Lynx Stainless Steel Chain
Lynx stainless steel chain offers full immersion-grade corrosion resistance for the harshest wet and chemical environments. Manufactured from 304 or 316 stainless steel, our stainless chain meets FDA requirements for direct food contact and survives continuous exposure to acids, salts, sanitizing chemicals, and saltwater. The trade-off: stainless chain has approximately 30% lower tensile strength than equivalent carbon steel chain, so sizing must account for the reduced capacity.
Key Features
- FDA compliant for direct food contact
- Resistant to most acids, alkalis, and sanitizing chemicals
- Survives continuous saltwater immersion
- Available in 304 and 316 stainless grades
- Tensile strength approximately 70% of carbon steel chain
- Operating temperature range: -40°F to 800°F
When To Choose This Material
- Direct food contact: Bakery, meat processing, dairy lines (304 SS)
- Aggressive chemicals: Chlorine, sodium hydroxide, acid environments (316 SS)
- Saltwater marine: Aquaculture, port equipment, offshore (316 SS)
- Pharmaceutical: Clean room manufacturing, drug processing
- High-pressure washdown: Daily sanitation cycles, hot water/steam
When To Consider Alternatives
- High-load drives where tensile strength matters more than corrosion resistance
- Dry indoor industrial environments (carbon steel is more economical)
- High-cost-per-foot prevents use in long conveyor lengths where coated alternatives suffice
🔄 Compare Materials
Not sure which material fits your application? Compare the alternatives:
→ Stainless Steel Chain→ Nickel Plated Chain→ Dacroclad Coated ChainFrequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 304 and 316 stainless?
316 stainless contains molybdenum (2-3%) for additional corrosion resistance, particularly against chlorides (saltwater, brine, certain industrial chemicals). 304 stainless is more economical and works for most food processing and general corrosion-resistance needs. Choose 316 specifically for marine applications, chemical processing involving chlorides, and the most aggressive corrosive environments.
Why is stainless chain weaker than carbon steel chain?
Stainless steel's austenitic crystal structure (in 304 and 316 grades) inherently has lower tensile strength than the martensitic structure of heat-treated carbon steel. Manufacturers can't increase stainless chain strength by heat treating without compromising the corrosion resistance. Result: same-size stainless chain has 25-30% lower tensile strength than carbon equivalent. Size up one or two pitches if your load is at the edge of carbon chain capacity.
Does stainless chain need lubrication?
Yes, stainless chain has slightly higher friction than lubricated carbon steel chain, so lubrication still extends service life. Use food-grade lubricants (NSF H1 rated) in food processing applications. In aggressive chemical environments, dry-film PTFE lubricants may outperform oil-based lubricants. Don't skip lubrication just because the chain is "stainless", it accelerates wear significantly.
Can I mix stainless and carbon steel chain in the same drive?
Avoid it. Galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metals causes the carbon steel parts to corrode faster than they would in isolation. Stainless connecting links on carbon steel chain in a wet environment will rust out the carbon steel adjacent to the stainless. For wet/corrosive applications, choose all-stainless or all-coated chain, don't mix.
