Re: stainless specification

From: <Christopher>
Date: Sat Jun 12 2004 - 13:21:00 EDT

>I would like to know how to specify a stainless steel plate.
>For eg: If we say 316, 316L, 304, 304L, etc...
>What does this 316 and L stands for ?

The different grades are explained in detail in downloadable literature at <http://www.nickelinstitute.org/index.cfm/ci_id/45.htm>

Specifying stainless steel gets very complicated very quickly. If you know what grade you need (and why) use the ASTM or ASME specification SA-240 for plate SA-312 for pipe SA-351 for castings, etc. That's the easy part. There are dozens of grades of stainless steel, probably dozens more for bolts alone. The different grades vary in resistance to temperature and corrosion. There are also strain hardened grades which have very high strength which is not maintained during welding. Some special types are heat-treatable, but the 300 series steels aren't.

Sometimes the differences are very subtle, so prepare yourself for some research if you're looking to decide on a grade.

Christopher Wright P.E. |"They couldn't hit an elephant at <a href="/group/PipingDesign/post?postID=dBpygTLNs6dJ38pgiilmWNT9ZID2UMnDLKOjLBbxvHd2cLmp4ddiARi__vdoORqfMSIUnQjOzktf">chrisw@skypoint.com</a> | this distance" (last words of Gen.

___________________________| John Sedgwick, Spotsylvania 1864)

<a href="http://www.skypoint.com/~chrisw">http://www.skypoint.com/~chrisw</a> Received on Sat Jun 12 13:21:00 2004