EN 10088-2 X2CrTi21 1.4611 Stainless Steel Plate

EN 10088-2 X2CrTi21 1.4611 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. X2CrTi21 was added to the special grades in the 2014 edition and is marked there as a patented steel grade. It combines low carbon, maximum 0.030 %, with 19.0 – 22.0 % chromium and a titanium addition of 4 × (C + N) + 0.20 % up to 1.00 %, while molybdenum, nickel and copper are each limited to 0.50 %. The high chromium level gives corrosion resistance well above that of 17 % chromium ferritics, and the grade is designed as a nickel-free option for many uses of 304. EN 10088-2 covers it as cold rolled strip and sheet up to 8 mm.

SHH STEEL works as a steel sourcing partner with long-term relationships with Chinese stainless mills that roll titanium-stabilised 21 % chromium ferritics and their copper-bearing relatives. 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 1.4611 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 X2CrTi21 sheet and plate from China, and how SHH STEEL deals with each of them.

1.4611 is listed in EN 10088-2 for general purposes and, as a patented grade, also in EN 10028-7:2016 for flat products for pressure purposes. There is no ASTM grade with the same limits. In practice, buyers outside Europe often compare it with copper-bearing 21 % chromium grades such as UNS S44330 or JIS SUS443J1.

Because the American and Japanese grades require copper while 1.4611 limits it, a heat of one cannot always be certified as the other. SHH STEEL checks the analysis against every standard named on the drawing before quoting.

The patent marking matters for sourcing. EN 10088-2:2014 names Acciai Speciali Terni in its foreword as the holder for 1.4611. Patent rights expire and may differ by country, but a buyer should not assume that any mill can roll and certify the grade. SHH STEEL confirms with the mill, before quotation, that it can supply and certify X2CrTi21 1.4611 by name, and tells the buyer openly when only a near-equivalent is available.

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 1.4611 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.

Unusually, the phosphorus and sulphur maxima for 1.4611 are 0.050 %, higher than for most ferritics in the standard, and no separate nitrogen limit is given although nitrogen enters the titanium formula. With 0.015 % carbon and 0.015 % nitrogen, the titanium minimum would be 4 × 0.030 + 0.20 = 0.32 %. SHH STEEL checks the titanium calculation and the copper level on every certificate as part of the 1.4611 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 1.4611 mechanical properties below are the room-temperature values for the annealed condition in EN 10088-2:2014 Table 9. Only the cold rolled product form is listed for this special grade.

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.

These values match those of EN 10088-2 1.4509 plate. Compared with austenitic 304, the proof strength is similar but elongation is much lower, so 1.4611 is not a drop-in replacement for deep-drawn 304 parts such as deep sink bowls without forming trials. 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)

No value is given at 400 °C. As with all high-chromium ferritics, long service at about 400 – 550 °C should be avoided because of 475 °C embrittlement.

X2CrTi21 plate and sheet are delivered in the annealed condition (+A). EN 10088-2 Table A.3 gives the guideline temperatures:

Annealing at 870 – 930 °C followed by air or water cooling gives a recrystallised, soft structure. The 21 % chromium level makes the grade more sensitive than 17 % chromium ferritics to 475 °C embrittlement and sigma phase after long exposure at intermediate temperatures, so it is not a grade for long service in that range.

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.

X2CrTi21 1.4611 is not included in the Euro Inox physical-property table we checked (Stainless Steel: Tables of Technical Properties, Materials and Applications Series, Volume 5), so the approximate figures below are bracketed by the entries that table gives for the titanium-stabilised ferritic 1.4509 and, where noted, the 29 % chromium 1.4592. They are suitable for design estimates and weight calculation; where a figure is critical, use EN 10088-1 or mill data.

Being ferritic, 1.4611 is magnetic. That is an advantage for induction-heated cookware and some appliance designs, and a point to explain to end users who expect a stainless sink or worktop to be non-magnetic like 304.

Corrosion resistance in ferritic stainless steel rises mainly with chromium. With 19 – 22 % chromium, 1.4611 is clearly more resistant than 430 or 1.4510 in atmospheric, domestic and kitchen environments, and suppliers commonly position this class of 21 % chromium ferritics as comparable to 304 in many such uses. Titanium stabilisation keeps welds resistant to intergranular corrosion, and as a ferritic the grade is practically immune to chloride stress corrosion cracking.

Where chlorides are higher, EN 10088-2 1.4521 plate with about 2 % molybdenum is the safer choice. The comparison with ASTM A240 Type 304 sheet and plate depends on the environment, the surface finish and the cleaning regime, and should be checked for each application. This guidance is general and not part of EN 10088-2.

Compared with copper-bearing 21 % chromium ferritics, 1.4611 relies on chromium and titanium alone; the copper in those grades is intended to help in some acidic or reducing conditions. If a design was qualified on a copper-bearing grade, the substitution should be discussed with the designer.

1.4611 has good weldability for a ferritic stainless steel. The low carbon and titanium stabilisation limit carbide precipitation, so thin sheet can be welded by TIG, MIG, plasma, laser and resistance processes without preheat.

• Keep heat input low; grain growth in the heat-affected zone reduces toughness, and high-chromium ferritics are more sensitive to this.
• Use a stabilised ferritic filler of similar chromium level, or an austenitic filler such as 308L or 316L where weld toughness matters.
• Use argon shielding and backing to avoid oxidation.
• Remove heat tint by pickling or brushing on visible kitchen and interior parts, to keep the corrosion resistance and appearance of the surface.
• Post-weld annealing is not normally needed.

These points reflect industry practice for titanium-stabilised 21 % chromium 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 1.4611 ferritic sheet bends, folds and presses well for panels, worktops and casings. With minimum elongation of 18 %, it is less suited to very deep drawing than 304, so deep sink bowls or pots need trials. Ridging after forming can appear on bright surfaces, and springback is typical of ferritics.

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 1.4611 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.

Because EN 10088-2 lists 1.4611 only as cold rolled strip and sheet, the supply range is thin gauge.

Kitchen and interior parts usually need good flatness and a protected surface, so state flatness, the EN ISO 9445 thickness class and the side to be filmed.

SHH STEEL can supply 1.4611 cold rolled sheet in standard sizes or cut to your drawing, subject to mill confirmation of the grade. Hot rolled plate in this grade is not covered by EN 10088-2.

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.

For kitchen and interior parts the surface decides most complaints. Smooth finishes clean more easily and resist staining better. State the finish, polish grade and grain direction, and SHH STEEL will apply PVC film on the visible side.

Searching for a 1.4611 equivalent leads to the 21 % chromium ferritics of other standards. None of them is an exact match, mainly because they require copper.

As a 21Cr ferritic stainless steel, 1.4611 belongs to the same family as SUS443J1 and S44330, but those grades require 0.30 – 0.80 % copper, while 1.4611 allows no more than 0.50 %. A heat with copper between 0.30 and 0.50 % could meet both, but this has to be checked heat by heat. SHH STEEL will not relabel a copper-bearing grade as 1.4611; any substitution is offered openly for the designer’s approval.

1.4611 vs 1.4510, 1.4509 and 304

Compared with EN 10088-2 1.4510 plate, the counterpart of ASTM A240 Type 439 sheet and plate, 1.4611 has about 4 % more chromium for clearly better corrosion resistance. Compared with EN 10088-2 1.4509 plate, it has more chromium but no niobium, so it targets corrosion rather than hot-end exhaust duty. Compared with 304, it is nickel-free, magnetic and has a more stable price, with lower elongation and toughness.

Typical applications of 1.4611 ferritic plate and sheet include:

• Kitchen equipment, worktops, splashbacks and shallow sink parts
• Catering and food-service equipment
• Domestic appliance cabinets, oven and dishwasher parts
• Lift (elevator) panels and interior cladding
• Induction-compatible cookware bases and appliance parts
• Hot water tank parts with moderate chloride levels

1.4611 is not a heat-resisting grade, and for exhaust hot ends 1.4509 is the usual choice. Where pressure equipment is involved, the order should name EN 10028-7, which also lists X2CrTi21 1.4611.

Because 1.4611 is often chosen to replace 304, the most useful step is a trial lot: forming, welding and surface tests on real parts. SHH STEEL can arrange a small trial quantity together with the first order.

Most problems with 1.4611 come from its status as a special, patented grade and from substitution with similar 21 % chromium grades.

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 1.4611 order is supported by documents and checks that make the material traceable to the heat:

• Cast analysis with the titanium minimum and copper level checked
• Tensile test on the annealed sheet: Rp0.2, Rm and A
• Intergranular corrosion test to EN ISO 3651-2 when ordered
• Surface inspection of BA, No.4 and hairline sheet against the agreed 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 kitchen-equipment 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, 1.0 mm × 1 250 mm × 2 500 mm, EN 10088-2, steel X2CrTi21 (1.4611), process route 2J, 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; because 1.4611 is a special and patented grade, mill availability is confirmed for each enquiry and may extend the schedule. 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 1.4611 and related ferritic 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 1.4611 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 X2CrTi21 1.4611 is a titanium-stabilised 21 % chromium ferritic, designed as a nickel-free option for kitchen, appliance and interior parts that would otherwise use 304. 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.