AISI 321 Austenitic Stainless Steel is famous for its impeccable corrosion resistance and high-temperature strength as it is known as the choicest of materials for numerous industrial applications. It is made up primarily of iron, chromium, and nickel with additions of titanium. The material is considered to have a good resistance to the intergranular corrosion, oxidation and the carbide precipitation during welding. The chemical composition of it is said to be 17-19% chromium, 9-12% nickel and 0.08% carbon, on average. The Grade 321 produces better creep and stress rupture properties compared to 304 austenitic stainless steel and thus it can be used for the environments that involve elevated temperatures. Most engineers and manufacturers work with AISI 321 that involves the use of comprehensive tables, charts and PDF documents that provide information such as properties and grades that aid in material selection and application-specific requirements.
AISI 321 is austenitic stainless steel alloy with a but little corrosion resistance even in the high-temperature operation. The chemical structure is seemingly made up a combination of elements, such as chromium, nickel, and titanium. In general, it consists of approximately 17% chromium, 9-12% nickel, and 0.08% carbon. Additionally, titanium is added in concentrations of 0.5 to 1%, which enables the material to be welded without going through sensitization. Due to the composition of AISI 321, it is resistant to intergranular corrosion and oxidation. Therefore, it is widely used in different industries, including spacecraft manufacturing, chemical processing, and motor vehicle building.
Elements | C | Mn | Si | P | S | Cr | Ni | N | Other |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Min (%) | - | - | - | - | - | 17.0 | 9.0 | - | Ti=5(C+N) |
Max (%) | 0.08 | 2.00 | 0.75 | 0.045 | 0.030 | 19.0 | 12.0 | 0.10 | 0.70 |
Advantages:
Excellent Corrosion Resistance: Gives good resistance to various severely corrosive environments these include intergranular corrosion resulting from addition of titanium.
High Temperature Strength: It is strong and rigid up to high temperatures and therefore ideal for use in applications where high levels of heat are involved.
Good Weldability: It can also be easily welded without the concern of forming carbides which in return compromises its corrosion resistance after welding has been done.
Oxidation Resistance: Excellent oxidation resistance up to 870 °C (1600 °F) for continuous use, and up to 925 °C (1700 °F) for intermittent use.
Formability: Is easily malleable and can be molded into different shapes and sizes, making it suitable for many uses in industries.
Disadvantages:
Cost: Generally considered to be more costly compared to other stainless steels because of the inclusion of titanium and other ingredients.
Work Hardening: Tends to work harden quickly which can pose a challenge to machining and forming of various components.
Magnetic Properties: These are non-magnetic when in the annealed state but slightly magnetic when cold worked.
Limited Low-Temperature Properties: It is not suitable for cryogenic use as the material becomes brittle at low temperatures or extremely cold temperatures.
Availability: It is not as readily stocked as grades such as 304 and 316, this results in longer delivery times and higher supply costs.
Here is another related topic that you may also like.
AISI 321 stainless steel mainly includes chromium (17-19%), nickel (9-12%), titanium (0. 5%), and carbon content of 0. 08% at most, and other elements such as manganese, silicon, and phosphorus.
It is suitable for high temperature applications like aerospace industry, chemical processing, and thermal oxidation plants because of its high temperature tolerance and corrosion resistance.
AISI 321 stainless steel is weldable but since it contains titanium and niobium, it is recommended that welding methods that avoid the formation of carbides should be employed to retain the material’s corrosion resistance.
Yes, there is always a full and documented PDF downloadable on websites of manufacturers of steel, It can also be obtained from governmental and nonprofit standards organizations or reservoirs of engineering materials.