Why use 316 stainless steel for the interior of the bottle?

Insulated bottles are one of the indispensable items in our daily life, they can help us maintain the temperature of our hot or cold drinks. However, choosing a high-quality insulated bottle can be challenging with so many different materials available on the market, and one of the highly recommended bottle is the insulated bottles made of 316 stainless steel.316 stainless steel is a highly corrosion-resistant and cost-effective material, and due to its good resistance to corrosion, high temperature and rigidity, it is widely used in many fields, including the field of bottle and kettle manufacturing. In this article, we will elaborate on the basic characteristics, advantages and applications of 316 stainless steel.

Ⅰ.What is 316 stainless steel?

316 stainless steel is a kind of stainless steel containing molybdenum, belonging to the high alloy steel. It is a type of stainless steel that has about 2%-3% molybdenum added to it, which significantly enhances its corrosion resistance, high-temperature resistance, and wear resistance as compared to 304 stainless steel. 316 stainless steel has a smooth surface, has the characteristics of oxidation and corrosion resistance, especially in the environment containing seawater or high chloride ions have a strong corrosion resistance. This characteristic not only makes 316 stainless steel widely used in the manufacture of high-quality bottles and kettles, but also make its service life longer, has a better appearance performance.

II. Compared with other stainless steel, 316 stainless steel has what advantages?

316 stainless steel is a high-grade stainless steel that contains elements such as zirconium, molybdenum, and niobium , compared with several other commonly used stainless steel, it has the following advantages:

1. Excellent corrosion resistance: 316 stainless steel’s corrosion resistance is far better than 304 stainless steel, its ability to prevent seawater, chloride ions, oxidizing acids and other high concentration of corrosive media erosion, showing good corrosion resistance, can be used for a long time.

2.Excellent high temperature resistance: 316 stainless steel added an appropriate amount of molybdenum, its high temperature resistance is greatly improved, allowing it to withstand higher temperatures under working conditions.

3.Excellent comprehensive performance: 316 stainless steel has good mechanical properties and wear resistance, excellent performance in cold environments, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance, fatigue resistance, resistance to deformation and other aspects of performance.

4. Good hygiene: 316 stainless steel has a clean and smooth surface, glossy, not easy to breed bacteria, so it is widely used in medical and food processing and tableware components and other industries.

Compared to other stainless steels, 316 stainless steel also has some limitations, such as relatively high cost, more challenging processing, etc., but its more corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance and good hygiene advantages, determines its excellent performance and application prospects in specific areas.

In stainless steels, 316 stainless steel and 304 stainless steel can be said to be the most commonly used stainless steel materials, they have some similar characteristics, but also some noticeable differences. These differences make 316 stainless steel a preferred choice in specific fields. Therefore, the difference between 316 and 304 stainless steel will be introduced here in detail.

1. The content of alloying elements

316 stainless steel has some changes in the alloy composition compared to 304 stainless steel. In addition to nickel and chromium elements, 316 steel also contains a small amount of molybdenum. Molybdenum is an alloying element that can improve the corrosion resistance of stainless steel, and its presence can bring significant improvements. In addition, 316 steel shows more excellent corrosion resistance under sulfates, chloride ions, acetic acid, alkaline chlorine and other media, which are more challenging than 304 steel.

 

2. Corrosion resistance

Corrosion resistance is an important indicator of stainless steel materials. Although 304 stainless steel has been able to meet the vast majority of cases of corrosion resistance requirements, but in some special environments, 6 stainless steel still performs better. For example, in the marine environment, 316 steel can resist oxidation, corrosion and salt in seawater, so as to have a longer life. In addition, in the high temperature and high pressure environment, 316 steel corrosion resistance is also better than 304 steel.

3. Mechanical strength

Mechanical strength is also a difference between the two types of stainless steel. 316 steel has higher strength and hardness, which means it can be more durable for more challenging environments. This makes 316 steel particularly suitable for applications that require high pressure and force.

4. Welding and processing

While both steels are easy to machine and fabricate, 316 steel is relatively more difficult to weld. Although changing and controlling welding parameters can overcome it in most cases, overall, more costs and labor must be invested.

Overall, the differences between 316 stainless steel and 304 stainless steel are mainly in terms of alloy elements, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance. Which steel to choose will depend on the specific application scenario and conditions. In general, 304 stainless steel can already meet most of the application requirements, while 316 stainless steel can play its unique advantages in more demanding environments.

Ⅲ.Applications of 316 stainless steel in various fields

316 stainless steel is a high-alloy steel that performs well in corrosion resistance and high-temperature environments, so in some specific areas with a wide range of applications.

Marine and submarine equipment: Marine and submarine equipment need to work in extremely harsh environments, such as seawater, salt, chloride, high temperature, high pressure and corrosion and other environments. In such an environment, selecting 316 stainless steel with corrosion resistance, high-temperature resistance, and high strength is a reasonable choice. Some of the sea area of the bridge, wharf, ships and ancillary equipment also need to choose 316 stainless steel to resist corrosion of seawater, so as to extend their service life.

Chemical and pharmaceutical industry: The chemical, pharmaceutical, and other manufacturing industries require high-performance equipment to handle acid, corrosive and erosive media, which plays an extremely important role. 316 Stainless steel eliminates the need for frequent replacement and maintenance and ensures that chemical and pharmaceutical equipment always performs optimally under harsh operating conditions.

Medical industry: In the medical industry, there is a need to use non-toxic, hygienic and non-reactive materials, which are used in consumables, instruments and equipment. 316 stainless steel is corrosion-resistant, antimicrobial and easy to maintain at the same time, which makes it one of the preferred materials for the manufacture of medical equipment.

Environmental protection equipment: Environmental protection equipment for the treatment of the media environment, transmission and consumption of the required accessories using 316 stainless steel is a way to extend the service life of the equipment and also to ensure environmental safety.

These are just a few typical applications of 316 stainless steel. With the continuous progress of science and technology, 316 stainless steel can be used in more and more industries and production areas.

Ⅳ.Applications of 316 stainless steel in the bottle and kettle industry

316 stainless steel is an excellent material for bottles and kettles due to its durability, corrosion resistance, high-temperature resistance, and mechanical properties. The bottle and kettle industry is no exception, more and more brands choose to use 316 stainless steel as a material to manufacture high-quality insulation bottles, water bottles and teapots.

For insulated bottles, the primary function is to maintain the temperature of hot or cold beverages for a long time to provide people with a better experience. Therefore, as a high-strength, corrosion-resistant and wear-resistant material, 316 stainless steel is very suitable to be made into insulated bottles. There are also some brands that pay more attention to the health and taste of their products, and the use of 316 stainless steel can ensure the safety and taste of unheated food. Therefore, 316 stainless steel water bottles are favored by more and more users.

With the increasing demand for food safety and material quality, more and more brands use 316 stainless steel as the material of insulation bottles to meet the needs of consumers. Currently, brands like Yeti, Hydro Flask, Klean Kanteen and others use 316 stainless steel for their insulated bottles. These brands set high standards to ensure that their products can maintain optimal functions for a long time and prevent the involvement of toxic or hazardous materials.

316 stainless steel has excellent quality that make it suitable for bottle and kettle industry applications and is therefore favored by more and more manufacturers. From quality, service life to the use of health and safety, 316 stainless steel has a very good performance. Its characteristics such as high corrosion resistance, high-temperature resistance, high mechanical strength, non-toxic, easy to clean, and long insulation time make it the preferred choice in the minds of more and more conscious consumers with high quality and environmental awareness. Choosing 316 stainless steel as the material for making teapots and insulated bottles can not only provide superior performance and durability but also better protect people’s health and interests.