Stainless Steel 316F · temper
Stainless Steel 316F Annealed
Properties of the Annealed condition, compared with the other 316F tempers.
Pick for maximum ductility, best available corrosion resistance and any forming or bending of the bar.
What is 316F Annealed?
316F Annealed is 316F in the Annealed temper — pick for maximum ductility, best available corrosion resistance and any forming or bending of the bar. 316F Annealed has a yield strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — weaker than 84% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 45% and the elastic modulus is 193 GPa (28 Msi). 316F Annealed has a density of 8 g/cm³ (0.289 lb/in³), heavier than 92% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,375°C (2,507 °F). Cold Drawn is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Annealed is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 68/100, better than 98% of stainless steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 45%, better than 76% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 96% of stainless steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 92% of stainless steel grades
- Low strength — 260 MPa (37.7 ksi), worse than 84% of stainless steel grades
316F Annealed properties
Typical room-temperature values for 316F Annealed — 14 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 316F temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the stainless steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
316F Annealed has a density of 8 g/cm³ (0.289 lb/in³), heavier than 92% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,375°C (2,507 °F).
Mechanical13
316F Annealed has a yield strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — weaker than 84% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 45% and the elastic modulus is 193 GPa (28 Msi).
Thermal6
316F Annealed is rated for continuous service to 700°C (1,292 °F). It conducts heat at 16.3 W/m·K (9.42 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 68% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 16 µm/m·K (8.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
316F Annealed conducts electricity at 2.3 % IACS, better than 55% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (65/100), better than 55% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 316F Annealed takes about 55 MJ of energy and emits 5.2 kg of CO₂ — less than 51% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability8
316F Annealed's machinability is good (68/100, better than 98% of stainless steel grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability good (55/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 316F tempers and conditions
316F is also supplied in 2 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 316F overview.
- Cold DrawnDefaultStandard stocked screw-machine bar: higher strength, tighter tolerance and cleaner chip-breaking than annealed.450 MPa yield · 200 HB
- CD High TensilePick for small-diameter shafts and fasteners needing higher yield strength, accepting low ductility and magnetism.620 MPa yield · 240 HB
- AnnealedPick for maximum ductility, best available corrosion resistance and any forming or bending of the bar.260 MPa yield · 160 HB
Working with 316F Annealed
Is 316F easy to machine?
Runs well on multi-spindle and CNC lathes at ~1.4–1.6× the speed of 316 with short, breakable chips; still work-hardens, so use rigid setups, positive rake, sharp carbide and generous coolant, and avoid dwelling.
Can 316F be welded?
Not recommended for welded assemblies — the high sulfur promotes solidification hot cracking; if unavoidable, use low heat input, 316L/309 filler, minimal restraint and expect reduced joint corrosion performance.
Can 316F be formed, bent or molded?
Cold heading and severe bending are limited by the sulfide stringers; hot working 1150–1250 °C followed by solution anneal and rapid cooling is preferred, and annealed bar should be used for any forming.
What surface finishes work on 316F?
Passivate per ASTM A967 (nitric or citric) after machining, expecting less uniform passivity than 316; electropolishing and mirror polishing are compromised by inclusion pull-out, and plating requires careful activation.
316F chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| C | ≤ 0.08 | 0.06 |
| Mn | ≤ 2 | 1.5 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.6 |
| Praised P permitted to aid machinability | ≤ 0.2 | 0.05 |
| Sintentional sulfur for free machining | ≥ 0.1 | 0.18 |
| Cr | 16 – 18 | 17 |
| Ni | 10 – 14 | 12 |
| Mo | 1.75 – 2.5 | 2.1 |
| Fe | balance | — |
316F Annealed — frequently asked
What is 316F Annealed used for?
316F Annealed is typically used for marine machined fittings, surgical hardware, screw-machine valve components, pump and instrument shafts, threaded fasteners and inserts and hydraulic fittings and adapters. In short: free-machining marine stainless.
What is the yield strength of 316F Annealed?
316F Annealed has a typical yield strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — weaker than 84% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is 316F Annealed easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (68/100, better than 98% of stainless steel grades). Runs well on multi-spindle and CNC lathes at ~1.4–1.6× the speed of 316 with short, breakable chips; still work-hardens, so use rigid setups, positive rake, sharp carbide and generous coolant, and avoid dwelling.
Can 316F Annealed be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Not recommended for welded assemblies — the high sulfur promotes solidification hot cracking; if unavoidable, use low heat input, 316L/309 filler, minimal restraint and expect reduced joint corrosion performance.
What surface finishes work on 316F Annealed?
Passivate per ASTM A967 (nitric or citric) after machining, expecting less uniform passivity than 316; electropolishing and mirror polishing are compromised by inclusion pull-out, and plating requires careful activation.
Can 316F Annealed be formed, bent or molded?
Cold heading and severe bending are limited by the sulfide stringers; hot working 1150–1250 °C followed by solution anneal and rapid cooling is preferred, and annealed bar should be used for any forming.
What is the maximum service temperature of 316F Annealed?
316F Annealed is rated for continuous use to about 700°C (1,292 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in 316F Annealed?
Yes — 316F Annealed is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM A582/A582M — Free-Machining Stainless Steel Bars — ASTM International (2021)
- ASTM A276/A276M — Stainless Steel Bars and Shapes — ASTM International (2023)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Stainless Steels — ASM International (1994)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- UNS S31620 alloy designation data (SAE/ASTM Metals & Alloys in the Unified Numbering System) — SAE International / ASTM (2017)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.