Stainless Steel 316 is the standard molybdenum-bearing grade, second in importance to SS 304 amongst the austenitic stainless steels. The molybdenum gives SS 316 better overall corrosion resistant properties than Stainless Steel 304, particularly higher resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride environments. Stainless Steel 316 has excellent forming and welding characteristics. It is readily brake or roll formed into a variety of parts for applications in the industrial, architectural, and transportation fields. SS 316 also has outstanding welding characteristics. Post-weld annealing is not required when welding thin sections.

SS 316L, the low carbon version of SS 316 and is immune from sensitisation (grain boundary carbide precipitation). SS 316H, with its higher carbon content has application at elevated temperatures, same as SS 316Ti which is a Titanium stabilised grade. SS 316N is nitrogen enhanced with greater strength than SS 316.