EN 10088-2 X2CrTi12 1.4512 Stainless Steel Plate

X2CrTi12, steel number 1.4512, is a titanium-stabilised ferritic stainless steel supplied as sheet, plate and strip to EN 10088-2, the European standard for corrosion resisting flat products for general purposes. The steel behind every 1.4512 stainless steel plate contains 10.5 – 12.5 % chromium, no more than 0.030 % carbon and enough titanium to tie up carbon and nitrogen, so it is magnetic, welds without heavy chromium-carbide formation at the grain boundaries, and costs far less than nickel-bearing grades. It is the European counterpart of the 409 stainless steel family, and its main home is the automotive exhaust line: mufflers, silencer shells, tail pipes, catalytic converter housings and heat shields, together with other thin-gauge parts that see warm, mildly corrosive conditions.

SHH STEEL works as a steel sourcing partner with long-term relationships with Chinese stainless mills that roll 409-type ferritic coil. For large tonnages, the buyer can contract directly with a suitable mill, with SHH STEEL assisting for a modest service fee and handling follow-up and documents. For small orders we consolidate demand, so that 1 – 5 t lots are placed against genuine mill production instead of stock of unknown origin. Each shipment can be released after third-party inspection by TUV, ABS, BV, DNV, CCS or an agency the buyer nominates, and payment by TT or LC is accepted. The rest of this page covers the technical side of EN 10088-2 1.4512 and the steps we take so that the material that arrives is the material that was ordered.

The table below lists the concerns buyers raise most often when sourcing EN 10088-2 X2CrTi12 sheet and plate from China, and how SHH STEEL deals with each of them.

X2CrTi12 1.4512 is a European grade, but buyers meet it under several standards, and the right one depends on where the part will be used and what the drawing says. EN 10088-2 is the technical delivery condition for sheet, plate and strip of corrosion resisting steels for general purposes. ASTM A240 and ASME SA-240 cover the 409 family under American designations. EN 10028-7 covers stainless flat products for pressure purposes.

If your exhaust or housing drawing is European, order to EN 10088-2. If it calls for 409 under ASTM, see our ASTM A240 Type 409 page; SHH STEEL can supply either and, where a mill certifies both, show the two sets of limits side by side. If the part holds pressure, use a grade that EN 10028-7 lists for that product, such as our EN 10028-7 X2CrNi12 1.4003 pressure vessel plate, because a plate certified only to EN 10088-2 is not intended for pressure purposes.

Edition note: the values on this page are taken from EN 10088-2:2014. A revised edition (EN 10088-2:2024) has since been published. If your contract names the newer edition, SHH STEEL checks the order against that text before production, and any difference is raised at the quotation stage rather than after rolling.

The 1.4512 chemical composition below is the cast (heat) analysis from EN 10088-2:2014 Table 3. Values are percentages by mass; a single figure is a maximum.

Titanium is the defining element. Because the minimum is written as six times the sum of carbon and nitrogen, the actual titanium requirement depends on the heat: a cast with 0.015 % C and 0.012 % N needs at least about 0.16 % Ti. Titanium combines with carbon and nitrogen before chromium can, which keeps chromium in solution and protects the weld zone. EN 10088-2 does not set a nickel limit for this grade, and the standard does not allow unlisted elements to be added intentionally without the purchaser’s agreement.

Product analysis tolerances (EN 10088-2 Table 5)

A product analysis is a check made on the delivered material. It is not mandatory under EN 10088-2; it is carried out when agreed at the time of enquiry and order, and SHH STEEL can arrange it through a partner laboratory. The permissible tolerances on the cast limits are:

EN 10088-2 also states that, where several product analyses are made on one cast, individual results may exceed the maximum or fall below the minimum, but not both for the same element. How a tolerance applies to the calculated titanium minimum should be confirmed in the contract if a product analysis is ordered.

The 1.4512 mechanical properties are set in EN 10088-2:2014 Table 9 for the annealed condition. Unlike some other ferritic grades, X2CrTi12 is listed only for cold-rolled strip (C) and hot-rolled strip (H); there is no separate row for quarto plate (P).

Elongation is measured on an 80 mm gauge length below 3 mm thickness and on a proportional gauge length (5.65√S0) from 3 mm upwards. For bigger sizes the standard says the mechanical values are to be agreed at the time of enquiry and order. Table 9 records resistance to intergranular corrosion (tested to EN ISO 3651-2) as “no” in both the delivery and the welded condition for 1.4512, which means the standard does not guarantee that property even though titanium greatly reduces sensitisation in practice.

Compared with 1.4003, the proof strength is lower and the elongation higher. That suits deep-drawn or bent exhaust components, where formability matters more than load-bearing strength. If a minimum hardness, an r-value or a specific forming test is needed for a pressing line, we write it into the mill order as an agreed requirement and checks it on the certificate.

Proof strength at elevated temperature (Table 14)

These values are given for information. They are useful when checking a housing or bracket that runs warm, and they are verified by an elevated-temperature tensile test only if agreed in the order. EN 10088-2 does not set a Charpy impact value for this grade.

X2CrTi12 is delivered in the annealed condition (+A). EN 10088-2 Table A.3 gives the guideline temperatures:

Annealing recrystallises the cold-rolled structure and gives the soft, formable condition on which the Table 9 values are based. As with other ferritic steels, overheating coarsens the grain quickly and lowers toughness, so the furnace range should not be exceeded. The steel cannot be hardened by heat treatment.

Formed exhaust parts are normally not heat treated after welding. If a part has to be re-annealed after severe cold work, Table A.3 is the reference, and the procedure should be agreed with the fabricator. The Annex A temperatures are guidelines; actual furnace settings are chosen by the mill, and SHH STEEL checks that the annealed condition is stated on each certificate before release.

The values below are room-temperature reference figures for X2CrTi12 1.4512, taken from the physical-property table in Euro Inox, Stainless Steel: Tables of Technical Properties (Materials and Applications Series, Volume 5). They are suitable for design estimates and weight calculation; where a figure is critical, use EN 10088-1 itself.

Low thermal expansion is a real advantage in exhaust systems: a ferritic shell grows much less than an austenitic one when it heats up, so clamps, flanges and joints see lower thermal stress over many heating cycles. At about 7.7 g/cm³, a 1.5 mm sheet weighs roughly 11.6 kg per square metre, a figure SHH STEEL uses for weight and freight estimates in every quotation.

With chromium just above the stainless threshold and no molybdenum, X2CrTi12 1.4512 is an economy stainless steel. It was developed to replace aluminised or painted carbon steel in exhaust systems, where hot condensate and road spray would quickly corrode an unalloyed part.

The oxidation figures are industry guidance, not EN 10088-2 requirements. Titanium stabilisation keeps the weld zone free of severe chromium depletion, which is why 1.4512 survives welded exhaust service far better than older unstabilised 12 % chromium steels. Where appearance matters or the part sits in salt spray, a higher-chromium ferritic such as the 441 type or an austenitic grade is the better choice, and we can quote that alternative from the same mill partners.

Weldability is the main reason titanium is added. In a plain 11 – 12 % chromium steel, carbon can combine with chromium during welding and leave chromium-depleted zones along the grain boundaries. In 1.4512 the titanium takes that carbon and nitrogen first, so the heat-affected zone keeps its corrosion resistance. The grade can be joined by MIG/MAG, TIG, plasma, laser, resistance and seam welding, which covers the processes used on exhaust lines.

• Filler metal: in common industry practice, matching or overmatching ferritic wires such as 409Nb or 430LNb types are used on exhaust components, while 309L-type austenitic fillers are used for joints to carbon steel. Final choice should follow the welding procedure specification.
• Heat input: keep it low and travel speed high, because ferritic steels coarsen their grain in the heat-affected zone, which reduces toughness.
• Preheat and post-weld heat treatment: normally not required for the thin gauges in which the grade is used.
• Shielding: argon-based gases with low oxygen or CO₂ content are usual; nitrogen-bearing gases are avoided because they consume titanium.
• Cleaning: remove heat tint by pickling or brushing to restore corrosion resistance at the weld.

These points reflect industry practice for the 409 family rather than requirements of EN 10088-2, which does not specify welding procedures. In the SHH STEEL workshop, blanks and strips are cut with clean, burr-free edges so that automatic welding lines run without edge preparation problems, and the procedure itself should be qualified to the code that applies to your project.

X2CrTi12 plate and sheet form well. Its low proof strength and 25 % minimum elongation allow tube forming, deep drawing of muffler end caps and bending of heat shields. Like other ferritic grades it shows some spring-back and can be sensitive to cracking when formed very cold, so forming at room temperature or slightly warm is preferred, with an inside bend radius of at least the material thickness for heavier gauges. These are workshop guidelines, not standard requirements.

Machining is comparable to other low-chromium ferritic steels: sharp tools and steady feeds give clean results, and there is no austenitic-type work hardening. Punching and drilling of mounting holes in brackets and shields is routine.

SHH STEEL runs its own workshop next to the warehouse, so 1.4512 can be delivered as cut-to-length sheets, slit coil, laser-cut blanks or bent parts instead of raw mill sizes. Details are on our steel cutting services and bending and forming services pages. Protective film can be applied for parts that will be pressed, and pre-cut blanks reduce freight weight and scrap at your end.

EN 10088-2 limits each product form to a maximum thickness, and the tolerance standard depends on the form:

Widths and typical thicknesses in the table are mill offerings, not values from the standard. Cut lengths are usually 2 000 – 6 000 mm, and slit coil can be supplied to the width your tube mill or press line uses. Because EN 10088-2 lists no quarto-plate row for 1.4512, material thicker than 13.5 mm, or plate rolled individually, has to be agreed with the mill as a special case; for heavier ferritic plate, a grade such as EN 10088-2 X2CrNi12 1.4003 is often the more practical choice.

Most 1.4512 is bought in the 0.8 – 2.0 mm range for exhaust shells and tubes. SHH STEEL confirms available widths and lengths with the mill at quotation and cuts or slits to finished size in its own workshop when a mill size does not fit.

Surface finish is ordered by the process route symbols of EN 10088-2 Table 6. Not every route is available for every grade, and the mill confirms which ones it can supply.

Unless otherwise agreed, only one surface (the prime surface) is inspected to the ordered finish. For most exhaust and housing parts 2D or 2B is adequate, since the surface will be formed, welded and often heat-tinted in service. If tail pipes or visible trim need a decorative finish, state it at the enquiry stage so that the mill and the workshop can plan it.

Buyers often search for 409 stainless steel when they need 1.4512, or the other way round. When asked for the 1.4512 equivalent in another standard, the honest answer is that there are close relatives rather than exact twins. The table lists the nearest grades; chemistry and property limits differ in detail, so substitution should be checked against the governing specification.

On our site you can compare related grades such as ASTM A240 Type 409, ASME SA240 409, JIS G4305 SUS409L, GB/T 4237 022Cr11Ti S11163 and the niobium-titanium variant GB/T 4237 022Cr11NbTi S11173. Where a drawing calls for UNS S40910 but the project is European, ordering X2CrTi12 to EN 10088-2 is often acceptable, but the designer should confirm it, and SHH STEEL can prepare a side-by-side comparison of the limits for that purpose.

1.4512 vs 1.4003

Both are 12 % chromium ferritics, but they are built for different jobs. EN 10088-2 X2CrNi12 1.4003 adds 0.30 – 1.00 % nickel for heat-affected-zone toughness and is listed up to 25 mm quarto plate, so it suits structural frames, hoppers and wagons. 1.4512 replaces nickel with titanium stabilisation, has a lower proof strength and higher elongation, and is listed only up to 13.5 mm, which makes it the natural choice for thin, formed and welded exhaust parts. SHH STEEL can quote both grades on one enquiry so the difference in price and properties is clear.

The typical 1.4512 ferritic plate application is a thin, formed and welded part that runs warm, meets condensate or road spray, and does not justify a higher-chromium or nickel-bearing grade. Common uses include:

• Automotive exhaust systems: mufflers, silencer shells and baffles, intermediate and tail pipes
• Catalytic converter and particulate filter housings, flanges and heat shields
• Truck, bus and off-road engine exhausts and aftermarket silencers
• Agricultural machinery and generator-set exhausts
• Containers, transport and handling equipment with mild corrosion exposure
• Heat exchanger casings, boiler and furnace parts operating in dry, moderately hot gas
• Electrical cabinets and enclosures that are painted after forming

In each case the reasoning is the same: enough chromium to outlast coated carbon steel, titanium to keep the welds sound, and no nickel cost that the service does not need. For hotter or more corrosive exhaust sections, designers move up to the 18 % chromium ASTM A240 Type 441 type. For these uses SHH STEEL can supply slit coil or laser-cut blanks, which reduces scrap and freight.

Most problems in buying 1.4512 from China are not about the metallurgy. They come from the details that decide whether the material will run on a production line: the right stabilisation, a coil width that fits, an annealed condition that forms without cracking, and paperwork that a customs officer and a quality engineer will both accept.

None of these steps is complicated, but they need to be agreed at the start. When you send an enquiry, tell SHH STEEL which of these points matters most to you, and the order will be built around it.

EN 10088-2 Table 21 sets out the tests. The cast analysis is always reported by the manufacturer, and a tensile test at room temperature is mandatory when specific testing is ordered. For strip and sheet cut from strip (forms C and H), the test unit is the same cast, same nominal thickness ±10 % and same final treatment condition; for rolling widths of 600 mm and above, one test sample is taken from each coil. Other tests are optional and carried out only when agreed at the time of order:

• Product analysis (extent to be agreed), useful for confirming titanium and carbon plus nitrogen
• Tensile test at elevated temperature, verifying Table 14 values
• Intergranular corrosion test to EN ISO 3651-2, normally not carried out
• Additional checks through our third-party testing service: PMI, dimensional, flatness and surface inspection

If the order does not name an inspection document, EN 10088-2 requires only a test report 2.2. Because this is rarely enough for automotive or export work, SHH STEEL supplies an EN 10204 3.1 inspection certificate as standard and a 3.2 certificate when an independent inspector (TUV, ABS, BV, DNV, CCS or an agency you nominate) witnesses testing and countersigns the document.

Ordering example and lead time

Following the pattern of the example in EN 10088-2, a typical order line would read: 5 t cold-rolled sheet EN ISO 9445-2, 1.5 × 1250 × 2500 mm; steel EN 10088-2 – X2CrTi12+2B (or 1.4512+2B); inspection certificate EN 10204 – 3.1. Mill production lead time is generally 30 – 40 days from order confirmation, depending on the rolling schedule, the size and the tests requested. Consolidated small lots follow the same mill schedule, and SHH STEEL sends progress updates at rolling, testing and packing.

• Mill relationships: long-term cooperation with Chinese stainless mills helps SHH STEEL secure competitive pricing and steadier delivery for 1.4512 and related 409-type grades.
• Direct mill contracts: for larger tonnages you can contract directly with a suitable mill, for a modest service fee, while we handle follow-up and documents.
• Order consolidation: 1 – 5 t lots are combined so they can be placed against genuine mill production.
• Own workshop: slitting, cut-to-length, laser cutting, bending and protective film before shipment.
• Inspection and certificates: third-party inspection by TUV, ABS, BV, DNV, CCS or your nominated agency, with EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 certificates.
• Flexible payment: TT, LC or a combination of both.
• Port logistics: sheet and coil are packed seaworthy with heat-number labels and shipped through our worldwide shipping service, together with other grades if needed.

As a 1.4512 plate supplier SHH STEEL also stocks and sources the wider range of stainless steel sheets and plates, so mixed orders of ferritic and austenitic material can travel in one container with one set of paperwork.

EN 10088-2 X2CrTi12 1.4512 is a practical, economical ferritic stainless steel for thin parts that are formed, welded and exposed to warm, mildly corrosive conditions: titanium-stabilised, magnetic, easy to draw and far less sensitive to nickel prices than austenitic grades. Choosing it is the easy part. Getting sheet and coil that match the certificate, in the gauge and width your line needs, on a predictable schedule and ready for production is where a sourcing partner earns its place, and that is the work SHH STEEL does every day through long-term mill cooperation, consolidation and its own workshop.

The next step is simple. Send SHH STEEL your drawing, or an enquiry with the quantity, grade, thickness, width and delivery destination, and we will judge whether a direct mill contract or consolidation with processing fits your order better, and quote accordingly. Send your sizes and quantities for a quotation.