difference between SS316 AND SS316L

Low carbon.

As said in post#1 "L" refers toLow Carbon Steel. Many Process instruments are made of this Low Carbon Steel. More info on Low carbon stell is given below. Low Carbon Steel It contains 0.2% carbon. Uses: Sheets, wires, pipes. low- or medium-carbon steel is used for sheeting and structural forms because of its amenability to welding and tooling. The other types of Steel are: Low-carbon steels, Medium-carbon steels, Ultrahigh-carbon steels. As a group, carbon steels are by far the most frequently used steels. More than 85% of the steel produced and shipped in the United States is carbon steel.

L means that the C content is below 0.03% not 0.2%. This is a Stainless Steel and not a Carbon Steel..

The low carbon grade is used 'cause it has a better weldability and does not suffer of carbide precipitation (sensitization) for exposure to high temperature.

S.

Corrosion Control | Corrosion Protection

Very good,Your answer is exactly coorect.

When there is a danger of corrosion in the heat-affected zones of weldments, the low- Carbon variety of SS316L should be used.

usually when you've a welded construction you use SS 316L to avoid any problems of sensitization. The corrosion of the sensitized zone is a problem if you have a service with a corrosive fluid or environment, if it's not exposed to a corrosive environemt or fluid it could be not a problem.

S.

Corrosion Control & Corrosion Protection

Can anyone throw some light on how does SS316 & SS316L compare as far as cost is concerned?

UNTIL BOTH SS316 & SS316L ARE AUTENTIC STEEL WHEREAS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SS316 & SS316L IS ONLY OF CARBON CONTENET.IN SS316 THE MAXIMUM CARBON CONTENT SHOULD NO MORE THAN 0.8% , WHERE AS IN SS316L CARBON CONTENT SHOULD NOT EXCEED 0.3%.BOTH YEILD STRENGTH & TENSILE STRENGTH ARE GREATER IN SS316 THAN SS316L.

DENSITY OF SS316 IS APPROX. 8.4g/cm-cube & OF SS316L IS APPROX. 8.0g/cm-cube.

SORRY.......THERE IS A SAMLL MISTAKE IN ABOVE MENTIONED SENTENCE .'''MAXIMUM CARBON CONTENT SHOULD NO MORE THAN 0.08% , WHERE AS IN SS316L CARBON CONTENT SHOULD NOT EXCEED 0.03%''', INSTEAD OF "MAXIMUM CARBON CONTENT SHOULD NO MORE THAN 0.8% , WHERE AS IN SS316L CARBON CONTENT SHOULD NOT EXCEED 0.3%".