Stainless Steel 316F · supply condition · default condition
Stainless Steel 316F Cold Drawn
Properties of the Cold Drawn condition, compared with the other 316F tempers.
Standard stocked screw-machine bar: higher strength, tighter tolerance and cleaner chip-breaking than annealed.
What is 316F Cold Drawn?
316F Cold Drawn is 316F supplied in the Cold Drawn condition — standard stocked screw-machine bar: higher strength, tighter tolerance and cleaner chip-breaking than annealed. 316F Cold Drawn has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — stronger than 70% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 193 GPa (28 Msi). 316F Cold Drawn 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).
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 72/100, better than 99% 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
316F Cold Drawn properties
Typical room-temperature values for 316F Cold Drawn — 13 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 Cold Drawn 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 Cold Drawn has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — stronger than 70% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 193 GPa (28 Msi).
Thermal6
316F Cold Drawn 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 Cold Drawn conducts electricity at 2.3 % IACS, better than 55% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (62/100), worse than 53% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 316F Cold Drawn 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 Cold Drawn's machinability is very good (72/100, better than 99% of stainless steel grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability fair (40/100).
Common Calculations5
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 Cold Drawn
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 Cold Drawn — frequently asked
What is 316F Cold Drawn used for?
316F Cold Drawn 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 Cold Drawn?
316F Cold Drawn has a typical yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — stronger than 70% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is 316F Cold Drawn easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (72/100, better than 99% 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 Cold Drawn 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 Cold Drawn?
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 Cold Drawn 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 Cold Drawn?
316F Cold Drawn 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 Cold Drawn?
Yes — 316F Cold Drawn 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.