AM 316L
An austenitic stainless steel by metal printing
Typical values for the temper in the title
316L is one of the easiest and most common metal printing materials. Because of the very fine structure formed by fast cooling, as-printed 316L is much stronger than annealed 316L (yield about 450–550 MPa versus about 200–300), while remaining very ductile.
It is used for corrosion-resistant parts with complex shapes: heat exchangers, flow components, food and pharmaceutical parts, tooling and prototypes. ASTM F3184 covers powder-bed-fusion 316L.
Mechanical and physical properties
| Property | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength Rm | 550-650 MPa | |
| Yield strength Rp0.2 | 450-550 MPa | |
| Elongation A | 35-50% | |
| Modulus of elasticity E | 193 GPa | |
| Density ρ | 7.95 g/cm³ | |
| Machinability | 35% (post-HIP) | relative rating in the site database |
Chemical composition (wt %)
| Element | Range | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | as the conventional material | see the 316L page |
The composition of the printing powder is basically the same as the conventional material, sometimes with tighter limits on oxygen and impurities.
Conditions after printing
The treatment is chosen by need: stress relief keeps the high strength, and solution annealing or HIP bring the material close to conventional 316L.
| Condition | Properties | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|
| As built | strong, ductile, residual stresses | most uses, after stress relief |
| Stress relieved | low stresses, strength mostly retained | before removal from the build plate |
| Solution annealed / HIP | softer, closer to annealed material, more isotropic | when uniform properties are needed |
Applications
- Heat exchangers and flow components
- Food and pharmaceutical parts
- Corrosion-resistant complex parts
- Tooling and prototypes
- Marine parts
Fabrication
Surface and fatigue
The surface of a printed part is rough and has small defects. This roughness strongly reduces fatigue resistance, so critical surfaces are machined or polished.
Porosity and HIP
Small voids may remain in a printed part (lack of fusion or gas). Hot isostatic pressing (HIP) closes most internal voids and greatly improves fatigue resistance.
Anisotropy
Properties may differ in the build direction (Z) and in the plane (XY). The build orientation of a critical part is set in advance and checked with test bars from the same build.
Powder safety
Fine metal powder can ignite and explode, and is harmful to breathe. Follow the producer instructions, with grounding, inert atmosphere and respiratory protection.
Compared with similar materials
| Material | Rm / Rp0.2 | Welding | When it is the better choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 316 / 316L | 485–620 / 170–310 MPa | Excellent — ER316L | the conventional material (wrought or cast) · material page |
| AM Ti-6Al-4V | 950-1150 / 880-1050 MPa | Not applicable — as-built | printed Ti-6Al-4V: light and strong · material page |
| AM Inconel 718 | 1240-1350 / 1030-1100 MPa | Not applicable — as-built | printed Inconel 718: strong when hot · material page |
Common mistakes
Expecting identical corrosion resistance without treatment
Surface porosity may reduce corrosion resistance. Machining, polishing and passivation are common.
Designing with annealed 316L properties
A printed part is stronger, but properties depend on process and orientation.
Removing from the plate before stress relief
The part may distort.
Equivalents, standards and supply
| ASTM | F3184 |
|---|---|
| Standards | ASTM F3184 |
| Forms | powder 15-45μm · SLM builds |
| Producers | EOS · Carpenter · Sandvik Osprey |
Learn more
Values are typical and for comparison only. In printed parts, properties depend on the machine, parameters, build orientation and post-processing. For design, rely on the standard and on tests of parts from the same process. Sources: ASTM F2924, F3001, F3055 and F3184, EOS data sheets, and the METAL HUB materials database.
Updated: October 31, 2026