Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF
Finish state
UNS S32100 · AISI/SAE 321
PERF = perforated (acoustic) 321 core
Cell walls perforated for pressure venting and acoustic-liner (Helmholtz) sandwich construction.
Values for the PERF condition
Other Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core grades and fills
Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core is listed in 7 conditions; see the grade overview at Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core.
Compare all 7 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1/4 in cell, 0.002 in foil, 4.0 pcf | Coarse cell, low density — heat shields, flow straighteners and low-load thermal spacers. | — | 4 | — | — |
1/8 in cell, 0.0015 in foil, 4.5 pcf | Lightest practical stainless core — weight-driven hot panels with modest crush loads. | — | 4 | — | — |
3/16 in cell, 0.002 in foil, 5.4 pcf | Larger cell, thicker foil — better foil handling and lower cost per area at moderate density. | — | 5 | — | — |
PERFThis page Perforated (acoustic) 321 core | Cell walls perforated for pressure venting and acoustic-liner (Helmholtz) sandwich construction. | — | 6 | — | — |
1/8-.002-8.0Default 1/8 in cell, 0.002 in foil, 8.0 pcf | Workhorse mid-density stainless core for hot structure and firewall sandwich panels. | — | 7 | — | — |
Brazed-node 321 core | Nodes joined by nickel-base braze instead of resistance welds — highest node strength and full high-temperature capability for brazed sandwich assemblies. | — | 8 | — | — |
1/8 in cell, 0.003 in foil, 12.0 pcf | High-density core for high crush/shear load, hard points and blast or acoustic fatigue zones. | — | 12 | — | — |
What is Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF?
Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF is Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core supplied in the PERF condition — cell walls perforated for pressure venting and acoustic-liner (Helmholtz) sandwich construction. Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF has a tensile strength of 6 MPa (0.87 ksi), weaker than 85% of composite grades. The elastic modulus is 1.3 GPa (0.181 Msi). Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF has a density of 0.12 g/cm³ (0.0043 lb/in³), lighter than 85% of composite grades. 1/8-.002-8.0 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; PERF is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Good UV / weathering resistance — 100/100, better than 93% of composite grades
- High service temperature — 815°C (1,499 °F), better than 90% of composite grades
- Lightweight — 0.12 g/cm³ (0.0043 lb/in³), better than 85% of composite grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 10/100, worse than 97% of composite grades
- Low stiffness — 1.3 GPa (0.181 Msi), worse than 84% of composite grades
Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF properties
Typical room-temperature values for Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF; 11 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among composite grades.
Physical1
Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF has a density of 0.12 g/cm³ (0.0043 lb/in³), lighter than 85% of composite grades.
Mechanical6
Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF has a tensile strength of 6 MPa (0.87 ksi), weaker than 85% of composite grades. The elastic modulus is 1.3 GPa (0.181 Msi).
Thermal7
Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF is rated for continuous service to 815°C (1,499 °F). It conducts heat at 0.28 W/m·K (0.162 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 71% of composite grades. Thermal expansion is 16.6 µm/m·K (9.22 µin/in·°F).
Electrical1
Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF has an electrical resistivity of 4.8×10⁻⁵ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (66/100), worse than 70% of composite grades. UV resistance is excellent.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF takes about 85 MJ of energy and emits 7 kg of CO₂ — less than 79% of composite grades. Typical recycled content is 45%.
Manufacturability2
Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF's machinability is poor (22/100, worse than 73% of composite grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF
Is Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core easy to machine?
Cut with EDM wire, waterjet, abrasive band or high-speed router with the core potted in wax/ice; unsupported foil crushes and burrs easily.
Can Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core be welded?
Node joints are resistance-welded or Ni-braze furnace-joined; face sheets are attached by brazing, spot welding or high-temperature polyimide/ceramic adhesive rather than epoxy.
Can Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core be formed, bent or molded?
Expandable slice or corrugated block; formable to single curvature by roll-forming, compound curvature needs shaped-block machining or heat forming.
What surface finishes work on Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core?
Passivate per ASTM A967 after fabrication; no plating or painting normally applied, degrease and pickle braze residues before bonding.
Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| CASTM A240 Type 321 | ≤ 0.08 | 0.05 |
| Mn | ≤ 2 | 1.2 |
| Si | ≤ 0.75 | 0.5 |
| P | ≤ 0.05 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Cr | 17 – 19 | 18 |
| Ni | 9 – 12 | 10.5 |
| Ti≥5×(C+N) for stabilization | 0.2 – 0.7 | 0.4 |
| N | ≤ 0.1 | 0.02 |
| Fe | balance | — |
Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF — frequently asked
What is Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF used for?
Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF is typically used for jet engine acoustic panels, exhaust/nacelle sandwich structures and high-temperature industrial furnace panels. In short: 815 °C metallic core; weld/braze-joined stainless honeycomb; heavier than aluminium core.
What is the tensile strength of Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF?
Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF has a typical tensile strength of 6 MPa (0.87 ksi) — weaker than 85% of composite grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (22/100, worse than 73% of composite grades). Cut with EDM wire, waterjet, abrasive band or high-speed router with the core potted in wax/ice; unsupported foil crushes and burrs easily.
Can Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF be welded?
Node joints are resistance-welded or Ni-braze furnace-joined; face sheets are attached by brazing, spot welding or high-temperature polyimide/ceramic adhesive rather than epoxy.
What surface finishes work on Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF?
Passivate per ASTM A967 after fabrication; no plating or painting normally applied, degrease and pickle braze residues before bonding.
Can Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF be formed, bent or molded?
Expandable slice or corrugated block; formable to single curvature by roll-forming, compound curvature needs shaped-block machining or heat forming.
What is the maximum service temperature of Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF?
Stainless Steel Honeycomb Core PERF is rated for continuous use to about 815°C (1,499 °F), and briefly to 950°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- ASTM A240/A240M – Type 321 chromium-nickel stainless plate, sheet and strip — ASTM (2023)
- ASTM C365 – Flatwise Compressive Properties of Sandwich Cores — ASTM (2022)
- ASTM C273 – Shear Properties of Sandwich Core Materials — ASTM (2020)
- Stainless steel (321) honeycomb core datasheets — Plascore / Benecor / Hexcel (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1 – Properties of stainless steels — ASM International (1990)
- MIL-HDBK-23 Structural Sandwich Composites (core mechanics scaling) — US DoD (1968)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.