In this article, stress relaxation in bending of AISI 316 stainless steel at 773 K during 490 hours is characterized. Samples were cut either parallel or transverse to the rolling direction and treated at different temperatures prior to the bending tests. The mechanical behavior shown by the longitudinal samples is quite different from that of the transverse samples and so we conclude there must be differences at the level of their microstructures. However, the presence of sigma phase precipitates in both cases is the consequence of a stress-assisted process. Besides, intragranular carbide density in either sample proved to be a function of the relaxation time. (c) 2006 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.