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Home Materials Stainless Steel AISI 316LVM Stainless Steel (UNS S31673 / 1.4441 / X2CrNiMo18-14-3)

X2CrNiMo18-14-3)

AISI 316LVM (UNS S31673) is a vacuum-melted, ultra-low-carbon austenitic stainless steel specifically designed for medical implants and high-purity applications. Through vacuum induction melting (VIM) and/or vacuum arc remelting (VAR), the inclusion and impurity content is significantly reduced, improving material cleanliness, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility.
It offers excellent corrosion resistance, good mechanical properties, and outstanding surface polishing performance, and is widely used in surgical implants and high-end medical device applications.

ASTM F138：
Standard Specification for Wrought 18Cr-14Ni-2.5Mo Stainless Steel Bar and Wire for Surgical Implants (UNS S31673)
ASTM F139：
Standard Specification for Wrought 18Cr-14Ni-2.5Mo Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip for Surgical Implants (UNS S31673)
ISO 5832-1：
Implants for surgery — Metallic materials — Part 1: Wrought stainless steel

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Chemical Composition

Element	C	Mn	P	S	N	Si	Cu	Cr	Ni	Mo	CO	Fe
Content (%)	≤0.03	≤2.00	≤0.025	≤0.01	≤0.10	≤1.00	≤0.5	17.00-19.00	13.00-15.00	2.25-3.00	≤0.10	Balance

Mechanical Properties

Product form	Condition	Tensile Strength (MPa)	Yield Strength (MPa)	Elongation（4D）	Reduction of Area（%）
Bars	Annealed	All	490≤Rm≤690	190	40
		Cold-worked	≤22	860≤Rm≤1100	690	12
		Extra-hard	≤8	≥1400	/	/
Plates	Annealed	490≤Rm≤690	/	190	40
Plates		Cold worked	860≤Rm≤1100	/	690	10
Wires	Annealed	0,025≤d≤0,13	≤1000	/	30
				0,13<d≤0,23	≤930	/	30
				0,23<d≤0,38	≤890	/	35
				0,38<d≤0,5	≤860	/	40
				0,5<d≤0,65	≤820	/	40
				d>0,65	≤800	/	40
		Cold drawna	0,2≤d≤0,7	1600≤Rm≤1850	/	/
				0,7<d≤1	1500≤Rm≤1750	/	/
				1<d≤1,5	1400≤Rm≤1650	/	/
				1,5<d≤2	1350≤Rm≤1600	/	/

Supply Forms

Available Form	Size Range	Surface Finish	Length (Customizable)	Tolerance (Customizable)	Delivery Condition
Plate	T0.5-T200.0mm	Milled	L:200/250/300W:200/300/500/1000	-0.0/+1.0mm	Annealed / Cold-worked/ Hardened
Bar	φ1.0-φ200.0mm	Ground / Precision Ground	3M/PCS	h6-h9	Annealed / Cold-worked/ Hardened
Wire	φ1.0-φ3.0mm	Ground / Precision Ground	1M/PCS	h6-h9	Annealed / Cold-worked/ Hardened

Datasheet

Additional Info

A Brief History of AISI 316LVM Stainless Steel

AISI 316LVM stainless steel, also known as 1.4441, UNS S31673 or X2CrNiMo18-14-3, is a low-carbon, molybdenum-containing austenitic stainless steel produced using a vacuum melting process.

316LVM is a material further developed from 316L stainless steel. Its introduction was primarily to meet the higher quality requirements for materials used in medical implants and high-purity precision components.

Compared to standard industrial-grade 316L, 316LVM places greater emphasis on material purity, batch consistency, surface quality and traceability. The focus of its development is not on increasing strength or hardness, but on enhancing the consistency and reliability of material quality.

How was the AISI 316LVM developed

The development trajectory of AISI 316LVM can be understood as: 304 → 316 → 316L → 316LVM.

304 is a common austenitic stainless steel containing chromium and nickel, offering good corrosion resistance, formability and weldability. To improve the material’s resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chlorine-containing environments, molybdenum was added to the 304-type austenitic stainless steel to create 316.

Subsequently, to reduce the risk of intergranular corrosion following welding or heat exposure, the carbon content was further reduced in 316L. The ‘L’ stands for ‘Low Carbon’.

316LVM represents a further upgrade from 316L. The ‘VM’ typically stands for ‘Vacuum Melted’. The purpose of vacuum melting is to reduce the risk of non-metallic inclusions, harmful impurities and internal defects in the material, thereby ensuring more consistent material quality.

Consequently, the focus of 316LVM’s development was on further improving purity, quality consistency and reliability based on the low-carbon, molybdenum-containing austenitic stainless steel system of 316L, rather than achieving higher strength or hardness through heat treatment.

Early Applications of AISI 316LVM

In its early stages, AISI 316LVM was primarily used in medical implant-related products and high-purity medical components.

Common early applications included orthopaedic plates, bone screws, intramedullary nails, K-wires, surgical guide wires, medical bars, medical wires, and certain dental and orthodontic metal components.

These early applications placed high demands on material cleanliness, corrosion resistance, surface quality and batch traceability; consequently, 316LVM gradually became one of the key grades within medical-grade stainless steel.

Current Applications of AISI 316LVM

AISI 316LVM is currently primarily used for components requiring high standards of material cleanliness, corrosion resistance, surface quality and traceability.

Common applications include:

Medical and implant-related components: orthopaedic plates, bone screws, K-wires, intramedullary nails, surgical guide wires, dental and orthodontic wires, and bars and wires for implant-related projects. Such projects must be verified in accordance with ASTM F138, ASTM F139, ISO 5832-1, drawing specifications and end-use requirements.

Medical devices and precision components: surgical instrument shafts, precision guides, micro-springs, non-implantable medical device components and high-cleanliness medical parts.

Aerospace: high-cleanliness precision springs, corrosion-resistant micro-shafts, instrument components and fasteners for special environments. These applications typically prioritise cleanliness, corrosion resistance and dimensional stability over high-strength load-bearing capacity.

Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Applications: Components for pharmaceutical equipment, high-cleanliness equipment parts, precision springs, small corrosion-resistant parts, and precision-machined components requiring high surface quality.

316LVM is not typically the material of choice for high-hardness wear-resistant components or parts requiring heat treatment for strengthening. For implant-related projects, further verification should be carried out in accordance with applicable standards, test reports, drawing specifications and regulatory requirements.

Sunxin’s AISI 316LVM Stainless Steel Supply Support

Sunxin supplies AISI 316LVM stainless steel in sheet, bar and wire forms, as well as custom cut dimensions.

Available specifications include: sheets T0.5–T200.0 mm; bars Φ1.0–Φ200.0 mm; wire Φ1.0–Φ3.0 mm. Surface finishes include milled, polished or precision-polished; for bars and wire, h6–h9 tolerance options can be confirmed according to project requirements.

Prior to the production of AISI 316LVM projects, it is recommended to confirm the material form, delivery condition, cold-worked condition, surface finish, dimensions, tolerances, applicable standards, inspection items and quality documentation.

Sunxin is certified to the ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 quality management systems and can support batch management, traceability control, inspection coordination and quality documentation management.

For implant-related components, surgical guide wires, orthopaedic parts, dental and orthodontic wires, precision springs, medical device rods, and high-purity stainless steel parts, Sunxin can assist in confirming the appropriate material form, delivery condition and inspection documentation in accordance with project requirements.

FAQs

Product FAQs

What is 316LVM stainless steel?

316LVM is a low-carbon, vacuum-melted austenitic stainless steel. It places greater emphasis on material purity, batch stability and quality consistency than standard 316L, and is commonly used in medical devices and implant-related components.

What is the difference between 316LVM and 316L?

316LVM is a vacuum-melted variant of 316L, with higher requirements for material purity and consistency. Standard 316L is predominantly used in industrial, food-grade and general medical equipment; 316LVM is more commonly used in medical applications where material purity, corrosion resistance and traceability are of paramount importance.

Does 316LVM offer good corrosion resistance?

Yes. 316LVM offers excellent corrosion resistance and is suitable for medical devices, precision components and implant-related parts where high standards of material purity, corrosion resistance stability and batch consistency are required.

Does 316LVM rust?

It is possible. 316LVM offers excellent corrosion resistance, but it is not entirely rust-proof. If the material surface is contaminated, contains machining residues, is cleaned improperly, or is exposed to an unsuitable corrosive environment for an extended period, rust spots, pitting or surface discolouration may still occur.

Is 316LVM suitable for implant applications?

316LVM is commonly used in implant-related applications, but its suitability for specific implant products must be verified item by item against applicable standards such as ASTM F138, ISO 5832-1, drawings and regulatory requirements. It is not recommended to determine suitability for implant applications based solely on the material grade.

In which medical components is 316LVM commonly used?

316LVM is commonly used in implant-related components, surgical guide wires, orthopaedic parts, dental and orthodontic wires, precision springs, medical device rods and high-purity stainless steel parts.

Is 316LVM suitable for welding?

Yes. 316LVM is a low-carbon austenitic stainless steel with good weldability. However, if the component is intended for medical or implant-related applications, the welding process, post-weld surface treatment and validation requirements must be confirmed in advance.

Can the hardness of 316LVM be increased through heat treatment?

No. As an austenitic stainless steel, 316LVM cannot be significantly hardened through standard heat treatment. Its strength is primarily enhanced through cold working.

Is the strength of 316LVM sufficient?

The strength of 316LVM depends on the delivery condition and the degree of cold working. For guide wires, springs, rods and precision medical components, tensile strength, yield strength, hardness and dimensional tolerances must typically be confirmed in accordance with drawing specifications.

Is 316LVM easy to machine?

316LVM can be machined, cold-worked, drawn and formed, but surface quality and contamination during processing must be controlled. For medical and implant-related components, post-machining cleaning, passivation and surface finish are also critical.

What should be considered when purchasing 316LVM?

When procuring 316LVM, key considerations include material standards, product forms, dimensions, tolerances, surface conditions, delivery conditions, inspection requirements and batch traceability requirements. For medical projects, it is recommended to provide drawings or technical specifications.

In what forms is 316LVM available?

Sunxin supplies 316LVM stainless steel in sheet, bar and wire forms. Specific dimensions, tolerances, surface conditions and delivery conditions can be confirmed according to application requirements.

Can a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) be provided for 316LVM?

Yes. 316LVM projects typically require a Certificate of Analysis, batch traceability, chemical composition, mechanical properties and relevant test documentation. Sunxin is certified to ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 and can support batch traceability and test documentation management.