Stainless Steel 416

Stainless Steel 416 is a free-machining martensitic stainless steel with added sulfur to improve cutting performance. It is one of the most machinable stainless steel grades and can be heat-treated to achieve higher strength and hardness, making it suitable for precision components requiring efficient CNC machining, mechanical strength, and moderate corrosion resistance.

Appearance & Properties

Color: Silver-gray to bright silver

Density: Approx. 7.7 g/cm³

Tensile Strength: Approx. 515–860 MPa (depending on heat treatment)

Corrosion Resistance: Moderate

Machinability: Excellent

Weldability: Poor

Magnetism: Magnetic

Heat Treatment: Can be hardened and tempered for increased strength and hardness

Surface Finishes: Polishing, grinding, bead blasting, passivation, etc.

Typical Applications

Stainless Steel 416 is widely used in automotive, automation equipment, machinery, pumps and valves, electronics, and precision transmission systems.

Typical parts include precision shafts, gears, bolts, nuts, valve components, pump shafts, bushings, fittings, and high-volume CNC turned parts.

Advantages

• Excellent machinability

• Suitable for high-speed CNC turning and volume production

• Can be heat-treated for higher strength and hardness

• Good dimensional accuracy and machined surface quality

• Ideal for shafts, threaded parts, and precision mechanical components

Limitations

• Lower corrosion resistance than 304 and 316

• Poor weldability

• Not suitable for marine or highly corrosive environments

• Machining becomes more difficult at higher hardness levels