Stainless Steel 321 Mechanical Properties

Tensile properties after water quenching

Minimum guaranteed values * Typical values (10mm plates)
Stainless steel 321 is a 18Cr-9Ni austenitic stainless steel stabilised with some
°C °F Y.S. 0.2% Y.S. 1% UTS Y.S. 0.2% Y.S. 1% UTS El %
titanium additions.
MPa Ksi MPa Ksi MPa Ksi MPa Ksi MPa Ksi MPa Ksi

20 68 200 29 240 35 500 73 280 40 310 45 600 89 45

This kind of steel is one of the basic grades of the stainless steels range. / 700 / 102
Titanium bearing (carbide forming element) avoids intergranular corrosion, even 100 212 176 25 208 30 460 67 236 34 260 38 550 82 40
on welded pieces without ulterior water quenching. 200 392 157 23 186 27 410 60 200 29 230 33 450 66 35

300 572 136 20 167 24 390 57 186 26 210 30 435 64 35

Alloys stainless steel 321 exhibit austenitic microstructures free of deleterious 400 752 125 18 156 23 390 57 175 25 200 29 420 61 30
carbide precipitations but with CNTi precipitations at the grain boundaries. 500 932 119 17 149 22 310 45 168 24 195 28 340 50 30
The grade contains some residual ferrite (≈4%) after solution annealing
(1000-1100°C - 1832-2012°F) and water quenching. * Following EN 10088 hot rolled plates.
The EN guaranteed values are valid for a thickness from 5-75mm.
The main properties are:
Impact values
• Basic corrosion resistance °C -269 -196 +20

• Resistance against intergranular corrosion °F -452 -320 68

KCV (J/cm²)
62 100 150
• Heat resistant alloy (medium temperature) Minimum

KCV (J/cm²)
138 160 25
• High ductility Typical

Standards Physical Properties

EURONORM 1.4541 X6CrNiTi 18-10
Interval Thermal °C °F Resistivity Thermal Specific Young Shear
AFNOR Z6 CNT 18-10
temper expansion conductivity heat modulus modulus
E G
αx10-6K-1
DIN W1.4541
°C (μΩ cm) (W.m-1.K-1) (J.kg-1.K-1) (GPa) (GPa)
A 240 – TP 321
ASTM UNS S32100
20-100 16 20 68 73 15 500 200 77

20-200 16.5 100 212 77 16 500 194 75

Chemical Analysis 20-300 17 200 392 84 17.5 520 186 71

20-400 17.5 300 572 91 19 530 179 68

Typical values (weight %)
20-500 18 400 752 97 20.5 540 172 65
C Cr Ni Mo N Ti
500 932 102 22 540 165 62
0.050 17.5 9.2 - - =5x%C ; up to 0.70

PREN (=%Cr+3.3%Mo+16%N) ≥ 18

Stainless Steel 321 17 18 Stainless Steel 321

Corrosion Resistance
Quality corrosion tests guaranteed (special request may be discussed)
TEST Other name Corrosion (1) Results

ASTM A 262 A Intergranular Step or dual structure

ASTM A 262 B STREICHER Intergranular Not recommended

ASTM A 262 C HUEY Intergranular Not recommended

ASTM A 262 E
DIN 50914 STRAUSS Intergranular No cracking after bending
RCCM

Not recommended
ASTM G48 A Pitting
(typical CPT = 5°C-41°F)

Not recommended
ASTM G48 B ASTM G78 Crevice
(typical CCT ≤ 0°C-32°F)

(1) kind of corrosion mechanism investigated

Applications
Stainless steel 321 is corrosion resistant in:

• Urban media

• Most of diluted organic acids at moderate temperatures

• Most of food and pharmaceutical products

• Pure phosphoric - Whatever concentration in cold solution

- Up to 10% diluted hot solution

• Caustic solutions free of chlorides or fluorides at medium temperatures

The alloys is not corrosion resistant in chloride containing solutions, even

diluted, and in sulphuric acid media.

So, the main applications are:

• Food processing and storage

• Chemical industry

• High temperature

Stainless Steel 321 19