How to determine whether metal is 316 or 316L? 1

[jasgeer]

We have a XRF alloy analyzer, but it is insenstive to carbon. Is there a simple test to measure carbon content that we can run to determine if a material is 316 vs 316L, or 304 vs 304L? We need to identify metals at incoming inspection and on our shop floor.
Thanks for your ideas!

 

[metengr]

For this level of material identification, you need a quantitative chemical analysis to determine carbon content. You have two options;

- either send out a small sample of each shipment of material that is received in your shop to a metallurgical lab for chemical analysis OR
- consider purchasing a desktop emission spectrometer for your company. There are web sites that advertise these devices including the example shown below;

http://www.angstrom-inc.com/2500page.html

If your volume of testing is sufficient, it may be worthwhile to investigate purchasing this device.