316 Stainless Steel Bearing Materials

KMS Bearings Inc. manufactures radial ball bearings utilizing type 316 stainless which provides superior corrosion resistance when compared to conventional steel and 440 stainless bearings. 316 stainless is more resistant to atmospheric and general corrosive conditions than any of the other standard stainless steels. 316 stainless is widely used in the food and medical industries. Bearings produced from this type of steel can run in liquids or can run dry at slow speeds.

316 Stainless is the standard molybdenum-bearing stainless steel. The molybdenum gives 316 better overall corrosion resistant properties than Grade 304, particularly higher resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride environments.

Highlight Features

  • Molybdenum content increases resistance to marine environments.
  • High creep strength at elevated temperatures and good heat resistance.
  • Bio-compatible.
  • Fabrication characteristics similar to Types 302 and 304.

Applications: food and pharmaceutical processing equipment, marine environment, surgical medical devices and industrial equipment that handles the corrosive chemicals used to produce inks, rayons, photographic chemicals, paper, textiles, bleaches and rubber.

Corrosion Resistance: better corrosion resistance than 440c, 302 and 304 stainless. Resists sodium and calcium brines, hypochlorite solutions, phosphoric acid, sulfite liquors and sulfurous acids that are commonly used in the paper pulp industries.

316 Stainless Material Composition

MATERIAL CONVERSION

 

(AGENCY)

Material

AISI

Federal

ASTM

UNS

AMS

316 Stainless

Type 316

QQ-S-763E

A276-89a

S31600

5648G

MATERIAL COMPOSITION*

316 STAINLESS

Carbon:  Maximum of 0.080%

Manganese:  Maximum of 2.00%

Phosphorus:  Maximum of 0.045%

Sulfur:  Maximum of 0.030%

Silicon:  Maximum of 1.00%

Chromium:  16.00% to 18.00%

 

Nickel:  10.00% to 14.00%

Nitrogen: Maximum of 0.010%

Molybdenum:  2.00% to 3.00%

 

*ref per ASTM A276-89a

 

*ref per ASTM A276-89a

Corrosion Resistance For 316 Stainless

 

MATERIALS

316 STAINLESS

440C STAINLESS*

CHROME STEEL*

WATER

Stream

A

B

--

Domestic Water

A

B

D

Sea Water

A

--

D

FOOD

Food Products

A

B

--

Fruit & Veg. Juices

A

B

--

Dairy Products

A

C

--

LIQUOR

Hot Sulfite

B

--

--

Dye

D

D

--

DILUTE ACIDS

Hydrochloric Acid

--

--

--

Sulfuric Acid

B

--

--

Nitrous Acid

A

A

--

Phosphoric

B

--

--

ACIDS

Sulfuric Acid

A

--

--

Nitrous Acid

--

--

--

Phosphoric

A

--

--

 

Industrial

B

B

C

Salt Air

A

C

C

Ammonia

A

C

B

Alkaline Salts

B

B

C

A = Excellent, B = Good, C = Fair, D = Poor, -- = Will not withstand conditions

*Please note that KMS does not manufacture bearings made from either 440C or Chrome Steel. They are listed for comparison to 316 stainless only.

Plastic Vs Steel

Lightweight: Plastic is five times lighter than steel, thereby reducing the weight and energy to move them.


Read all the benefits of Plastic vs Steel Bearings