- Materials
- Forms
- Reference Materials
-
Services
-
Services
-
-
Sectors
-
Supporting cutting edge research and development with advanced materials to your needs.
High performance materials for extreme conditions.
Innovative and lightweight materials with high mechanical properties and durability.
Materials used in chemical engineering from consumables to innovative solutions.
Advanced materials characterized by high electrical or insulation performance.
High quality materials for renewable energy.
Biocompatible and biodegradable materials to the highest standards.
High purity, biocompatible materials for high performance devices and applications.
High purity metals and alloys in various forms and crucibles suitable to your needs.
State of the art materials for the next generation of technologies.
High performance materials for extreme conditions.
Durable materials for corrosive environments.
Foils, disks or windows across a range of materials to facilitate your innovation.
Polymers, metal foils, and sustainable materials for your packaging needs.
Your requirements for unique products and attributes will be met across our 170,000+ product range and customization capabilities.
High-quality materials across branded products in various forms including rods, wires, and foils support space technology needs.
Highest quality materials to support your need for small-quantity specialist materials such as graphite and lithium compounds.
High purity materials to improve the reproducibility and reliability of your evaporation processes.
-
- Product Ranges
-
Resources
-
Find out our latest news.
Read our latest insights, and opinions.
Discover our Innovation Discovered podcasts on innovation, products, interesting topics, and more.
Find out how we've worked with our partners
Our latest updates on what we are doing, find out more.
Find out more about us and the great roles we have available for talented individuals. Find out more.
Take a look at our global distributors.
Explore our FAQ resource to help answer your key questions.
Gain a clearer picture of the language used in scientific study
-
- About Us
AISI 321 Stainless Steel Foil (Light Tight)
Available Configurations
Properties common to all products in this list
Key Features
AISI 321 Stainless Steel Foil (Light Tight) (UNS S32100) is a titanium-stabilized austenitic stainless steel foil engineered for superior resistance to sensitization, intergranular corrosion, and oxidation under sustained high-temperature service, while delivering complete opacity to all external light transmission through a pinhole-free surface:
Complete Opacity to All External Light Transmission
Manufactured to a pinhole-free surface, this foil delivers complete opacity to all external light transmission, providing a reliable optical barrier alongside its high-temperature performance.
Suited to Light-Tight Enclosures Requiring Welding or Thermal Processing
Titanium stabilization prevents chromium carbide precipitation during thermal cycling and post-assembly welding, making this foil suitable for light-tight enclosures in systems that will be welded or thermally processed after fabrication.
Precision Thickness Control & Pinhole-Free Barrier Performance
Precision thickness control and pinhole-free surface integrity ensure reliable barrier performance in demanding thermal, optical, and chemical environments.
Superior Resistance to Sensitization & Oxidation Under Sustained Service
Superior resistance to sensitization, intergranular corrosion, and oxidation under sustained high-temperature service supports use in aerospace thermal shielding components requiring optical isolation.
Suited to Chemically Resistant Photochemical Reactor Linings
Chemically resistant linings for photochemical reactor assemblies benefit from the combination of optical opacity and high-temperature corrosion resistance characteristic of this foil.
Industrial Applications
AISI 321 Stainless Steel Foil (Light Tight) is used across aerospace and optical instrumentation sectors requiring optical isolation in systems subject to post-assembly welding or sustained high-temperature service:
- ✦ Aerospace Thermal Shielding Components Requiring Optical Isolation
- Used in aerospace thermal shielding components requiring optical isolation, where titanium stabilization prevents chromium carbide precipitation during post-assembly welding while maintaining complete light opacity.
- ✦ Light-Blocking Gaskets & Seals for Optical Instruments in Elevated-Temperature Service
- Formed into light-blocking gaskets and seals for optical instruments in elevated-temperature service, where superior resistance to sensitization and oxidation ensures reliable performance under sustained thermal exposure.
- ✦ Chemically Resistant Linings for Photochemical Reactor Assemblies
- Used in chemically resistant linings for photochemical reactor assemblies, where pinhole-free barrier performance maintains reliable optical isolation in demanding chemical processing environments.
- ✦ High-Temperature Creep & Microstructural Stability Research
- Supports studies of high-temperature creep, oxidation resistance, and microstructural stability under combined thermal and optical loading.
Material Properties
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Hardness - Brinell | 160-190 |
| Elongation at break( % ) | <60 |
| Modulus of elasticity( GPa ) | 190-210 |
| Izod impact strength( J m⁻¹ ) | 20-136 |
| Tensile strength( MPa ) | 560 |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Electrical resistivity( µOhmcm ) | 70-73 |
| Temperature coefficient( K⁻¹ ) | - |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum use temperature in air( C ) | 800 |
| Melting point( C ) | 1400-1425 |
| Thermal conductivity( W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ ) | 16.3@23°C |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion( x10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ ) | 18@20-100°C |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Density( gcm⁻³ ) | 7.9 |
Tolerances
| Thickness | <0.01mm | ±25% |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 0.01mm - 0.05mm | ±15% |
| Thickness | >0.05mm | ±10% |
| Linear dimension | <100mm | ±1mm |
| Linear dimension | >=100mm | +2 / -1% |