There are a handful of perks that 316 stainless steel brings to the table, including:
- It has the best corrosion resistance in comparison to 18/8 and 304 stainless steel thanks to its molybdenum, meaning it can handle marine environments.
- It can hold its own in high temperatures without corroding or breaking.
- It’s strong and durable enough for heavy-duty applications, i.e. in construction, engineering, automotive, and marine.
- It’s safe for the food and medical sectors as it’s non-reactive.
This stainless steel’s downsides are:
- It’s generally more expensive than 304 and 18/8.
- It’s not as easy tomachine because of its hardness, which can wear down tools and waste time.
- You can weld 316 steel, but weld decay is a possibility as well as corrosion at the welded spots.
- It’s also not as malleable as 304 stainless steel.
