Stainless Steel 1.4981
EN 1.4981
1.4981 (X8CrNiMoNb16-16, N08811) is a niobium-stabilized 16Cr-16Ni austenitic steel with molybdenum, giving creep resistance beyond standard 316-type grades for service to about 700 °C.
Reference datasheet — 1.4981 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the AT condition
1.4981 tempers and conditions
1.4981 is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. AT is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ATDefault Solution annealed | Standard delivery condition for tube, plate and bar; use for all creep and pressure-part service. | 290 | 620 | 42 | 175 HB | 1.9 % IACS |
As-welded deposit | Property basis for weldments left without post-weld solution treatment, which is normal for this stabilized grade. | 300 | 590 | 30 | 185 HB | 1.9 % IACS |
Stabilize-annealed | Optional Nb(C,N)-precipitating treatment used when maximum creep strength and immunity to intergranular attack are wanted. | 320 | 640 | 38 | 190 HB | 1.9 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Bar for high-temperature bolting and machined fittings where higher proof strength and close tolerance are required. | 560 | 760 | 22 | 230 HB | 1.9 % IACS |
Cold worked | Cold-pilgered/cold-drawn tube supplied without final anneal for springy or higher-strength room-temperature duty. | 650 | 850 | 15 | 25 HRC | 1.9 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways 1.4981 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
1D | Hot rolled, solution annealed, pickled plate/sheet | Surface finish |
2B | Cold rolled, annealed, pickled, skin-passed sheet | Surface finish |
What is 1.4981?
1.4981 (X8CrNiMoNb16-16, N08811) is a niobium-stabilized 16Cr-16Ni austenitic steel with molybdenum, giving creep resistance beyond standard 316-type grades for service to about 700 °C. It is available solution annealed (AT), as 1D and 2B sheet, cold drawn, cold worked, stabilized and as-welded tube; default properties are 290 MPa yield, 620 MPa tensile, 42 % elongation and 175 HB, with formability rated 65/100 — the best of the creep-resistant austenitics on file. Nb carbides are abrasive and the alloy work-hardens quickly, so cutting rates are well below 316. For duty without a creep requirement, 316Ti or 321 is easier and cheaper to obtain. 1.4981 has a density of 7.95 g/cm³ (0.287 lb/in³), heavier than 81% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,385°C (2,525 °F). 1.4981 has a yield strength of 290 MPa (42.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — weaker than 72% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 42% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
What is 1.4981 used for?
- boiler tubing
- chemical reactor internals
- high-temperature piping
Limitations
- Low electrical conductivity — 1.9 % IACS, worse than 84% of stainless steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 5.6 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 83% of stainless steel grades
1.4981 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1.4981-AT; bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
1.4981 has a density of 7.95 g/cm³ (0.287 lb/in³), heavier than 81% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,385°C (2,525 °F).
Mechanical15
1.4981 has a yield strength of 290 MPa (42.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — weaker than 72% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 42% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal5
1.4981 is rated for continuous service to 700°C (1,292 °F). It conducts heat at 14.5 W/m·K (8.38 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 72% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 16 µm/m·K (8.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1.4981 conducts electricity at 1.9 % IACS, worse than 84% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (70/100), better than 68% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1.4981 takes about 62 MJ of energy and emits 5.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 75% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 55%.
Manufacturability8
1.4981's machinability is poor (32/100, worse than 62% of stainless steel grades); weldability very good (72/100); formability good (65/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the stainless steel family
Yield strength against density for every stainless steel grade FabDigit runs. 1.4981 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1.4981
Is 1.4981 easy to machine?
Machine like a stabilized 316: rigid setup, sharp positive-rake carbide, low speed with heavy positive feed and flood coolant; Nb carbides are abrasive and the alloy work-hardens quickly, so avoid dwelling and re-cutting.
Can 1.4981 be welded?
Readily welded by GTAW/GMAW/SMAW with matching Nb-stabilized or 16-16-2 filler; keep heat input and interpass temperature low to limit hot cracking, no post-weld solution anneal normally required.
Can 1.4981 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold forms well but with higher springback and force than 304 due to rapid work hardening; hot work at 1150–900 °C followed by solution annealing at 1050–1150 °C with rapid cooling.
1.4981 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C | 0.04 – 0.1 | 0.07 |
| Si | ≤ 0.75 | 0.45 |
| Mn | ≤ 1.5 | 1 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | |
| S | ≤ 0.02 | |
| Cr | 15.5 – 17.5 | 16.5 |
| Ni | 15.5 – 17.5 | 16.5 |
| Mo | 1.6 – 2 | 1.8 |
| Nbstabilizer, Nb+Ta; some specs require Nb ≥ 10×C | 0.8 – 1.2 | 1 |
| Nresidual | ≤ 0.11 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1.4981?
Pickle and passivate after hot work or welding to restore the passive film; can be ground, belt-polished or electropolished — not anodizable.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on stainless steel parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Passivation
Organic Coating
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Stainless Steel 1.4981 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- X8CrNiMoNb16-16
- Similar grades
- N08811
How much does 1.4981 cost?
1.4981 is a high-cost stainless steel ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
1.4981 — frequently asked
What is 1.4981 used for?
1.4981 is typically used for boiler tubing, chemical reactor internals and high-temperature piping. In short: nb-stabilized creep grade; best formability, 65/100; also listed as N08811.
What is the yield strength of 1.4981?
1.4981 has a typical yield strength of 290 MPa (42.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — weaker than 72% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is 1.4981 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (32/100, worse than 62% of stainless steel grades). Machine like a stabilized 316: rigid setup, sharp positive-rake carbide, low speed with heavy positive feed and flood coolant; Nb carbides are abrasive and the alloy work-hardens quickly, so avoid dwelling and re-cutting.
Can 1.4981 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (72/100). Readily welded by GTAW/GMAW/SMAW with matching Nb-stabilized or 16-16-2 filler; keep heat input and interpass temperature low to limit hot cracking, no post-weld solution anneal normally required.
What surface finishes work on 1.4981?
Pickle and passivate after hot work or welding to restore the passive film; can be ground, belt-polished or electropolished — not anodizable.
Can 1.4981 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold forms well but with higher springback and force than 304 due to rapid work hardening; hot work at 1150–900 °C followed by solution annealing at 1050–1150 °C with rapid cooling.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1.4981?
1.4981 is rated for continuous use to about 700°C (1,292 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 1.4981-AT and 1.4981-CW?
AT is the default condition — standard delivery condition for tube, plate and bar; use for all creep and pressure-part service. CW: cold-pilgered/cold-drawn tube supplied without final anneal for springy or higher-strength room-temperature duty. Yield strength is 290 MPa in AT versus 650 MPa in CW.
How much does 1.4981 cost?
1.4981 is a high-cost stainless steel ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- EN 10302 — Creep resisting steels, nickel and cobalt alloys — CEN (2008)
- EN 10088-1 — Stainless steels: list of stainless steels — CEN (2014)
- DIN 17459 — Seamless circular tubes of creep-resisting austenitic steels — DIN (1992)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Creep-resistant austenitic stainless tube and bar datasheets (1.4981 / 16-16-2 Nb) — European specialty steel producers (2022)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.