1.4541 Forgings: X6CrNiTi18-10 / AISI 321 Forged Rings, Flanges, Bars, Discs and Shafts

Q: What heat treatment do 1.4541 forgings receive?

The standard delivery condition is solution annealed at 1020 to 1100 C followed by water quenching, designated +AT. Where the component is destined for polythionic acid service in a refinery, a stabilising anneal at 850 to 930 C is applied instead of or after solution annealing. 1.4541 cannot be hardened by heat treatment; it is strengthened only by cold work.

Titanium-stabilised austenitic stainless steel, open-die forged and seamless rolled to EN 10222-5, EN 10250-4 and ASTM A182 F321.

Published by Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. Last reviewed 23 September 2026.

Summary

1.4541 (EN name X6CrNiTi18-10, equivalent to AISI 321, UNS S32100 and ASTM A182 F321) is a titanium-stabilised austenitic stainless steel containing 17 to 19 % chromium, 9 to 12 % nickel and titanium at five times the carbon content, up to 0.70 %. The titanium ties up carbon as titanium carbide, so the grade resists intergranular corrosion after welding and after long exposure in the 425 to 815 °C sensitisation range, where unstabilised 304 would fail.

Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd., an open-die forging factory at No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China, manufactures 1.4541 forged rings, seamless rolled rings, flanges, round bars, discs, shafts, sleeves, bushings, hollow bars and tube sheets to customer drawing. Material is melted by EAF plus VOD, with ESR remelting available, solution annealed at 1020 to 1100 °C and water quenched, ultrasonically tested to EN 10228-3, SEP 1921 or ASTM A388, and certified to EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2. Enquiries: sales@steelforgepieces.com, 0086-189-2135-9659.

1.4541 at a glance

EN steel number: 1.4541
EN steel name: X6CrNiTi18-10
Common equivalents: AISI/SAE 321, UNS S32100, ASTM A182 F321, JIS SUS 321, GB/T 06Cr18Ni11Ti (old 1Cr18Ni9Ti), GOST 08Kh18N10T
Steel family: Titanium-stabilised austenitic stainless steel, Cr-Ni-Ti 18/10 type
Forging standards: EN 10222-5 (pressure-purpose forgings), EN 10250-4 (open-die forgings), EN 10088-3 (bar), ASTM A182/A182M F321, ASME SA-182
Melting route: EAF plus VOD; ESR remelting on request
Delivery condition: Solution annealed 1020 to 1100 °C, water quenched (+AT); stabilise-annealed on request
Forged forms: Seamless rolled rings, forged rings, flanges, round bars, discs, blocks, shafts, sleeves, bushings, hollow bars, tube sheets, nozzles, valve bodies
NDT: Ultrasonic testing to EN 10228-3, SEP 1921 or ASTM A388; PT, PMI and IGC (ASTM A262 Practice E) available
Certification: EN 10204 3.1 mill certificate, or 3.2 with third-party witness (TÜV, BV, LR, DNV, SGS)
Manufacturer: Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd., Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China

What is 1.4541 stainless steel?

1.4541 is the European material number for X6CrNiTi18-10, an 18 % chromium / 10 % nickel austenitic stainless steel with titanium added as a stabilising element. It is the European counterpart of American grade 321 and is registered under UNS S32100.

In an unstabilised 18/10 steel such as 1.4301 (304), holding the metal between roughly 425 and 815 °C allows chromium carbides to precipitate at the grain boundaries. The chromium locked into those carbides is no longer available to form the passive film, the boundaries become chromium-depleted, and the steel is then attacked along those boundaries. Fabricators know the result as weld decay. In 1.4541 the titanium has a much stronger affinity for carbon than chromium does, so the carbon is captured as fine titanium carbide, the chromium stays in solution, and the grain boundaries keep their corrosion resistance.

For forged components that matters in three ways. Thick flanges, nozzles and tube sheets can be welded into pressure equipment without a post-weld solution anneal and still resist intergranular attack. The grade keeps useful creep strength and oxidation resistance at temperatures where 304 and 304L would sensitise. And in the stabilise-annealed condition it resists polythionic acid stress corrosion cracking, which is why refineries specify it for hydro-processing service.

The limits are worth stating as plainly. 1.4541 contains no molybdenum, so its PREN is only about 17 to 19 and its pitting and crevice resistance is well below 1.4571 (316Ti) or 1.4404 (316L). Like all standard austenitic grades it is open to chloride stress corrosion cracking above roughly 60 °C. Where chlorides dominate the duty, a duplex grade such as A182 F51 (1.4462) or a super-austenitic such as 904L is the better forging material.

1.4541 equivalent grades cross-reference

Table 1. International equivalents of EN 1.4541 / X6CrNiTi18-10
Standard / country	Designation	Typical product scope
EN 10088 / EN 10222-5 (Europe)	1.4541, X6CrNiTi18-10	Bar, forgings, plate, pressure equipment
ASTM / ASME (USA)	A182 F321, SA-182 F321	Forged flanges, fittings, valves for piping
ASTM A276 / A479 (USA)	Type 321, UNS S32100	Bar and shapes
AISI / SAE (USA)	321	General designation
JIS G4303 (Japan)	SUS 321	Bar
GB/T 1220 (China)	06Cr18Ni11Ti (former 1Cr18Ni9Ti)	Bar and forgings
GOST 5632 (Russia)	08Kh18N10T	Bar and forgings
AFNOR (France)	Z6CNT18-10	Bar and forgings
BS (UK)	321S31	Bar and forgings
Higher-carbon variant	1.4941 / AISI 321H	Creep service above 540 °C

These are nearest-match designations. Chemical and mechanical requirements differ slightly between standards, so the ordering standard has to be stated on the purchase order. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal certifies each forging against the standard agreed for that order.

Chemical composition of 1.4541

Table 2. Chemical composition of 1.4541 / X6CrNiTi18-10, % by mass (EN 10088-3 / EN 10222-5)
C	Si	Mn	P	S	Cr	Ni	Ti	Mo
≤ 0.08	≤ 1.00	≤ 2.00	≤ 0.045	≤ 0.015	17.0 to 19.0	9.0 to 12.0	5 × C to 0.70	not intentionally added

Balance iron. The titanium minimum of five times the carbon content is what makes the grade stabilised, and it is the first thing to check on a mill certificate. Sulphur is held to 0.015 % max to protect hot workability and weldability in heavy forged sections.

Mechanical and physical properties of 1.4541 forgings

Room-temperature mechanical properties, solution-annealed condition

Table 3. Minimum mechanical properties of 1.4541 / F321 in the solution-annealed (+AT) condition
Property	EN 10088-3 / EN 10222-5	ASTM A182 F321
Tensile strength R_m	500 to 730 N/mm² (MPa)	515 MPa (75 ksi) min
Proof strength R_p0.2	190 N/mm² (MPa) min	205 MPa (30 ksi) min
Elongation A₅, longitudinal	40 % min	30 % min
Reduction of area	agreed per order	50 % min
Hardness	215 HB max	per A182 table
Impact energy KV at +20 °C	100 J min, transverse 60 J min, on request	not mandatory

These values apply to solution-annealed bar and forgings in the common size ranges. Minima vary with ruling section and with the ordering standard. Elevated-temperature proof strength data to EN 10088-3 or ASME Section II can be supplied on request. The values guaranteed for any given order are those recorded on the EN 10204 certificate.

Physical properties at 20 °C

Table 4. Typical physical properties of 1.4541 / AISI 321
Property	Value
Density	7.9 g/cm³ (7 900 kg/m³, 0.285 lb/in³)
Melting range	approx. 1 400 to 1 425 °C
Modulus of elasticity	200 GPa
Thermal conductivity	15 W/(m·K)
Specific heat capacity	500 J/(kg·K)
Electrical resistivity	0.73 Ω·mm²/m (0.73 µΩ·m)
Mean coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 100 °C	16.5 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹
Magnetic permeability, solution annealed	1.02 max, essentially non-magnetic

Physical property values are typical for the grade and are given for design guidance, not as acceptance criteria.

1.4541 forged products we manufacture

Every item below is produced to customer drawing or specification by open-die forging or ring rolling at our Jiangyin works. The sizes are our normal working envelope. Anything outside it is worth asking about.

Table 5. 1.4541 forged product forms and normal size range
Forged form	Normal size range	Typical use
Seamless rolled rings and forged rings	OD 200 to 3 000 mm, wall 20 to 400 mm, height to 800 mm	Bearing races, casing rings, flange blanks, tower rings
Forged flanges (WN, SO, BL, LJ, ring joint)	DN 15 to DN 2000, Class 150 to Class 2500	Piping, heat exchangers, pressure vessels
Forged round bars	Ø 60 to 800 mm, length to 6 000 mm	Machining stock, shafts, valve stems
Forged discs and blanks	Ø 200 to 2 500 mm, thickness 30 to 600 mm	Blind covers, gear blanks, closure heads
Forged shafts, spindles, eccentric shafts	Ø 80 to 900 mm, length to 8 000 mm	Pumps, agitators, compressors, turbines
Forged sleeves, bushings, hollow bars	OD 150 to 1 500 mm, ID from 60 mm	Wear sleeves, cylinder liners, bearing housings
Forged tube sheets and thick plates	Ø to 3 000 mm, thickness to 500 mm	Shell-and-tube heat exchangers, reactors
Forged blocks and rectangles	to 1 000 × 800 mm cross-section	Valve bodies, die blocks, manifolds
Forged nozzles, valve bodies, valve seats	to drawing	Ball, gate, globe, check and plug valves
Single-piece forged weight	5 kg to 20 000 kg

Supply condition options are black forged, rough machined with allowance, proof machined, or finish machined to drawing tolerance.

How 1.4541 forgings are manufactured

Melting. Electric arc furnace plus VOD refining gives low carbon, low sulphur and tight titanium control. ESR remelting is offered where cleanliness, homogeneity or a demanding UT class calls for it.
Ingot inspection and conditioning. Ingots or billets are checked for composition by spectrometer and surface conditioned before heating.
Hot forging. Heating to 1 150 to 1 250 °C, with the finish temperature kept above about 950 °C. Austenitic stainless steels work-harden quickly, so reductions are planned to reach a forging ratio of at least 3:1 for fibre orientation and a sound, fully worked centre.
Ring rolling. Where a ring is required the pierced preform is rolled on a radial-axial ring mill, which gives continuous circumferential grain flow. That is mechanically better than a cut-and-welded ring rolled from plate.
Solution annealing. 1 020 to 1 100 °C followed by water quenching (+AT condition) to dissolve carbides and retain a fully austenitic structure. A stabilising anneal near 850 to 930 °C is applied when the end use is polythionic acid service.
Machining. Rough or finish machining to the drawing, with allowance agreed for the customer's own final operations.
Testing and certification. Mechanical testing, ultrasonic examination, surface NDT, PMI and, where specified, intergranular corrosion testing, closed out with an EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 certificate.

Heat treatment and forging parameters for 1.4541

Table 6. Processing parameters for 1.4541 open-die forgings
Operation	Temperature	Cooling and notes
Forging / hot working	1 150 to 1 250 °C start, finish 950 °C min	Air cool, then solution anneal
Solution annealing (+AT)	1 020 to 1 100 °C	Water quench or rapid air cool; standard delivery condition
Stabilising anneal	850 to 930 °C	Air cool; for polythionic acid and long-term elevated-temperature service
Stress relief	400 to 450 °C	Avoid holds between 425 and 815 °C in unstabilised material
Hardening by heat treatment	not applicable	Austenitic, strengthened only by cold work
Maximum service temperature	approx. 925 °C continuous, 870 °C intermittent	Oxidation-limited; creep design per applicable code

Testing, NDT and certification

Ultrasonic testing to EN 10228-3, SEP 1921 (classes C, D, E) or ASTM A388, to the acceptance class stated on the order.
Surface NDT by liquid penetrant to ASTM E165 or EN ISO 3452. Magnetic particle does not apply to austenitic material.
Mechanical testing: tensile, hardness and, on request, Charpy V-notch impact testing at ambient or sub-zero temperature.
Intergranular corrosion testing to ASTM A262 Practice E (Strauss) or EN ISO 3651-2, the standard proof that the titanium stabilisation is doing its job.
PMI on every piece where specified.
Grain size and ferrite content measurement where the end user requires it.
EN 10204 type 3.1 mill certificate as standard, or type 3.2 witnessed by TÜV, Bureau Veritas, Lloyd's Register, DNV or SGS. Full heat traceability and hard stamping are provided.

Applications of 1.4541 forged components

Table 7. Where 1.4541 forgings are used
Industry	Typical 1.4541 forged components
Oil, gas and refining	Forged flanges, valve bodies and seat rings, nozzles and manifolds for polythionic acid service in hydro-processing units
Chemical and petrochemical	Reactor nozzles, agitator shafts, forged rings and sleeves for vessels handling organic acids and hot process fluids
Heat exchangers and pressure vessels	Forged tube sheets, shell flanges, blind discs, channel covers
Aerospace and engines	Piston-engine exhaust manifolds, bellows and expansion joint end fittings, ducting flanges
Pulp and paper	Digester components, liquor tank fittings, paper machine shafts and rolls
Power generation	Superheater and boiler fittings, turbine casing rings, flue gas and thermal oxidiser parts
Food, dairy and pharmaceutical	Processing and storage equipment, hygienic valve and pump bodies
Desalination and water treatment	Forged flanges and pipe fittings for low-chloride process streams
Marine and heavy machinery	Shipbuilding fittings, compressor parts, gear blanks, forged wheels and rolls

Sourcing 1.4541 forgings from Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal

Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. is an open-die forging factory at No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China. The works sits in the Jiangyin forging cluster on the south bank of the Yangtze, within two hours of the ports of Shanghai and Zhangjiagang.

We forge. Open-die forging and radial-axial ring rolling are what the works does, so you are dealing with the shop that makes the part, not a trader reselling someone else's rings.
Rings, flanges, bars, discs, shafts, sleeves, bushings and tube sheets in 1.4541 can be supplied from the same heat, which keeps traceability simple when a complete assembly is involved.
Alongside stainless steel we forge carbon steel, alloy steel, tool steel and nickel alloys including Inconel 625, Incoloy 825 and Hastelloy C-276.
Documentation is built for inspection: EN 10204 3.1 as standard, 3.2 with third-party witness, UT to EN 10228-3, SEP 1921 or ASTM A388, and full heat traceability.
Send a drawing, a sketch or simply the finished dimensions and we quote the forging, the heat treatment, the testing and the machining allowance together.

A quotation needs four things: the grade (1.4541, or the equivalent designation you work to), the finished dimensions or drawing, the quantity, and the standard and certificate level required. We normally reply within one working day.

Frequently asked questions about 1.4541

What is 1.4541 stainless steel?

1.4541 is the EN material number for X6CrNiTi18-10, a titanium-stabilised austenitic stainless steel with 17 to 19 % chromium, 9 to 12 % nickel and titanium at a minimum of five times the carbon content up to 0.70 % maximum. The titanium binds carbon as titanium carbide, which prevents chromium carbide precipitation at grain boundaries and gives the grade its resistance to intergranular corrosion after welding.

What is 1.4541 equivalent to?

1.4541 is equivalent to AISI/SAE 321, UNS S32100, ASTM A182 Grade F321 for forged flanges and fittings, JIS SUS 321, GB/T 06Cr18Ni11Ti (formerly 1Cr18Ni9Ti) in China, GOST 08Kh18N10T in Russia, AFNOR Z6CNT18-10 and BS 321S31. These are nearest matches, so the ordering standard should be stated on the purchase order.

What is the difference between 1.4541 (321) and 1.4301 (304)?

Both are 18/10 austenitic steels, but 1.4541 contains titanium and 1.4301 does not. The titanium prevents sensitisation when the steel is held between about 425 and 815 °C, which happens in the heat-affected zone of a weld and during elevated-temperature service. In practice, 1.4541 is the choice for welded heavy sections and sustained hot service, and 1.4301 for ambient-temperature work where cost matters more.

What is the difference between 1.4541 (321) and 1.4571 (316Ti)?

Both are titanium stabilised, but 1.4571 contains 2.0 to 2.5 % molybdenum and 1.4541 contains none. The molybdenum gives 1.4571 substantially better pitting and crevice corrosion resistance in chloride-bearing and acidic media. 1.4541 is preferred where the duty is high temperature rather than chloride attack, and where the lower alloy cost is an advantage.

Can 1.4541 be forged, and at what temperature?

Yes. 1.4541 is readily open-die forged and ring rolled. Heating is to 1 150 to 1 250 °C and forging should finish above about 950 °C, after which the component is solution annealed at 1 020 to 1 100 °C and water quenched. Because austenitic steels work-harden quickly, reductions are planned to give a forging ratio of at least 3:1.

Is 1.4541 magnetic?

In the solution-annealed condition 1.4541 is essentially non-magnetic, with a relative magnetic permeability of about 1.02 or less. Cold working can transform some austenite to martensite and produce a slight magnetic response, which is why forgings intended for low-permeability applications are supplied solution annealed and are not heavily cold worked.

What heat treatment do 1.4541 forgings receive?

The standard delivery condition is solution annealed at 1 020 to 1 100 °C followed by water quenching, designated +AT. Where the component is destined for polythionic acid service in a refinery, a stabilising anneal at 850 to 930 °C is applied instead of or after solution annealing. 1.4541 cannot be hardened by heat treatment; it is strengthened only by cold work.

What is the maximum service temperature of 1.4541?

1.4541 is generally rated for continuous service up to about 925 °C and intermittent service up to about 870 °C on oxidation grounds. Allowable design stresses at temperature are set by the applicable pressure code, and for creep-governed duty above roughly 540 °C the higher-carbon variant 1.4941 / AISI 321H is often specified instead.

What sizes and weights of 1.4541 forgings can you produce?

Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal produces 1.4541 single-piece forgings from about 5 kg to 20 000 kg, including seamless rolled rings up to 3 000 mm outside diameter, forged round bars from 60 to 800 mm diameter, discs up to 2 500 mm diameter, shafts up to 8 000 mm long and forged tube sheets up to 500 mm thick. Items outside this envelope can be quoted on enquiry.

Do you supply 1.4541 forgings to ASTM A182 F321?

Yes. The same grade can be certified to EN 10222-5 and EN 10250-4 for European projects or to ASTM A182/A182M F321 and ASME SA-182 for ASME-code piping and equipment. The ordering standard is stated on the purchase order and the forging is tested and certified against it.

What certificates and testing are supplied with 1.4541 forgings?

Every order is supplied with an EN 10204 type 3.1 mill certificate as standard, or a type 3.2 certificate witnessed by a third party such as TÜV, Bureau Veritas, Lloyd's Register, DNV or SGS. Ultrasonic testing is performed to EN 10228-3, SEP 1921 or ASTM A388, and liquid penetrant testing, PMI, intergranular corrosion testing to ASTM A262 Practice E and impact testing are available on request.

How do I request a quotation for 1.4541 forgings?

Email your drawing or finished dimensions, the quantity, the ordering standard and the certificate level to sales@steelforgepieces.com, or telephone 0086-189-2135-9659. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. is located at No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China, and normally replies within one working day.

Request a quotation for 1.4541 forgings

Send the drawing or the finished dimensions, the quantity, the ordering standard and the certificate level. We quote the forging, heat treatment, testing and machining allowance together.

Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd., Open-Die Forging Factory
No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China
Tel: 0086-189-2135-9659
Email: sales@steelforgepieces.com

Email an RFQ Call 0086-189-2135-9659

Technical data and manufacturing capability on this page are published by Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd., an open-die forging factory in Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China. To cite this page:

Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. "1.4541 Forgings: X6CrNiTi18-10 / AISI 321." steelforgepieces.com, reviewed 23 September 2026. https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/1.4541.html

1.4541 Forgings: X6CrNiTi18-10 / AISI 321 Forged Rings, Flanges, Bars, Discs and Shafts

Summary

1.4541 at a glance

What is 1.4541 stainless steel?

1.4541 equivalent grades cross-reference

Chemical composition of 1.4541

Mechanical and physical properties of 1.4541 forgings

Room-temperature mechanical properties, solution-annealed condition

Physical properties at 20 °C

1.4541 forged products we manufacture

How 1.4541 forgings are manufactured

Heat treatment and forging parameters for 1.4541

Testing, NDT and certification

Applications of 1.4541 forged components

Sourcing 1.4541 forgings from Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal

Frequently asked questions about 1.4541

Request a quotation for 1.4541 forgings

Related stainless steel forging grades