Verified by Rachel Mayfield, Supply Chain Analyst - August 2026
Stainless steel 316 (1.4401, A4 in fastener grades): typical engineering properties at room temperature. These are representative handbook and datasheet values - composition, temper and product form move real figures, so for design work use the supplier's certified datasheet. For quick sizing, comparison and sanity checks, the table below is what you need.
Stainless steel 316 properties
| Property | Typical value | Unit |
|---|
| Density | 7,950-8,000 | kg/m3 |
| Melting range | 1,370-1,400 C | |
| Thermal conductivity | 16.3 | W/m K |
| Thermal expansion | 15.9 | x10-6 /K |
| Specific heat | 500 | J/kg K |
| Elastic modulus (E) | 193 | GPa |
| Tensile strength | 515-690 MPa (annealed: min yield ~205 MPa) | |
Where stainless steel 316 is used
Typical applications: marine hardware, chemical plant, coastal fixings, medical equipment, and A4 fasteners.
What to know before specifying it
The 2-3% molybdenum addition is what separates 316 from 304: it resists chloride pitting, which makes it the marine and coastal default. Slightly heavier and pricier than 304; mechanically they are near twins, so the choice is almost purely an environment call.