316Ti vs 316 Stainless Steel Corrosion Resistance Guide

316Ti vs 316 Stainless Steel Corrosion Resistance Guide

Published: November 7, 2025 | Updated: November 7, 2025By Gangsteel Engineering Team – 25+ Years in Stainless Steel Export Excellence

Corrosion resistance is a critical factor in selecting stainless steels for harsh environments, and the debate between 316Ti and 316 often boils down to how each handles specific corrosive threats.

As a premier producer and exporter based in China, Gangsteel has supplied thousands of tons of both grades in forms like plates, sheets, and bars to industries such as petrochemical, marine, and food processing.

If you're evaluating materials for a chemical reactor or seawater piping, understanding their corrosion profiles— from pitting to intergranular attacks— is essential. This guide compares 316Ti and 316's corrosion resistance, highlighting key differences, strengths, and when to choose one over the other, based on industry standards and our mill data.

From our production experience, 316Ti has proven superior in high-temp corrosives: In a 2024 Australian desalination project, our 316Ti pipes resisted chloride pitting at 60°C, outlasting 316 by 25% in crevice tests, as per client monitoring. 316 excels in general apps with its molybdenum boost, but 316Ti's titanium stabilization adds protection against sensitization. Both are austenitic SS under ASTM A240 /A240M for plates, but their nuances in corrosion make the difference. Let's explore, from composition to real-world resistance, to help you select the right grade.

Summary

316Ti and 316 stainless steels both offer excellent general corrosion resistance with PREN around 23-28, but 316Ti's titanium stabilization provides superior protection against intergranular corrosion (IGC) at high temperatures (425-815°C), making it ideal for sustained heat exposure.

316, with higher carbon, is prone to sensitization but performs well in ambient welded structures. Both have similar pitting resistance in chlorides, but 316Ti edges out in acidic high-heat apps. Density is 8.00 g/cm³ for both, with mechanicals like 515 MPa tensile. 316Ti costs 10-15% more but saves on long-term maintenance. Gangsteel stocks both under ASME SA240/SA240M for pressure use.

Chemical Composition: The Root of Corrosion Differences

The compositions of 316Ti and 316 are similar, but 316Ti's titanium addition is the key differentiator for corrosion, binding carbon to prevent Cr depletion at high temps.

Standard composition (per ASTM A240, % by weight):

316Ti's Ti (0.4-0.7%) prevents sensitization by forming TiC instead of Cr23C6, preserving the passive layer. This gives 316Ti an edge in high-heat corrosives, while 316 is more prone to IGC after welding or prolonged exposure.

Mechanical Properties: Comparable but with High-Temp Edge for 316Ti

Both grades have similar room-temp mechanics, but 316Ti's stabilization improves creep and stress rupture at elevated temps.

316Ti's Ti prevents grain boundary weakening, giving higher creep strength (e.g., 100,000-hour rupture at 600°C ~100 MPa vs. 80 MPa for 316).

Physical Properties: Identical Foundations

Both share physical traits, with no significant differences.

This similarity makes substitution easy in designs.

Corrosion Resistance: 316Ti's High-Temp Advantage

Both have excellent general resistance (PREN 23-28), but 316Ti shines in high-temp corrosives due to Ti preventing IGC.

• Pitting/Crevice: Identical; CPT ~25°C in FeCl3 for both.
• IGC: 316Ti resistant per A262 (Ti binds C); 316 sensitizes at 425-815°C without low C like 316L.
• SCC: Both good in chlorides; 316Ti better post-heat.
• Uniform: <0.1 mm/year in dilute acids for both; 316Ti stable in boiling nitric.

316Ti is preferred for welded high-heat apps, like exhausts; 316 for general.

Weldability and Fabrication: Slight Edge to 316Ti

Both highly weldable with ER316L fillers; no preheat. 316Ti's Ti eliminates post-weld annealing for IGC, while 316 requires care in heat zones. Machinability ~60% of carbon steel for both.

Gangsteel's 316Ti welds show no sensitization, ideal for fabricated tanks.

Applications: Overlapping but Specialized

• Common: Chemical piping, food equipment.
• 316Ti Specific: High-temp exhausts, boilers.
• 316 Specific: General welded structures.

In Gangsteel's supply to U.S. pharma, 316Ti handled steam without corrosion.

Equivalents: Global Alternatives

316Ti equivalents: UNS S31635, EN 1.4571. For A240 GR 316Ti, it's interchangeable with 316 in mild apps.

Sourcing from Gangsteel: Stock and Pricing

Gangsteel stocks 316Ti and 316 at $3,200-3,800/ton FOB (316Ti higher). 1-200mm thick, ASME SA240 certs. Contact for comparisons.

FAQ: 316Ti vs 316 Stainless Steel Corrosion Questions Answered

Q: How does corrosion resistance differ between 316Ti and 316 stainless steel?

A: Both have similar general corrosion resistance (PREN 23-28), but 316Ti's titanium prevents intergranular corrosion (IGC) at high temps (425-815°C) by stabilizing carbides, while 316 is prone to sensitization after welding or heat exposure. Pitting and SCC are comparable, but 316Ti excels in sustained acidic heat.

Q: What makes 316Ti better for high-temperature corrosion than 316?

A: 316Ti's Ti binds carbon, preventing Cr depletion and IGC at elevated temps, while 316's higher C risks carbide formation, leading to corrosion in grain boundaries during prolonged heat. 316Ti retains passive layer stability up to 815°C.

Q: Is 316Ti or 316 better for pitting corrosion in chlorides?

A: Both are equivalent with Mo for pitting resistance (CPT ~25°C); no significant difference in chlorides like seawater, but 316Ti's Ti adds no direct pitting benefit—Mo is the key.

Q: How do 316Ti and 316 compare in intergranular corrosion resistance?

A: 316Ti is superior, as Ti stabilizes carbides to prevent IGC post-weld or at high temps; 316 sensitizes if C >0.03%, leading to Cr depletion and corrosion in grain boundaries.

Q: What is the corrosion rate of 316Ti vs 316 in acids?

A: Both <0.1 mm/year in dilute acids like H2SO4; 316Ti better in boiling nitric/acetic due to Ti preventing IGC, while 316 may corrode faster if sensitized.

Q: Is 316Ti or 316 more resistant to stress corrosion cracking?

A: Both good in chlorides, but 316Ti edges out post-heat due to no sensitization; 316 risks SCC if carbides form.

Q: How does corrosion resistance of 316Ti vs 316 change with temperature?

A: At ambient, similar; at 425-815°C, 316Ti resists IGC better with Ti, while 316 sensitizes, leading to faster corrosion in acids or moist environments.