magnetic.

Machining

Alloy 316H is subject to work hardening during deformation and is subject to chip breaking. The best machining results are achieved with slower speeds, heavier feeds, excellent lubrication, sharp tooling and powerful rigid equipment.

Operation

Tool

Lubrication

CONDITIONS

 

 

 

Depth-mm

Depth-in

Feed-mm/t

Feed-in/t

Speed-m/min

Speed-ft/min

Turning

High Speed Steel

Cutting Oil

6

.23

0.5

.019

11-16

36.1-52.5

Turning

High Speed Steel

Cutting Oil

3

.11

0.4

.016

18-23

59.1-75.5

Turning

High Speed Steel

Cutting Oil

1

.04

0.2

.008

25-30

82-98.4

Turning

Carbide

Dry or Cutting Oil

6

.23

0.5

.019

70-80

229.7-262.5

Turning

Carbide

Dry or Cutting Oil

3

.11

0.4

.016

85-95

278.9-312.7

Turning

Carbide

Dry or Cutting Oil

1

.04

0.2

.008

100-110

328.1-360.9

 

 

 

Depth of cut-mm

Depth of cut-in

Feed-mm/t

Feed-in/t

Speed-m/min

Speed-ft/min

Cutting

High Speed Steel

Cutting Oil

1.5

.06

0.03-0.05

.0012-.0020

16-21

52.5-68.9

Cutting

High Speed Steel

Cutting Oil

3

.11

0.04-0.06

.0016-.0024

17-22

55.8-72.2

Cutting

High Speed Steel

Cutting Oil

6

.23

0.05-0.07

.0020-.0027

18-23

59-75.45

 

 

 

Drill ø mm

Drill ø in

Feed-mm/t

Feed-in/t

Speed-m/min

Speed-ft/min

Drilling

High Speed Steel

Cutting Oil

1.5

.06

0.02-0.03

.0008-.0012

10-14

32.8-45.9

Drilling

High Speed Steel

Cutting Oil

3

.11

0.05-0.06

.0020-.0024

12-16

39.3-52.5

Drilling

High Speed Steel

Cutting Oil

6

.23

0.08-0.09

.0031-.0035

12-16

39.3-52.5

Drilling

High Speed Steel

Cutting Oil

12

.48

0.09-0.10

.0035-.0039

12-16

39.3-52.5

 

 

 

 

 

Feed-mm/t

Feed-in/t

Speed-m/min

Speed-ft/min

Milling Profiling

High Speed Steel

Cutting Oil

 

 

0.05-0.10

.002-.004

10-20

32.8-65.6