Austenitic · UNS S31603
316L Stainless Steel Sheet & Plate
316L sheet and plate is the marine and chemical flat form — the same dimensions as 304 but with molybdenum added for chloride resistance and carbon pulled low for welding. It is what a coastal facade, a chemical tank or a food process line specifies when 304 is not enough.
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Austenitic · UNS S31603 · 8.00 g/cm³
Specification
316L Stainless Steel Sheet & Plate — Dimensions We Supply
| Thickness / section | 0.3 – 120 mm |
|---|---|
| Width / OD | 1,000 – 2,000 mm |
| Length | Up to 6,000 mm |
| Surface finish | 2B · BA · No.1 · No.4 · HL · 8K mirror |
| Standards | ASTM A240 · JIS G4305 · EN 10088-2 |
| Typical applications | Tank · Pressure vessel · Facade · Kitchen · Chemical plant |
Dimensional range is the mill's standard offer for the form. The grade's composition and mechanical values are on the 316L grade page.
Grade in this form
316L Stainless Steel Sheet & Plate — What to Watch
For welded tanks and vessels, the L matters: 316L caps carbon at 0.030% so the seams do not sensitize. Name the grade with the L, the finish (2B, No.4, 8K) and, where coastal, confirm the molybdenum-bearing 316L rather than 316.
Choose 316L when
Coastal facades, marine hardware, chemical and food process lines, pharmaceutical equipment, and any welded assembly in chloride service. The molybdenum raises the pitting resistance enough to survive salt air and chlorinated water that would pit 304.
Think again if
Indoor, dry, non-welded applications where 304 already does the job — the molybdenum premium buys nothing there. And do not use 316L where a duplex like 2205 is needed for stress-corrosion resistance under load.
Other forms
316L in Every Form We Supply
Before you ask
316L Stainless Steel Sheet & Plate — Questions Buyers Ask
Why specify 316L plate instead of 316?
The carbon limit. 316L caps carbon at 0.030% so welded seams do not sensitize and lose corrosion resistance. "316" on the drawing does not guarantee the low-carbon grade — write 316L explicitly for anything welded.
What is 316L sheet used for?
Coastal facades, chemical and food process equipment, marine hardware, pharmaceutical kit — anywhere chlorides or welding are in the picture and 304 would pit or sensitize.
Does 316L plate rust near the sea?
Far less than 304, but it is not immune. In severe crevice or stagnant seawater conditions it can still pit — for those, a duplex like 2205 is the honest answer.
Also compare
Other Stainless Grades
- 304 Stainless SteelAustenitic · UNS S30400
- 2205 Stainless SteelDuplex · UNS S32205
- 304L Stainless SteelAustenitic · UNS S30403
- 316 Stainless SteelAustenitic · UNS S31600
- 201 Stainless SteelAustenitic · UNS S20100
- 430 Stainless SteelFerritic · UNS S43000
- 321 Stainless SteelAustenitic · UNS S32100
- 310S Stainless SteelAustenitic · UNS S31008
- All stainless grades →The full stainless grade map
Quote on 316L Stainless Steel Sheet & Plate
Send the grade, dimensions and quantity. You get price, lead time, MOQ and certificate type in one reply — and a straight answer if the grade is wrong for the job.