Stainless lifting chains rarely rust, yet many riggers still reach for painted alloy links because they fear stainless costs too much or falls short on strength. Grade 80 stainless chains break that myth by matching the mechanical punch of G80 carbon-alloy steel while shrugging off seawater, acid rain, and wash-bay chemicals. This guide explains the metallurgy, lists the exact working-load limits you can expect, compares life-cycle costs, and offers a quick checklist for sizing and inspection. Read on and judge whether rust-proof muscle finally outweighs the sticker price.

1 What Makes a Grade 80 Chain When You Start with 304 or 316?

Standard G80 chains rely on tempered Mn-alloy steel, but you can reach the same strength window with AISI 304 or AISI 316 stainless round bar if you combine work-hardening (cold drawing) and a short solution-anneal + rapid quench cycle. Nitrogen in 304 and molybdenum in 316 both help boost strength without losing

After final drawing the chain is stretched to about 40 % reduction, giving tensile strength ≥ 800 MPa—enough to meet the 8 × WLL break ratio required for Grade 80.

2 Mechanical Specs (304 & 316 Grade 80)

Values stem from factory test data on cold-worked 304/316 stainless to EN 818-2 Grade 8.

Quick Material Choice Notes

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3 Welding Breakthrough: How We Solved the Stainless G80 Puzzle

Producing stainless links at G80 strength once stalled because conventional flash-butt welds overheated chromium, caused sigma-phase brittleness, and left porous seams that failed proof tests. We cracked the code with a hybrid pulse-TIG plus inert-gas back-purge sequence:

1. Precision saw-cut ends give < 0.05 mm gap.

2. Pulse-TIG root pass at 150 A welds from inside out, shielding with pure argon.

3. Induction re-forge squeezes the joint to original diameter—no over-thickness, no notch.

4. Rapid water-spray quench locks a fully austenitic grain; final hardness arrives in the earlier cold-draw step, not the weld.

Every weld now survives 4 × WLL proof load and 200+ hrs salt-spray without pits—problems that doomed first-generation stainless chains. The breakthrough means shops get rust-proof links and predictable weld integrity on every batch.

Corrosion Reality Check

Laboratory salt-spray tests ran 720 hours: galvanized G80 alloy lost its zinc coat by hour 480, then pitted; stainless G80 showed only tea-stain surface oxide, no base-metal loss. Field trials on deck winches confirmed the numbers—painted alloy required re-coating every six months, while stainless needed only a freshwater rinse.

4 Cost vs. Life: When Stainless Pays Back

Up-front, stainless G80 commands 2–2.5× the purchase price of black-oxide alloy. Yet add four items:

Re-painting every year (paint, labor, downtime)

Rust scrap—alloy chains retire after 5–7 years in splash zones

Inspection time—crews spend fewer hours grinding rust to read stamps

Product contamination—food and pharma plants pay fines for rust flakes

A five-year net-present analysis on a fish-processing hoist showed stainless total cost 18 % lower than alloy, even at the higher purchase tag.

5 Selection Checklist for Field Riggers

Verify the stamp: look for “8 SS” or “G8 316” on every tenth link.

Match WLL to hitch type: choke hitch derates to 0.8 × WLL; basket doubles it.

Mind the bend radius: stainless hardens deeper, so keep hook throat ≥ 4 × chain Ø.

Watch temperature: above 400 °C, even stainless loses nickel toughness—consult the maker.

Document the batch: stainless links often carry laser heat codes; snap a phone photo for traceability.

6 Maintenance—Small but Crucial

l Wash salt off weekly with low-pressure fresh water.

l Dry before storage; water spots do not pit but hide cracks.

l Run an eddy-current test each year; it finds sub-millimeter fissures better than dye-pen.

l Lubricate lightly with food-grade oil if the chain cycles fast; static sling chains can stay dry.

Photo Walk-Through

The carousel above shows polished 316L grade 80 links fresh from proof testing, a chain sling ready for a four-leg spread, and finished assemblies on a wind-farm load-out deck. Use them to compare finish quality and stamp clarity before you sign the delivery note.

7 Common Myths—Debunked Fast

Conclusion

Grade 80 stainless steel chains deliver carbon-alloy muscle and lifetime rust immunity, so your lifts stay legal, clean, and hassle-free—choose TOPONE CHAIN stainless G80 today and move loads without corrosion worries. Click here to learn more →