A-Powder 316L — Stainless Steel Powder for AO Metal Printers
316L stainless steel powder.
Low-carbon, molybdenum-bearing stainless steel. It is the alloy most teams print first on a new LPBF machine: forgiving to dial in, ductile, weldable and resistant to water, chemicals and salt.
What it is
Typical use
Fluid-handling parts, fixtures, corrosion-exposed components and the first qualification builds on a new printer.
On an AO Metal printer
AO Metal A30, A50 and A100 are open systems: every process parameter is exposed and there is no approved-material list, so you load this 15–53 µm powder like any other qualified alloy. Our materials engineer shares recommended starting parameters, which you then tune on your own printer.
Powder data
Powder
| Material | 316L stainless steel |
|---|---|
| Designation | UNS S31603 · AISI 316L · 1.4404 |
| Particle size (PSD) | 15–53 µm |
| Size distribution | D10 10–25 µm · D50 25–40 µm · D90 40–60 µm |
| Flow rate (Hall) | ≤ 20 s / 50 g |
| Apparent density | ≥ 3.5 g/cm³ |
| Tap density | ≥ 4.0 g/cm³ |
| Sphericity | ≥ 80% |
| Atomization | Nitrogen gas-atomized |
| Oxygen | 0.05–0.10% |
| Country of origin | China |
| Package | 10 kg sealed container |
Main alloying elements
| Iron (Fe) | Balance |
|---|---|
| Chromium (Cr) | 16.0–18.0% |
| Nickel (Ni) | 10.0–14.0% |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 2.0–3.0% |
| Carbon (C) | ≤ 0.03% |
The full chemistry of your lot is on its certificate of analysis.
Printed properties
Manufacturer data
| Tensile, as built | ≥ 514 MPa |
|---|---|
| Yield, as built | ≥ 269 MPa |
| Elongation | ≥ 36% |
| Hardness | 175 HV1 |
| Tensile strength, heat treated | ≥ 745 MPa |
| Yield strength, heat treated | ≥ 366 MPa |
| Elongation, heat treated | ≥ 28% |
| Hardness, heat treated | 245 HV1 |
| Heat treatment | 1000 °C, 45 minutes |
| Relative density | 99.95% |
Published by the powder manufacturer. Use them as a starting point for your own qualification, not as a guaranteed result on your machine.
How to use it
- Store sealedKeep the container closed, dry and at room temperature until you load the printer. Reseal it after each use.
- Sieve before loadingPass the powder through a sieve before it goes into the printer, and every time you reuse powder recovered from a build.
- Load the dispenserFill the printer's powder dispenser, close the chamber and purge it with argon before the first layer.
- Start from our parametersOur materials engineer shares recommended starting parameters for this alloy; every value stays open for you to tune.
- Recover the restAfter the build, collect the unfused powder, sieve it and return it to a sealed container for the next job.
Wear a respirator, gloves and a lab coat when handling metal powder. The safety data sheet comes with every order. See the full printing workflow →
Ordering
- Made to order — ships in 6–8 weeks; the exact date is confirmed by email after you order.
- One 10 kg sealed container per unit — $355 ($35.50/kg), with the lot certificate of analysis on request.
- 100 kg and more — ask for a volume quote.
- Orders are placed and supported in the US by Additive Plus, AO Metal’s sales and service partner: card, PayPal or purchase order; tax-exempt certificates accepted.
Made in China. If your program requires US- or allied-origin material, ask us before ordering.
Questions
Why start a new AO Metal printer on 316L?
It prints readily, needs no ageing step after the build and is inexpensive, so early parameter work costs little powder budget.
Does it need heat treatment?
No ageing is required; a stress relief is typical. The manufacturer’s heat-treated figures are listed above.
Other powders
Printing 316L for the first time?
Tell us the part and the printer, and our materials engineer will send starting parameters and answer questions before you order.