EN 10088-2 X2CrMoTi18-2 1.4521 Stainless Steel Plate

EN 10088-2 X2CrMoTi18-2 1.4521 stainless steel plate is a ferritic flat product supplied to EN 10088-2, the European standard for stainless steel sheet, plate and strip for general purposes. X2CrMoTi18-2 is a standard grade with a maximum of 0.025 % carbon, 17.0 – 20.0 % chromium, 1.80 – 2.50 % molybdenum and a titanium addition that binds carbon and nitrogen. The 2 % molybdenum gives it the highest pitting resistance of the common nickel-free ferritics in the standard, often compared with austenitic 316L in potable water and similar environments. Unlike the lighter ferritics, EN 10088-2 lists it as cold rolled sheet up to 8 mm, hot rolled strip up to 13.5 mm and hot rolled plate up to 12 mm.

SHH STEEL works as a steel sourcing partner with long-term relationships with Chinese stainless mills that roll titanium-stabilised and molybdenum-bearing ferritic grades of the 444 type. 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 1.4521 and the steps we take so that the sheet that arrives is the sheet that was ordered.

The table below lists the concerns buyers raise most often when sourcing EN 10088-2 X2CrMoTi18-2 sheet and plate from China, and how SHH STEEL deals with each of them.

1.4521 can be bought under several standards. EN 10088-2 is the general-purpose delivery standard; EN 10028-7 1.4521 pressure vessel plate applies when the steel goes into pressure equipment such as some calorifiers and boilers. In American specifications the close counterpart is ASTM A240 Type 444 sheet and plate (UNS S44400), which allows titanium and/or niobium stabilisation and a slightly narrower chromium range.

For tanks and parts that are not designed as pressure equipment, EN 10088-2 is usually sufficient. If the drawing names Type 444 or SUS444, SHH STEEL checks whether the mill heat can be certified to both standards, so the order is clear before rolling.

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 1.4521 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 must be at least 4 × (C + N) + 0.15 %. With 0.020 % carbon and 0.020 % nitrogen the minimum would be 4 × 0.040 + 0.15 = 0.31 % Ti. EN 10088-2 notes that stabilisation may be by titanium, niobium or zirconium in combination, according to atomic mass equivalence; SHH STEEL checks the stabilising elements on every certificate as part of the 1.4521 chemical composition review.

Product analysis tolerances (EN 10088-2 Table 5)

A product analysis is a check made on the delivered sheet. 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:

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 1.4521 mechanical properties below are the room-temperature values for the annealed condition in EN 10088-2:2014 Table 9.

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 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 “yes” in both the delivery and the welded condition.

The proof strength is higher than that of 1.4510 or 1.4520, which is useful for thin tank walls, but it also means more springback in bending. SHH STEEL can add hardness or extra tensile tests on request.

Minimum 0.2 % proof strength at elevated temperature (EN 10088-2 Table 14, +A)

These values apply to the annealed condition. For long service at about 400 – 550 °C, 475 °C embrittlement should be considered, so the table supports design of water heaters and moderate-temperature parts rather than high-temperature use.

X2CrMoTi18-2 plate and sheet are delivered in the annealed condition (+A). EN 10088-2 Table A.3 gives the guideline temperatures:

Annealing at 820 – 880 °C followed by air or water cooling gives a soft recrystallised structure. Hot forming, if needed, is done between 1 100 °C and 800 °C. Titanium stabilisation means welds normally do not need post-weld annealing to stay resistant to intergranular corrosion.

As with all 17 % chromium and higher ferritics, long exposure around 400 – 550 °C can cause 475 °C embrittlement, prolonged exposure at higher temperatures can form sigma phase, and over-heating coarsens the grain. These effects are general knowledge for the grade family rather than EN 10088-2 requirements. The Annex A temperatures are guidelines; actual furnace settings are chosen by the mill, and we check that the annealed condition is stated on each certificate.

The values below are room-temperature reference figures for X2CrMoTi18-2 1.4521, 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 and good thermal conductivity compared with austenitic grades help in water heaters and heat exchangers, where repeated heating and cooling would otherwise cause thermal stress at welds and fittings.

With 17 – 20 % chromium and about 2 % molybdenum, 1.4521 has a pitting resistance equivalent number (PREN = Cr + 3.3 Mo) of roughly 23 – 28, in a similar range to 316L. Being ferritic, it is also practically immune to the chloride stress corrosion cracking that can affect austenitic grades in warm water. Titanium stabilisation keeps welds resistant to intergranular corrosion.

In many water applications 1.4521 is used in place of ASTM A240 Type 316L sheet and plate, with the benefit of no nickel and resistance to stress corrosion cracking. The comparison depends on chloride level, temperature and crevice conditions, and should be judged for each case. This guidance is general and not part of EN 10088-2.

1.4521 welds well for a ferritic stainless steel. The low carbon and titanium stabilisation limit carbide precipitation, so sheet and thin plate can be welded by TIG, MIG, plasma, laser and resistance processes, normally without preheat.

• Keep heat input low and interpass temperature moderate to limit grain growth in the heat-affected zone.
• Use a matching molybdenum-bearing stabilised ferritic filler, or an austenitic filler such as 316L where weld toughness is critical.
• Use argon backing on tank and tube welds to avoid oxidation.
• Remove heat tint by pickling and passivation on wetted surfaces; this matters for the 2 % Mo corrosion resistance.
• Plates near the 12 mm upper limit may need extra care for toughness; preheat to about 100 – 200 °C is sometimes used on thicker sections.

These points reflect industry practice for titanium-stabilised molybdenum ferritics rather than requirements of EN 10088-2, which does not specify welding procedures. In the SHH STEEL workshop, blanks and slit strips are cut with clean, burr-free edges so that seam, spot and tube welding run without edge preparation problems.

In the annealed condition 1.4521 ferritic sheet bends and press-forms well, but its higher proof strength means more springback than 1.4510 or 1.4520, and tight bends in thicker sections should be done with care, ideally slightly warm in cold weather. Deep drawing of tank ends is common, and ridging on visible parts can be limited by choosing BA or polished finishes.

Machining is comparable to other stabilised ferritic grades and easier than for austenitic steels; the hard titanium or niobium carbonitrides that stabilise the steel can wear tools a little faster, so sharp tools and steady feeds are recommended. Punching and drilling of thin sheet is routine.

We run our own workshop next to the warehouse, so 1.4521 can be delivered as slit coil, cut-to-length sheets, 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 visible or deep-drawn parts.

1.4521 is available in more product forms than most special ferritics, so both thin sheet and medium plate can be ordered.

Tolerance classes (normal or special), flatness and edge condition should be stated in the order. The hot rolled plate range is narrow and fewer mills roll it, so availability should be confirmed early.

SHH STEEL can supply 1.4521 cold rolled sheet and hot rolled plate in standard sizes or cut to your drawing, including circles for tank ends and slit coil for tube mills.

Surface finish is ordered by the process route symbols of EN 10088-2 Table 6; trade names from ASTM and JIS are shown for reference. Not every route is available for every grade, and the mill confirms which ones it can supply.

Surface quality matters for corrosion resistance as well as appearance: smoother finishes such as 2B, BA or polished resist deposits better. Ridging after forming is more visible on bright surfaces, so state the end use in the enquiry, and SHH STEEL can apply PVC film.

Buyers looking for a 444 stainless steel equivalent in European terms will usually be offered 1.4521. The grades are close, but not identical, so the limits should be compared when a drawing names one standard and the order another.

As a 1.4521 equivalent, Type 444 is the closest American grade. A heat can often be certified to both EN 10088-2 1.4521 and ASTM A240 444 if its analysis falls within both sets of limits, and SHH STEEL checks this before the order.

1.4521 vs 1.4513, 1.4510 and 316L

Compared with EN 10088-2 1.4510 plate, 1.4521 adds about 2 % molybdenum, and compared with 1.4513 it doubles the molybdenum level; see also our EN 10088-2 1.4513 plate page. Against 316L it offers similar pitting resistance in many water environments, no nickel, lower thermal expansion and resistance to chloride stress corrosion cracking, but lower toughness in thick sections and lower formability in very deep draws.

Typical applications of 1.4521 ferritic plate and sheet include:

• Hot water tanks, calorifiers and electric water heaters
• Solar water heater tanks and heat exchanger parts
• Plate heat exchangers and tubing for heating systems
• Roofing, facades and architectural panels in urban environments
• Food, beverage and dairy processing equipment
• Automotive exhaust cold-end parts and catalytic converter housings

Where the vessel is designed as pressure equipment, the order should name EN 10028-7. SHH STEEL can advise on whether EN 10088-2 or EN 10028-7 suits your design.

Most problems with 1.4521 come from substitution with lower-molybdenum grades and from confusion between the EN and ASTM versions.

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

Every 1.4521 order is supported by documents and checks that make the material traceable to the heat:

• Cast analysis with the titanium minimum checked against carbon and nitrogen
• Tensile test on the annealed sheet or plate: Rp0.2, Rm and A
• Intergranular corrosion test to EN ISO 3651-2 when ordered
• Surface and dimensional inspection against the relevant tolerance standard
• 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 water-heater 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: 8 t cold rolled sheet, 2.0 mm × 1 250 mm × 2 500 mm, EN 10088-2, steel X2CrMoTi18-2 (1.4521), process route 2B, inspection certificate 3.1 to EN 10204. Mill production lead time is generally 30 – 40 days from order confirmation, depending on the rolling schedule, the size and the tests requested; hot rolled plate may need more planning. Consolidated small lots follow the same mill schedule, and we send progress updates at rolling, testing and packing.

• Mill relationships: long-term cooperation with Chinese stainless mills helps us secure competitive pricing and steadier delivery for 1.4521 and related ferritic and austenitic 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: coil and sheet are packed seaworthy with heat-number labels and shipped through our worldwide shipping service, together with other grades if needed.

As a 1.4521 plate supplier SHH STEEL also stocks and sources the wider range of stainless steel sheets and plates, so mixed orders of different stainless grades can travel in one container with one set of paperwork.

EN 10088-2 X2CrMoTi18-2 1.4521 is a titanium-stabilised ferritic with about 2 % molybdenum, used where 316L-like pitting resistance is wanted without nickel, especially in water heaters, tanks and facades. Choosing it is the easy part. Getting genuine material that matches the certificate, in the gauge and finish your parts need and on a predictable schedule, 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, thickness, width, finish 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.