ASTM F136 titanium and 316L surgical steel are two commonly used jewellery materials in the piercing industry. Both have a similar silver appearance, but what are the actual differences between them? Are they both considered safe materials? And how might each material affect your piercing?
This article brings together the key points from our research and experience to help you understand what really matters when choosing between them.
What Is ASTM F136 Titanium?
ASTM F136 is a material standard that specifies chemical, mechanical and metallurgical requirements for titanium intended for surgical implant applications.
ASTM F136 titanium is Ti-6Al-4V ELI, a titanium alloy containing approximately 6% aluminium and 4% vanadium, with titanium making up the majority of the material. “ELI” stands for Extra Low Interstitial, meaning elements such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon and hydrogen are kept under tighter control. Below is an example of an ASTM F136 Titanium jewellery from us:
For piercing jewellery, the important distinction is therefore not simply whether an item is described as “titanium”, but whether the material can be identified as meeting a recognised implant standard such as ASTM F136.
You may also see titanium jewellery advertised as Grade 23. Grade 23 refers to Ti-6Al-4V ELI titanium, but Grade 23 alone does not prove that a particular material meets an implant standard. ASTM F136 specifically sets the requirements for Ti-6Al-4V ELI intended for surgical implant applications.
What Is 316L Surgical Steel?
316L is a low-carbon austenitic stainless steel made primarily from iron, chromium, nickel and molybdenum. It typically contains around 10–14% nickel, 16–18% chromium and 2–3% molybdenum. It offers corrosion resistance, strength and workability, which is why it is widely used in jewellery and many other industries.
“Surgical steel” is a commercial term commonly used in the piercing and body jewellery industries. Simply describing jewellery as “316L” or “316L Surgical Steel” does not prove that the material meets a recognised implant standard.
Stainless steel intended for surgical implant applications can instead comply with standards such as ASTM F138. ASTM F138 specifies a particular stainless steel material, UNS S31673, for the manufacture of surgical implants.
In other words, 316L Surgical Steel and ASTM F138 implant-grade steel should not automatically be treated as the same thing.
Important: Key Differences Between ASTM F136 Titanium and 316L Surgical Steel
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Titanium is better suited to people concerned about nickel sensitivity.
316L stainless steel typically contains around 10–14% nickel by weight as an intentional part of the alloy. Nickel can trigger allergic contact dermatitis in people who are sensitised to it, which makes material choice particularly important when jewellery is being worn through a healing piercing. ASTM F136 titanium does not contain nickel as an intentional alloying element and is therefore a preferred option for people concerned about nickel sensitivity. -
Titanium is significantly lighter than surgical steel.
For jewellery of the same size and shape, titanium weighs only around 56% as much as 316L stainless steel. This lower weight can reduce the amount of constant pulling and pressure placed on a piercing, particularly with larger pieces of jewellery. -
Titanium has excellent corrosion resistance.
Titanium naturally forms a stable protective oxide layer on its surface, giving it excellent resistance to corrosion. It does not rust like ordinary iron or carbon steel and is well suited to long-term body jewellery use. -
Titanium is generally more expensive than 316L stainless steel.
Titanium is more difficult and energy-intensive to extract, refine and process. Manufacturing titanium jewellery can also require more specialised equipment and processes, which contributes to its higher cost. -
A magnet is not a reliable way to distinguish them.
Titanium is non-magnetic, but 316L is an austenitic stainless steel and is also generally non-magnetic or only weakly magnetic. A magnet test therefore cannot reliably tell you whether a piece of jewellery is titanium or 316L stainless steel. -
Titanium often has a slightly darker, greyer appearance.
When both materials are polished, titanium generally appears slightly darker and greyer than stainless steel. However, the exact appearance depends heavily on the surface finish, polishing and lighting.
Which One Should You Choose for a Piercing?
At Pheenix, most of our jewellery range is made from ASTM F136 implant-grade titanium, while we also offer surgical steel jewellery options for different needs.
For a fresh piercing, we strongly recommend ASTM F136 titanium. It is lightweight, highly corrosion resistant and does not contain nickel as an intentional alloying element, making it an excellent choice for jewellery that will remain in place throughout the healing process.
Implant-grade stainless steel that meets a recognised standard such as ASTM F138 can also be suitable for body piercing. However, jewellery labelled only as “316L” or “316L Surgical Steel” does not, by itself, demonstrate that it meets an implant standard.
Titanium may cost a little more, but for a fresh piercing or long-term wear, its combination of low weight, corrosion resistance and suitability for people concerned about nickel sensitivity makes it our preferred material.
It is also important to remember that the material standard is only one part of good piercing jewellery. Even when jewellery is made from ASTM F136 titanium, its surface finish, construction, sizing and manufacturing quality still matter when it is being used in a fresh piercing.
We hope every piercing lover has a comfortable and enjoyable piercing experience.
Pheenix
