Materials / Compare
Stainless 316 vs. Steel
Compare Stainless 316 vs. Steel strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 265MPasourcetypical (representative), annealed 1.0 mm sheet | 385MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey), as reported by AISC |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 583MPasourcetypical (representative), annealed 1.0 mm sheet | 505MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey) |
| Elongation at break | 61%sourcetypical (representative), annealed, in 2 in. (51 mm) | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 200GPasourcetypical, in tension | 200GPasourcedesign value (AISC 360-16) |
| Density | 8,027kg/m³sourcetypical | 7,850kg/m³sourcenominal (constructional data) |
| Strength to weight | 33kN·m/kg | 49kN·m/kg49% higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 24.9MN·m/kg | 25.5MN·m/kg2% higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.3sourcedesign value (structural stainless steels) | 0.3sourcedesign value (AISC 360-16 Commentary) |
| Shear modulus | 76.9GPa | 76.9GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 167GPa | 167GPa |
| Speed of sound | 4,992m/s | 5,048m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 14.6W/m·Ksource20–100 °C | 48W/m·Ksourcenominal at 20 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 16.5µm/m·Ksourcemean, 20–100 °C | 12µm/m·Ksourcenominal (constructional data, no temperature range stated) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 82.5µm growth | 60µm growth37% less |
| Specific heat | 450J/kg·Ksourceat 20 °C | 460–480J/kg·Ksourcebase material: EN S275JR unalloyed structural steel (the EN counterpart of A36), typical, 50/100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 4.04mm²/s | 13mm²/s3.22x faster |
| Thermal shock resistance | 821W/m | 5,390W/m6.57x more resistant |
| Melting point | 1,390–1,440°Csourcemelting range | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 871–899°Csourceoxidation (scaling) limit in air | not sourced |
| Values for | ATI 316 (UNS S31600), annealed 1.0 mm sheet, ATI technical data sheet (2012); Poisson's ratio from the Nickel Institute/SCI structural stainless design manual | Generic structural steel, cited as ASTM A992 (the current US structural grade): ASTM A992 W-shapes; Fy/Fu specified minimums from AISC publications (AISC 360-16 Commentary; Modern Steel Construction); elastic constants AISC 360; physical constants from the bauforumstahl structural-steel EPD, which names A992 among covered product standards. |
Every value links to the document that states it. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
Questions
Is Stainless 316 stronger than Steel?
Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 385 MPa against 265 MPa for Stainless 316 (45%).
Which is lighter, Stainless 316 or Steel?
Steel is lighter: 7,850 kg/m³ against 8,027 kg/m³ for Stainless 316.
Which is stiffer, Stainless 316 or Steel?
Stainless 316 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 200 GPa for Steel, so the same part in Stainless 316 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Stainless 316 or Steel?
For the same stiffness or strength: Steel is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Stainless 316 | Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 2% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 2% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 2% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 49% heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 31% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 23% heavier | lighter |
For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).
Which conducts heat better, Stainless 316 or Steel?
Steel conducts heat better: 48 W/m·K against 14.6 W/m·K for Stainless 316.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 16.5 µm/m·K for Stainless 316.