Austenitic family
- Characteristics: The most common family, accounting for most of the market. Non-magnetic (very weakly magnetic or not attracted to a magnet), with very high corrosion resistance, easy to bend and weld, and good formability at room temperature.
- Typical grades:
- 304 / SUS304: The most widely used (about 50% of global output).
- 304L: The low-carbon version of 304 with better corrosion resistance at welds.
- 316 / SUS316: Contains an additional 2–3% molybdenum (Mo) for excellent resistance to pitting and corrosion in seawater and chemical environments.
- 316L: The low-carbon variant of 316 for welds exposed to severe corrosion.
