Jindal Stainless indigenously manufactures machinable 316F stainless steel grade for paper and pulp industry
August 28, 2022
Continuing its efforts to replace imports with Indian stainless steel, Jindal Stainless has indigenously developed a machinable stainless steel grade – 316F. This development gives a major push to the Indian government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative that aims to ensure that the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP is increased to 25% by 2025. Additionally, it caters to the needs of various process industries, including paper and pulp, thereby increasing their efficiency.
Why was 316F needed?
There are various grades of stainless steel and each one has different formability, strength, and workability. Some grades of stainless steel are difficult to machine in their final form. Machining is the process in which a desired shape is obtained from a larger piece of material by cutting and removing the unwanted material. The machinability of some grades of stainless steel can be improved by changing their composition, without changing the other basic properties. While some machine operators require great cutting speed, some wish to have a longer tool life at a medium cutting speed.
316F in sheet and plate form is a result of rigorous research, hard work, and the desire to solve a problem. This is also something Jindal Stainless stands for – evolving with time and delivering the best in the market.
What is grade 316F stainless steel?
316F stainless steel grade, also known as free-machining austenitic stainless steel, is more resistant to chemical corrosion and can withstand high temperatures as compared to other grades such as 304. It is composed of Molybdenum (Mo) added austenitic stainless steel with high Sulphur (0.2% S). Sulphur along with Manganese Sulphide (MnS) inclusions reduce friction and transverse ductility of the chips, causing chip-off more readily while machining. 316F has high tensile and yield strength and is most suitable for marine environments. It finds applications where material with high machinability is required. Tools made of 316F stainless steel are almost 41% less prone to wear and tear as compared to 316L grade.
Which sectors does 316F cater to?
There are numerous industries that rely on stainless steel to improve the service life of their equipment. The Paper and Pulp Industry is one of them where some of the steps still involve using highly-corrosive chemicals. Grade 316F will provide all-round protection from corrosion due to chemical and moisture exposure, and will also allow the material to withstand high temperatures for an extended period. It will also cater to the customers’ key requirement of longer tool life with higher cutting speeds.
Such innovations are necessary to keep up with the evolving demands of the customers. Jindal Stainless is dedicatedly on a lookout for new technology-led stainless steel products that cater to a wide base of its customers.
