Stainless Steel S82121
UNS S82121
S82121 is a lean duplex stainless steel with about 21% Cr and manganese–nitrogen alloying replacing much of the nickel, balancing cost against corrosion resistance rated 62/100.
Reference datasheet — S82121 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 ANN condition
S82121 tempers and conditions
S82121 is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard. ANN is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANNDefault Annealed | Standard mill condition for plate, sheet, bar, pipe and fittings — balanced 50/50 ferrite/austenite with best corrosion resistance and toughness. | 530 | 750 | 32 | 220 HB | — |
Cold drawn | Use for shafts, fasteners and machined parts needing tighter tolerance, better surface and higher yield strength. | 720 | 880 | 18 | 27 HRC | 2.2 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways S82121 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
CW-Wire | Cold Worked wire / rebar | Supply form |
WELDED-AR | As-Welded | Supply form |
2B | Cold Rolled, Annealed, Pickled and Skin-passed sheet | Surface finish |
HRAP | Hot Rolled, Annealed and Pickled plate | Surface finish |
What is S82121?
S82121 is a lean duplex stainless steel with about 21% Cr and manganese–nitrogen alloying replacing much of the nickel, balancing cost against corrosion resistance rated 62/100. Annealed material gives 530 MPa yield, 750 MPa tensile, 32% elongation and about 220 HB (96 HRB), and is stocked as hot-rolled annealed plate, 2B sheet, cold-drawn bar, cold-worked wire and as-welded tube. Weldability is good at 70/100, but machinability is the lowest in this group at 32 and service is capped at 300 °C; S82031 adds molybdenum where more pitting resistance is needed. S82121 has a density of 7.78 g/cm³ (0.281 lb/in³), lighter than 57% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F). S82121 has a yield strength of 530 MPa (76.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 750 MPa (109 ksi) — stronger than 81% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 32% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
What is S82121 used for?
- tanks
- structural fittings
- pressure vessels
- process equipment
Advantages
- High strength — 530 MPa (76.9 ksi), better than 81% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), worse than 90% of stainless steel grades
S82121 properties
Typical room-temperature values for S82121-ANN; bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
S82121 has a density of 7.78 g/cm³ (0.281 lb/in³), lighter than 57% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Mechanical17
S82121 has a yield strength of 530 MPa (76.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 750 MPa (109 ksi) — stronger than 81% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 32% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
S82121 is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 15 W/m·K (8.67 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 59% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 13 µm/m·K (7.22 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
S82121 conducts electricity at 2.2 % IACS, worse than 61% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (62/100), worse than 52% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of S82121 takes about 52 MJ of energy and emits 4 kg of CO₂ — less than 76% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 70%.
Manufacturability8
S82121's machinability is poor (32/100, worse than 62% of stainless steel grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability good (55/100).
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. S82121 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with S82121
Is S82121 easy to machine?
Machines like 2205 but tougher than 304 — use rigid setups, positive-rake coated carbide, 20–30 % lower surface speed than 316, heavy constant feed to cut under the work-hardened layer, and flood coolant.
Can S82121 be welded?
Readily welded by GTAW/GMAW/SMAW/SAW with 2209 or matching lean-duplex filler; keep heat input roughly 0.5–2.0 kJ/mm, interpass <150 °C, use N2-added shielding/backing and no post-weld heat treatment below solution-annealing temperature.
Can S82121 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold forms well but needs ~2× the press force and larger bend allowance/overbend than 304 due to high yield and springback; hot form 950–1150 °C followed by full solution anneal and quench.
S82121 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Clow carbon to avoid Cr-carbide precipitation | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Mnaustenite stabiliser, raises N solubility | 2 – 4 | 3 |
| Si | ≤ 0.75 | 0.4 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.03 |
| S | ≤ 0.02 | 0 |
| Cr | 21 – 22.5 | 21.5 |
| Nilean nickel for cost stability | 2 – 4 | 2.5 |
| Mo | 0.3 – 1.3 | 0.6 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.5 | 0.3 |
| Nkey strengthening and pitting-resistance element | 0.15 – 0.25 | 0.19 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on S82121?
Not anodizable — passivate per ASTM A967 or pickle (HNO3/HF) after welding, then mechanically polish or electropolish; always remove heat tint to restore full pitting resistance.
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
How much does S82121 cost?
S82121 is a standard-cost stainless steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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.
S82121 — frequently asked
What is S82121 used for?
S82121 is typically used for tanks, structural fittings, pressure vessels and process equipment. In short: 21% Cr lean duplex; best weldability in family; low-nickel cost balance.
What is the yield strength of S82121?
S82121 has a typical yield strength of 530 MPa (76.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 750 MPa (109 ksi) — stronger than 81% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is S82121 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (32/100, worse than 62% of stainless steel grades). Machines like 2205 but tougher than 304 — use rigid setups, positive-rake coated carbide, 20–30 % lower surface speed than 316, heavy constant feed to cut under the work-hardened layer, and flood coolant.
Can S82121 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). Readily welded by GTAW/GMAW/SMAW/SAW with 2209 or matching lean-duplex filler; keep heat input roughly 0.5–2.0 kJ/mm, interpass <150 °C, use N2-added shielding/backing and no post-weld heat treatment below solution-annealing temperature.
What surface finishes work on S82121?
Not anodizable — passivate per ASTM A967 or pickle (HNO3/HF) after welding, then mechanically polish or electropolish; always remove heat tint to restore full pitting resistance.
Can S82121 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold forms well but needs ~2× the press force and larger bend allowance/overbend than 304 due to high yield and springback; hot form 950–1150 °C followed by full solution anneal and quench.
What is the maximum service temperature of S82121?
S82121 is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between S82121-ANN and S82121-CD?
ANN is the default condition — standard mill condition for plate, sheet, bar, pipe and fittings — balanced 50/50 ferrite/austenite with best corrosion resistance and toughness. CD: use for shafts, fasteners and machined parts needing tighter tolerance, better surface and higher yield strength. Yield strength is 530 MPa in ANN versus 720 MPa in CD.
How much does S82121 cost?
S82121 is a standard-cost stainless steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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
- ASTM A240/A240M — Chromium and Chromium-Nickel Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet and Strip — ASTM International (2023)
- ASTM A276/A479 — Stainless Steel Bars and Shapes — ASTM International (2022)
- SAE/ASTM DS-56 (UNS) Metals & Alloys in the Unified Numbering System — SAE International / ASTM (2017)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Lean duplex stainless steel datasheets (2101/2202/2003-type) — Outokumpu / Industeel / Nippon Steel (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.