321 Stainless Steel Round Bar
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1.4541 – titanium-stabilized stainless steel
1.4541 (AISI 321), or X6CrNiTi18-10, is an austenitic chromium-nickel steel with a composition close to 304 plus an addition of titanium. In the former Soviet Union countries it is known as 08Kh18N10T (08Х18Н10Т). Titanium ties up the carbon, so the steel keeps its resistance to intergranular corrosion after welding and after long service at temperatures where ordinary 304 becomes sensitized. 321 contains no molybdenum – it is a stainless rather than an acid-resistant grade, so in chloride environments it falls behind 316L and 316Ti. On the other hand, it retains its strength at elevated temperatures better than 304 and resists oxidation up to approx. 800 °C as a guide.
The 1.4541 / 321 designation in bar names
Bars in this category are listed as "1.4541 / 321", combining the EN 10088 material number with the AISI / ASTM grade. Mills often certify the material to both standards at once, and the 3.1 certificate shows the actual carbon and titanium content as well as the product standard. If a machine drawing calls for an older national designation or 08Kh18N10T, comparing the chemistry with the certificate lets you confirm the substitute. More on designation systems in our article Stainless steel designations: AISI, EN, DIN, GOST.
321 stainless steel chemical composition
| Grade | C | Cr | Ni | Ti |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4541 / 321 | ≤ 0.08 | 17.0–19.0 | 9.0–12.0 | 5×C – 0.70 |
| 1.4301 / 304 (for comparison) | ≤ 0.07 | 17.5–19.5 | 8.0–10.5 | – |
Values in wt.% per EN 10088-1. Approximate equivalents: 1.4541 = X6CrNiTi18-10 = AISI 321 = UNS S32100 = GOST 08Kh18N10T.
Ø 10–220 mm, cutting and tolerances
The category holds close to 700 bars in 1.4541 with diameters from Ø 10 to Ø 220 mm. They are sold in lengths such as 10 cm or 100 cm, and on request we cut them to the length you need for machining. The theoretical weight shown on the product page makes it easy to compare the price of a piece with the price per kilogram. 321 bar is usually produced to EN 10088-3, EN 10272 (pressure equipment) or ASTM A276 / A479 – the standard for each heat is confirmed by a 3.1 certificate. Diameter tolerance classes are described on the round bar tolerances page.
Where is 321 round bar used?
1.4541 bar is chosen for parts that are joined by welding and then run hot: bolts and studs for exhaust-gas and steam line flanges, brackets and supports for manifolds, pins and hangers in dryers and low-temperature heat-treatment furnaces, and parts for exhaust systems, expansion joints and steam valves. It is also turned into shafts and bushings for boiler rooms and district heating equipment. As 321 was long a standard stainless grade, it is often ordered for repairs and for reproducing parts of older machinery.
321 or 304? Or maybe 316Ti?
At room temperature and in non-welded parts, 321 bar offers no clear advantage over the more economical 304 / 1.4301 stainless round bar. Its benefits show in welds and during long service at elevated temperatures. When chlorides or acids come on top of the heat, molybdenum is needed – then the better choice is 316Ti / 1.4571 stainless round bar, which is also titanium-stabilized, or low-carbon 316L / 1.4404 round bar. Above approx. 800 °C, 1.4841 / 1.4845 heat-resistant round bar is the grade to use, and for heavily loaded shafts there is 1.4462 duplex round bar or hardened martensitic round bar.
See also: 1.4541 / 321 seamless tube and the other grades in the stainless round bar category.