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Stainless Steel dealers in UAE

316 / 316L / 1.4401 / 1.4404

316 / 316L (1.4401 / 1.4404) — molybdenum-bearing austenitic stainless steel with superior corrosion resistance in chloride, marine, and chemical environments. The most widely specified stainless steel in oil & gas and petrochemical applications globally.

Industries Served

Oil & Gas
Petrochemical
Marine
Food Processing
Pharmaceutical
Power Generation
Heavy Engineering
Desalination

Applications

  • Subsea and offshore piping, flanges, and valve bodies for UAE and GCC oil & gas production installations
  • Process piping, vessels, and heat exchanger tubes in petrochemical and refinery plants handling chloride-bearing fluids
  • Desalination plant components including evaporator tubes, brine distribution pipework, and vessel internals in UAE
  • Marine hardware, deck fittings, propeller shafts, and structural components for offshore vessels and rigs
  • Food and dairy processing equipment including tanks, pipework, fittings, and hygiene-critical contact surfaces
  • Pharmaceutical manufacturing vessels, reactors, and clean-room pipework requiring high purity and corrosion resistance
  • Chemical storage tanks and reaction vessels handling organic acids, alkalis, and industrial process chemicals
  • Architectural cladding, handrails, and structural elements in coastal and marine environments throughout GCC
  • Medical device and surgical instrument components requiring biocompatibility and sterilisation resistance
  • Water and wastewater treatment plant components, pump internals, and valve trim in municipal and industrial service

Chemical Composition

0.04 %
C

Carbon

≤ 0.08 %

0.4 %
Si

Silicon

≤ 1 %

1.3 %
Mn

Manganese

≤ 2 %

P

Phosphorus

≤ 0.045 %

S

Sulphur

≤ 0.03 %

16.9 %
Cr

Chromium

16 – 18 %

11 %
Ni

Nickel

10 – 14 %

2.1 %
Mo

Molybdenum

2 – 2.5 %

0.04 %
N

Nitrogen

≤ 0.1 %

Typical value Range (min–max) Minimum (≥) Maximum (≤) Hover / tap for notes

Standard

ASTM A276 / A276M - current edition

Available Forms

Round Bar

Diameter 6-500 mm. Solution annealed. Drawn, turned, ground finishes available. ASTM A276 / EN 10088-3. For valve stems, pump shafts, and machined components.

Flat Bar

Thickness 5-100 mm, width up to 300 mm. Solution annealed. For brackets, frames, and structural stainless applications.

Plate

Plate 3-100 mm thickness. No.1 (HRAP) finish standard, No.4 brushed on request. ASTM A240 / EN 10028-7. For vessels, tanks, and fabrications.

Sheet

Sheet 0.5-3 mm thickness. 2B finish standard. No.4 (brushed) on request.

Pipe / Tube

Seamless and welded. Sizes per ASME B36.19M. Schedules 5S to XXS. ASTM A312 (seamless/welded), ASTM A213 (seamless). For process piping and heat exchangers in petrochemical and offshore.

Forging

Open-die forgings. ASTM A182 (flanges and fittings), ASTM A276 (bar forgings). EN 10204 3.1 and 3.2. For flanges, valve bodies, and pump casings. Lead times apply.

Ring Forging

Ring forgings per ASTM A182. EN 10204 3.1 and 3.2. For ring-shaped components. Lead times apply.

Fasteners

Hex bolts, studs, nuts, and washers in 316/316L. A4-70 / A4-80 per ISO 3506. ASTM F593/F594. Used throughout oil & gas, marine, and offshore installations. Supplied with EN 10204 3.1 certificates.

Designations & Equivalents

StandardDesignationNotes
AISI / SAE316AISI/SAE designation (standard carbon).
AISI / SAE316LAISI/SAE low-carbon variant.
EN NameX5CrNiMo17-12-2DIN/EN name - standard carbon (316).
EN / Werkstoff1.4401Werkstoff-Nr. (316).
EN NameX2CrNiMo17-12-2DIN/EN name - low carbon (316L).
EN / Werkstoff1.4404Werkstoff-Nr. (316L).
UNSS31600316.
UNSS31603316L.
ASTMA276 Grade 316 / 316LBar.
ASTMA240 Grade 316 / 316LPlate.
ASTMA312 TP316 / TP316LPipe.
ASTMA182 F316 / F316LForgings.
BSBS EN 10088-3: 1.4401 / 1.4404British/European bar standard.
ISOA4 (ISO 3506)Fasteners - equivalent to 316 stainless.
JISSUS316 / SUS316LJapanese Industrial Standard.

Compliance & Certification

StandardStatusNotes
EN 10204 3.1SuitableMill Test Certificate - standard with all supply.
EN 10204 3.2ConditionalIndependent third-party MTC - available on request.
NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156Suitable316/316L acceptable for H2S environments in solution annealed condition. Hardness limits apply (max 22 HRC). Specify at order stage.
NACE MR0103Suitable316L for refinery sour service per NACE MR0103.
PED 2014/68/EUSuitableEuropean pressure equipment compliance for pressure vessels and piping using EN 10028-7 material.

Specifications

Mechanical Properties

Values are minimums unless noted; hardness is a maximum.

Property316 (1.4401) — ASTM A276 — Solution AnnealedDefault316L (1.4404) — ASTM A276 — Solution Annealed
Tensile Strength (UTS)min515 MPaTypical: 580 MPaCondition: Room temp, solution annealedNotes: Per ASTM A276. Values for bar; plate per A240 similar.485 MPaTypical: 550 MPaCondition: Room temp, solution annealedNotes: Slightly lower than 316 due to lower carbon. Per ASTM A276.
Yield Strength (0.2% Proof Stress)min205 MPaTypical: 260 MPaCondition: Room temp, solution annealedNotes: 0.2% offset. Lower than alloy steels - austenitic SS is soft in the annealed condition.170 MPaTypical: 230 MPaCondition: Room temp, solution annealedNotes: Minimum 170 MPa per ASTM A276 for 316L. EN 10088-3 minimum is 220 MPa (Rp0.2) - specify applicable standard at order stage.
Elongationmin40 %Typical: 50 %Condition: 50 mm gauge lengthNotes: Outstanding elongation - excellent formability.40 %Typical: 50 %Condition: 50 mm gauge lengthNotes: Essentially identical to 316.
Reduction of Areamin50 %Typical: 65 %Condition: Longitudinal50 %Typical: 65 %Condition: Longitudinal
Hardnessmax190 HBTypical: 165 HBCondition: Surface, BrinellNotes: Max 190 HB per ASTM A276 solution annealed condition.190 HBTypical: 160 HBCondition: Surface, BrinellNotes: Max 190 HB. Slightly softer than 316 in practice.
Impact Energy (Charpy)typical200+ JCondition: Room temp, V-notchNotes: Austenitic stainless steels have outstanding toughness; impact values do not decrease at cryogenic temperatures.200+ JCondition: Room temp, V-notchNotes: Outstanding toughness retained to cryogenic temperatures. Excellent for LNG and cryogenic service.

Physical Properties

Property316 (1.4401) — ASTM A276 — Solution AnnealedDefault316L (1.4404) — ASTM A276 — Solution Annealed
Density20°C7.98 g/cm³7.98 g/cm³
Modulus of Elasticity25°C193 GPa193 GPa
Thermal Conductivity100°C16.3 W/m·K16.3 W/m·K
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion20-100°C16 µm/m·°C16 µm/m·°C
Specific Heat Capacity20°C500 J/kg·K500 J/kg·K
Melting Point / RangeSolidus1371 °C1371 °C
ENGINEERING NOTES
Weldability
Good

316L is the preferred grade for welded fabrications. Its low carbon content (max 0.030% C) prevents sensitisation during welding, maintaining corrosion resistance in the heat-affected zone without post-weld annealing. Standard 316 (0.08% C max) can be welded but is more susceptible to sensitisation in thick sections or multi-pass welds - specify 316L for welded assemblies as standard practice. No preheat is required. Use low heat input to minimise distortion. Back purging with argon is required for root passes in pipe welding. Post-weld pickling and passivation restores full corrosion resistance.

Machinability
Fair

316/316L has lower machinability than alloy steels due to a work-hardening tendency. Use sharp carbide tooling with positive rake angles and maintain chip clearance - built-up edge is the primary problem. Flood coolant is essential. Cutting speeds 40-60% of equivalent carbon steel rates. Avoid interrupted cuts where possible. For better machinability, 316Ti (titanium-stabilised) or 316F (free-machining) variants are available on request.

Overview

316 (UNS S31600, 1.4401, X5CrNiMo17-12-2) and 316L (UNS S31603, 1.4404, X2CrNiMo17-12-2) are molybdenum-bearing austenitic stainless steels containing 16-18% chromium, 10-14% nickel, and 2.00-2.50% molybdenum. The molybdenum addition distinguishes 316/316L from the standard 304/304L grades and is the key to their superior performance: it provides enhanced resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride-containing environments - including seawater, brine, and many industrial process chemicals - making 316/316L the default stainless steel specification for marine, offshore, petrochemical, and food processing applications worldwide. The L designation in 316L indicates a maximum carbon content of 0.030% (vs 0.08% for standard 316), which prevents sensitisation and intergranular corrosion in the heat-affected zone during welding, eliminating the need for post-weld annealing in most applications.

Nifty Alloys supplies 316 / 316L stainless steel from stock in Dubai, UAE, in round bar, flat bar, plate/sheet, pipe/tube, forgings/ring forgings, and fasteners across a comprehensive range of sizes. All material is supplied with EN 10204 3.1 Mill Test Certificates as standard - confirming chemical composition, mechanical properties, and full traceability to mill source. EN 10204 3.2 third-party inspection is available on request. NACE MR0175 / MR0103 compliant material is available for sour service applications - specify at order stage. We deliver across the UAE within 24-48 hours and export to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain. Contact our team for same-day quotation and stock availability.

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316 / 316L is the most widely specified stainless steel in oil & gas, petrochemical, and marine industries globally. Key UAE/GCC applications include subsea and offshore piping, flanges and valve bodies; process piping and vessels in petrochemical refineries; desalination plant components; marine hardware; food and dairy processing equipment; pharmaceutical vessels and clean-room pipework; chemical storage and reaction vessels; and A4 stainless fasteners. The molybdenum content (2.00-2.50%) distinguishes 316/316L from 304 and is why it is specified wherever chloride corrosion is a concern.

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