Official Answer
Answer
316 Stainless Steel contains 2-3 percent Molybdenum, which drastically improves its resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in saline solutions and harsh sterilization chemicals (like peracetic acid). While 302 has higher tensile strength due to work hardening, 316's superior corrosion resistance is paramount for the longevity of medical devices. Furthermore, 316 SS has lower magnetic permeability, which is essential if the surgical robot must operate within or near an MRI environment (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), where ferromagnetic materials like 302 could cause artifacts or be subjected to dangerous magnetic forces.
