AISI 316LN is a stainless steel that belongs to the austenitic category which is known for its great corrosion resistance and superb mechanical properties. Generally, they are defined by the presence of substances containing chromium, nickel, molybdenum, and nitrogen. Among the standard qualities of 316 stainless steel is grain orientation and corrosion resistance. However, grade AISI 316LN sustains these qualities, but with a lower carbon content and nitrogen added. Industrial applications of this alloy grade in chemical processing, pharmaceuticals, food production, and sea-life are related to the high corrosion-resistivity requirement. An involved table, chart and PDF documents explain the chemical composition, grades, and properties easily downloadable, so engineers, designers, and manufacturers can obtain information to support their choice of a material for their project.
AISI 316LN is a heat-resistant austenitic stainless steel with superior anti-corrosion properties and superb strength. The compound's chemical composition commonly has 16-18% of chromium, 10-14% of nickel, 2-3% of molybdenum, and trace amounts of carbon, nitrogen, and silicon. Being composed of this material does not only improve its resistance towards corrosion, but also makes it suitable to be used in several conditions, including acidic and chloride-rich mediures. The AISI 316LN stainless steel is well-known to be used in chemical processing, pharmaceutics, food processing, and marine applications. Its superior properties explain why it is used in those critical applications where trustedness and durability are the fundamental considerations.
Elements | Fe | Cr | Ni | Mo | Mn | Si | N | P | C | S |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Min (%) | - | 16 | 10 | 2.0 | - | - | 0.10 | - | - | - |
Max (%) | Balance | 18 | 14 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.30 | 0.45 | 0.03 | 0.03 |
Advantages:
High Strength: Nitrogen addition provides the extra boost to tensile and yield strength of the material.
Corrosion Resistance: It possesses very high resistance to corrosion in chloride and acidic environments.
Improved Pitting Resistance: The increase in nitrogen content leads to an improvement in the material’s ability to withstand pitting and crevice corrosion.
Good Weldability: Is also characterized by good weldability and may be welded by conventional methods.
Durability: Longevity and high resistance in specific conditions that nature exposes organisms to.
Disadvantages:
Higher Cost: Bigger cost because additional nitrogen and special treatment is incorporated.
Work Hardening: Machining can cause it to harden quickly, necessitating the use of special tools and methods.
Availability: May not be as easy to obtain as some other stainless steel grades, meaning longer wait times.
Potential for Sensitization: It can easily be sensitized and prone to intergranular corrosion if it is not heat-treated appropriately.
Heavier Weight: Although it is relatively heavy this might be considered as a drawback in weight-sensitive systems.
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The regular formula contains chromium – 16-18 %; nickel – 10-14 %; molybdenum – 2-3 %; nitrogen – 0,10 – 0,16 %; with addition of manganese, silicon, and carbon in lesser quantities.
It provides good protection against corrosion, high tensile strength, and good weldability. It also exhibits great measure of resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion.
It is widely applied in chemical processing, marine fields, and medical instrument applications because of its remarkable feature of high strength and anti-corrosive capabilities.
AISI 316LN is not as common as AISI 316L, with higher nitrogen content, resulting in improved performance characteristics such as strength and corrosion resistance.