Glossary
Materials and construction
AISI 316 and 316L stainless steel
Also known as 316 stainless, 316L stainless, SS 316, SS 316L.
AISI 316 (and the low-carbon variant 316L) is the molybdenum-bearing austenitic stainless steel that serves as the workhorse construction material for industrial sonic horn bells, diaphragms and mounting flanges in moderate-temperature service.
Key properties
- Molybdenum (~2–3%) provides improved corrosion resistance over AISI 304, particularly against chloride pitting
- Continuous service temperature typically up to 870 °C (intermittent), 450–550 °C (continuous mechanical)
- 316L has reduced carbon content (≤0.03%) — preferred where welding is involved to avoid carbide precipitation
- Cost premium of 30–60% over 304, modest in absolute terms for sonic-horn manufacture
Where 316 is the right choice
- Cement, WtE, biomass duty — chloride-bearing environments where 304 would pit
- Food-and-beverage process applications
- Cold-end boiler service where mild sulphuric-acid condensation occurs
- General hazardous-area dust-handling applications
For higher temperatures or aggressive chloride corrosion, Inconel 625 or 718 is the next step up.
Related terms
Related terms
- AISI 304 stainless steelAISI 304 (18-8) stainless is the economy stainless option for non-chloride service. Used for sonic-horn external mountings and accessories where 316 would be overspecified.
- Inconel 625 and 718Inconel 625 and 718 are nickel-based superalloys used for sonic-horn bells and diaphragms in hot-side service above 500 °C, including SCR reactors and recovery boilers.
- Bell hornA bell horn is the conical or exponential flare that amplifies and projects sound from an industrial sonic horn's driver into the vessel being cleaned.
- Diaphragm hornA diaphragm horn is a sonic horn whose sound is generated by a vibrating titanium or stainless-steel diaphragm driven by pulsed compressed air. The dominant form-factor for low-frequency industrial cleaning.