Is 1.4541 the same as 321?

What is AISI 321 material standard?

AISI 321 is an austenitic stainless steel, also known as 1.4541, Alloy 321, BS 321S31, BS 321S51, and X6CrNiTi18-10. This material is a V2A type steel, stabilized by the addition of titanium, exhibiting good corrosion resistance (PREN value 17.0 to 19.0). It is a non-magnetic material (non-magnetic μr < 1.3), with a maximum operating temperature of 550 °C, and is widely used in the automotive, mechanical engineering, and chemical industries.

 

Is 1.4541 the same as 321?

 Yes, 1.4541 and 321 refer to the same stainless steel grade. It is a titanium-stabilized austenitic stainless steel. 1.4541 is the DIN (German Industrial Standard) grade, while 321 is the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) grade. Both refer to the same stainless steel material.

Grade	UNS No	Old British		Euronorm		Swedish SS	Japanese JIS
		BS	En	No	Name
321	S32100	321S31	58B, 58C	1.4541	X6CrNiTi18-10	2337	SUS 321
321H	S32109	321S51	–	1.4878	X10CrNiTi18-10	–	SUS 321H

 

Composition

Table 1. Composition ranges for 321-grade stainless steel

Grade		C	Mn	Si	P	S	Cr	Mo	Ni	N	Other
321	min. max	– 0.08	2.00	0.75	0.045	0.030	17.0 19.0	–	9.0 12.0	0.10	Ti=5(C+N) 0.70
321H	min. max	0.04 0.10	2.00	0.75	0.045	0.030	17.0 19.0	–	9.0 12.0	–	Ti=4(C+N) 0.70

 

Mechanical Properties

Table 2. Mechanical properties of 321-grade stainless steel

Grade	Tensile Strength (MPa) min	Yield Strength 0.2% Proof (MPa) min	Elongation (% in 50 mm) min	Hardness
				Rockwell B (HR B) max	Brinell (HB) max
321	515	205	40	95	217
321H	515	205	40	95	217

 

Physical Properties

Table 3. Physical properties of 321-grade stainless steel in the annealed condition

Grade	Density (kg/m3)	Elastic Modulus (GPa)	Mean Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (μm/m/°C)			Thermal Conductivity (W/m.K)		Specific Heat 0-100 °C (J/kg.K)	Electrical Resistivity (nΩ.m)
			0-100 °C	0-315 °C	0-538 °C	at 100 °C	at 500 °C
321	8027	193	16.6	17.2	18.6	16.1	22.2	500	720

 

Corrosion Resistance

In the annealed state, it is comparable to 304 stainless steel. Its corrosion resistance is even better if welded parts are not post-weld annealed or the application temperature range is 425-900℃. It is susceptible to pitting and crevice corrosion in warm chloride environments and stress corrosion cracking above 60℃.

 

Heat Resistance
Under intermittent use, it can withstand oxidation up to 900℃; under continuous use, it can withstand oxidation up to 925℃. These grades perform excellently in the 425-900℃ range, especially suitable for environments with subsequent aqueous corrosion. 321H has higher high-temperature strength and is particularly suitable for high-temperature structural applications.

 

Weldability
AISI 321 material has a tensile strength of 500 to 700 N/mm², a hardness ≤ 215, and a density of 7.9 kg/dm³. AISI 321 rust-resistant steel is very easy to weld, but moderately difficult to forge. It can be used for cold forming and cold heading.

 

Possible Alternative Grades

Possible alternative grades to 321-grade stainless steel

Grade	Why it might be chosen instead of 321
304L	The requirement is for resistance to intergranular corrosion, not for high-temperature strength
3CR12	Only a mild "high temperature" environment is present… up to about 600 °C.
304H	Only a mild "high temperature" environment is present… up to about 800 °C.
310	The temperature of the operating environment is up to about 1100 °C – too high for 321 or 321H.
S30815 (253MA)	The temperature of the operating environment is up to about 1150 °C- too high for 321 or 321H.

 

If you have any project needs for 321 1.4541 stainless steel, please feel free to place an order. GNEE has a large inventory of popular products for you to choose from. It can be processed into various practical product forms, including plates, coils, pipes, bars, and wires. For detailed chemical composition and free samples, please contact our factory immediately. We offer competitive prices and excellent service.