Both stainless steel 321 and stainless steel 316 are common stainless steel materials. There are some differences between stainless steel 321 and stainless steel 316 in terms of composition, performance and use.
chemical composition
Stainless steel 321 contains 5 times more titanium than carbon, while stainless steel 316 does not contain titanium. In addition, the chromium and nickel contents of stainless steel 321 are relatively high, 17-19% and 9-12%, respectively, while the chromium and nickel contents of stainless steel 316 are 16-18% and 10-14%, respectively.
High temperature performance
Stainless steel 321 is more stable at high temperature than stainless steel 316. At a high temperature of 800 to 1500 degrees Celsius, stainless steel 321 can still maintain good oxidation resistance and corrosion resistance, while the performance of stainless steel 316 will be affected.
Corrosion resistance
Stainless steel 316 performs better in some special corrosive environments, such as better corrosion resistance in chloride environments than stainless steel 321. Stainless steel 316 also has better acid resistance.
Application field
Due to its good high temperature resistance, stainless steel 321 is usually used in pipelines, storage tanks, heaters, automobile exhaust pipes and other applications in high temperature environments. Stainless steel 316 is usually used in the manufacture of chemical equipment, pharmaceutical equipment, marine equipment and other applications, especially in chlorine-containing environments.
