Aperam announced the launch of grade 316A. It is a newly certified and patented austenitic stainless steel developed to serve as a direct, cost-optimised alternative to 316L.
Engineered by the Aperam Innovation Lab, 316A (1.4682) offers equivalent corrosion resistance and mechanical performance to 316L (1.4404). It also has a significantly lower alloy surcharge — up to 25% less — thanks to a more than 75% reduction in molybdenum content through a rebalanced composition including silicon. This breakthrough addresses a long-standing challenge: maintaining high corrosion performance while reducing dependence on expensive alloying elements.
The result is a fully certified material that matches 316L in usability and corrosion reliability, while offering up to 25% lower alloy surcharge. (Note: the full price is composed of the base price and the alloy surcharge).
Courtesy of Aperam.