Material Comparison F316L vs F321

Chemical Properties
Grade
Symbol

Mn

P, max.
0.040

F316L (a)

0.035 max.

2.00 max.

F321

0.08 max.

2.00 max.

0.040

Composition Requirements
S, max
Si
Ni

Cr

Mo

Ti
(b)

0.030

1.00 max.

10.00-15.00

16.00-18.00

2.00-3.00

0.030

1.00 max.

9.00-12.00

17 min.

Remarks:
(a) Grade F316L shall have a maximum Nitrogen content of 0.1%.
(b) Grade F321 shall have a titanium content of not less than five times the carbon content and not more than 0.70%.
Mechanical Properties
Grade
Symbol

Tensile Strength, min. ksi

[Mpa]

Yield Strength, min. ksi

[Mpa] (a)

Elongation in 2 in. (50 mm)

or 4D. Min. %

Reduction of Area, min. %

30

50

F321

75 [515] (b)

30 [205]

30

50

F316L

70 [485] (a)

25 [170]

Remarks:
(a) For section over 5 in. (130 mm) in thickness, the minimum tensile strength shall be 65 ksi (450 Mpa).
(b) For section over 5 in. (130 mm) in thickness, the minimum tensile strength shall be 70 ksi (485 Mpa).
Information:1/ Higher carbon content increases hardness and strength and improves hardenability. But carbon also increases brittleness and reduces
weldability because of its tendency to form martensite.
2/ Nickel is responsible for a great toughness and high strength at both high and low temperatures. Nickel also improves resistance to oxidation
and corrosion.
3/ Molybdenum improves resistance to pitting corrosion especially by chlorides and sulphur chemicals. When added to low alloy steels,
molybdenum improves high temperature strengths and hardness. When added to chromium steels it greatly diminishes the tendency of steels
to decay in service or in heat treatment.
4/ The main use of titanium as an alloying element in steel is for carbide stabilisation. It combines with carbon to form titanium carbides, which
are quite stable and hard to dissolve in steel, this tends to minimise the occurrence of inter-granular corrosion, when adding approximately
0.25%/0.60% titanium, the carbon combines with the titanium in preference to chromium, preventing a tie-up of corrosion resisting chromium
as inter-granular carbides and the accompanying loss of corrosion resistance at the grain boundaries.
5/ Nitrogen has the effect of increasing the austenitic stability of stainless steels and is, as in the case of nickel, an austenite forming element.
Yield strength is greatly improved when nitrogen is added to austenitic stainless steels.
Summary:Description
Hardness, Strength and Hardenability
Less brittleness & good weldability
Toughness and Strength at high & low temperature
Resistance to oxydation and corrosion
Resistance to pitting corrosion by chlorides and shulphur
Resistance to inter-granular corrosion

F316L
Lower
Higher
Higher
Higher
Higher
Lower

F321
Higher
Lower
Lower
Lower
Lower
Higher