316L steel: What are its specificities ?

Looking for a steel watch? Charlie Paris offers French watches with... Strapsteel s and for all of our CaseFor our watches, we use 316L steel, a corrosion-resistant steel. But what exactly is 316L steel? What are its characteristics? In this article, the Charlie Paris Team will introduce you to 316L steel and its features.

316L Steel, Stainless Steel, Steel: What are the differences? ?

Steel is a metal alloy consisting primarily of iron but also of carbon. The carbon added, between 0.02% and 2%, transforms the iron into steel and makes it even more resistant but also gives it a certain " Flexibility is why steel is widely used in construction. At this stage, steel (and 316L steel in particular) is not a stainless alloy. Beyond 3% carbon, iron becomes cast iron, but this high carbon content makes the metal very hard but also brittle.

• Steel is an oxidizable alloy: Steel gross is a Oxidizable alloy. It will naturally bond with oxygen molecules present in air or water through redox reactions. This reaction is more commonly called " corrosion These reactions result in the formation of iron oxide and iron hydroxide. also named rust, that famous red-orange substance found on some iron structures. Rust is a destructive agent that gradually consumes the steel, until it completely decomposes.

• From steel to stainless steel: Strauss and Maurer, two German chemists, filed a patent in 1912 to develop the first stainless steel, a clever mixture of steel and chromium (whose discovery, dating back to 1797, is attributed to...). French Nicolas Louis Vauquelin) and nickel (discovered in 1751 by Axel Frederik Cronstedt), which makes the steel highly resistant to corrosion and prevents it from rusting. The chromium content of stainless steel Its carbon content must be at least 10.5%, its carbon content less than 1.2%, and its nickel content approximately 8%. There are three categories of stainless steel: ferritic, martensitic, and austenitic.

• 316 steel and 316L steel: 316L steel is a type of austenitic stainless steel whose carbon content does not exceed 0.02%, the amount of chromium is around 17% and the nickel content reaches 10 to 12.5%. To this alloy is added 2 to 2.5% molybdenum. The L in the abbreviation 316L means that it is a steel " Low carbon » (low carbon). Indeed, as mentioned previously, this steel contains only 0.02% carbon compared to 0.05% for 316 steel. classic During welding at very high temperatures, a substance called "chromium carbide precipitation" is created, and consequently, although the steel is stainless, it becomes more susceptible to corrosion. Having a minimum of carbon in the structure of this alloy prevents The creation of this precipitation means that 316L steel is not subject to corrosion. Molybdenum, discovered in 1778 by Carl Wilhelm Scheele, is added to stainless steel. to form 316L steel. On the one hand, molybdenum hardens the alloy, but above all, it makes it much more resistant to corrosion, even in extreme environments (chlorinated, salty, and acidic environments).That's why 316L steel is also used for outdoor uses such as guardrails or handrails.

For what 316L steel in our watches?

For all of our watches, We have chosen to work with 316L steel. As you may have guessed, this alloy is known for its durability and also its high resistance to corrosion, two elements that we consider essential for our Cases. From an aesthetic point of view, 316L steel It is a stainless steel whose shine lasts over time and does not tarnish. Finally, it is very easy and fully recyclable. Thus, stainless steel watches can have a new life. The commitment from an ecological point of view, which is one of the core values ​​at At Charlie Paris, it was only natural that we turned to this type of steel for our watches.