316 Stainless Steel Shafts

Marine-grade stainless — resists acids, chlorides, and harsh chemicals.

At a glance

Stocked condition	Cold finished
Machinability	Fair — similar to 304
Weldability	Excellent
Corrosion resistance	Excellent — chlorides, acids, marine atmospheres
Hardening	Not heat-treatable (austenitic)
Density (nominal)	0.290 lb/in³
Food contact	Yes — preferred for brines and high-salt products
Magnetic	Essentially non-magnetic (slightly magnetic from cold work)

316 adds molybdenum to the 304 chemistry, and that one change is what lets it shrug off chlorides — salt spray, brine, de-icing chemicals, and the pitting they cause in lesser stainless. It is the specification default for marine hardware and chemical-process equipment.

Machining behavior is similar to 304 (slow, work-hardening), and it carries a raw-material premium. Buy the molybdenum when the environment demands it; in ordinary washdown service 304 or 303 does the job for less.

Configure a 316 part →

Any geometry in the configurator — diameters, threads, keyseats, grooves, holes, tapers — can be machined in 316. Pick the material in the sidebar and the price updates live.

When to choose 316

Salt water, brine, or chloride exposure — marine and coastal duty.
Chemical-process equipment with acids or aggressive cleaners.
Food contact involving salty or acidic products.

Consider instead

304 — when chlorides are not in the picture.
17-4 PH — when corrosion duty also needs high strength.
303 — for general wet duty at the lowest stainless cost.

Typical applications

Marine pump and propeller shafts
Chemical-process agitator shafts
Dosing and metering equipment
Coastal and offshore hardware

Ready-made starting points in this material's wheelhouse: ANSI pump shafts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Chlorides, primarily — salt water, brine, and chlorinated cleaners that pit 304 over time. Its molybdenum addition is also why it holds up better against many acids.

Only when chlorides or aggressive chemicals are actually present. In ordinary washdown or food service, 304 performs equivalently for less; in marine or brine service, 316 is cheap insurance.

No — like all austenitic stainless it does not respond to heat treatment. For a corrosion-resistant shaft with real hardness, 17-4 PH is the usual answer.

Stocked as 316 CF — cold finished. Material and condition are paired — each grade ships in one condition optimized for our process; see all grades on the materials page.