Stainless Steel 316L Mechanical Tubing
Stainless Steel 316L Mechanical Tubing is generally used for structural purposes and the OD is an important and exact number. Tubing size is specified by OD and the wall thickness (WT); and the measured OD and stated OD are generally within very close tolerances of each other. Tubing is usually more expensive than pipe due to tighter manufacturing tolerances.
Interestingly, while the stated and measured OD's of tubing are almost exact most of the time, copper tubing generally has a measured OD that is 1/8" larger than stated OD. As such, maybe it should be called copper pipe. However, stainless steel, aluminum, and steel tubing all have measured and stated OD's that are exact or very close.
TECHNICAL DATA
Stainless Steel 316L Mechanical Tubing Mechanical Properties
| Temper | 304 | 304 | 304L | 304L |
| Tensile Rm | 76 | ksi (min) | 70 | ksi (min) |
| Tensile Rm | 517 | MPa (min) | 485 | MPa (min) |
| R.p. 0.2% Yield | 31 | ksi (min) | 25 | ksi (min) |
| R.p. 0.2% Yield | 207 | MPa (min) | 170 | MPa (min) |
| Elongation (2" or 4D gl) | 40 | % (min) | 40 | % (min) |
Physical Properties (Room Temperature)
| Specific Heat (0-100°C) | 500 | J.kg-1.°K-1 |
| Thermal Conductivity | 16.2 | W.m -1.°K-1 |
| Thermal Expansion | 17.2 | mm/m/°C |
| Modulus Elasticity | 19.3 | GPa |
| Electrical Resistivity | 7.23 | μohm/cm |
| Density | 8.0 | g/cm3 |
Chemical Composition (% by weight)
| 304 | 304 | 304L | 304L | |
| Element | Min | Max | Min | Max |
| C | - | 0.08 | - | 0.08 |
| Mn | - | 2 | - | 2 |
| Ni | 8 | 10.5 | 8 | 12.0 |
| Cr | 18 | 20 | 18 | 20 |
| S | - | 0.03 | - | 0.03 |
| N | - | 0.1 | - | 0.1 |
| Si | - | 0.75 | - | 0.75 |
| P | - | 0.045 | - | 0.045 |
