Stainless Steel 410 · hardness band
Stainless Steel 410 Q&T 40-45 HRC
Properties of the Q&T 40-45 HRC condition, compared with the other 410 tempers.
Choose for cutlery, wear plates, blades and light bearing surfaces where hardness and edge retention matter more than toughness.
What is 410 Q&T 40-45 HRC?
410 Q&T 40-45 HRC is 410 heat treated to Q&T 40-45 HRC — choose for cutlery, wear plates, blades and light bearing surfaces where hardness and edge retention matter more than toughness. 410 Q&T 40-45 HRC has a yield strength of 1,030 MPa (149 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,310 MPa (190 ksi) — stronger than 98% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 13% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi). 410 Q&T 40-45 HRC has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,480°C (2,696 °F). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Q&T 40-45 HRC is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 88/100, better than 100% of stainless steel grades
- High strength — 1,030 MPa (149 ksi), better than 98% of stainless steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 3 % IACS, better than 95% of stainless steel grades
- Low embodied carbon — 3.4 kg CO₂/kg, better than 91% of stainless steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 24.9 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 88% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 100% of stainless steel grades
- Limited formability — 5/100, worse than 99% of stainless steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 50 MPa·√m (45.5 ksi·√in), worse than 95% of stainless steel grades
- Limited ductility — 13%, worse than 93% of stainless steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 92% of stainless steel grades
410 Q&T 40-45 HRC properties
Typical room-temperature values for 410 Q&T 40-45 HRC — 18 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 410 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the stainless steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
410 Q&T 40-45 HRC has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,480°C (2,696 °F).
Mechanical16
410 Q&T 40-45 HRC has a yield strength of 1,030 MPa (149 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,310 MPa (190 ksi) — stronger than 98% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 13% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
410 Q&T 40-45 HRC is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 24.9 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 88% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 9.9 µm/m·K (5.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
410 Q&T 40-45 HRC conducts electricity at 3 % IACS, better than 95% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (42/100), worse than 90% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 410 Q&T 40-45 HRC takes about 45 MJ of energy and emits 3.4 kg of CO₂ — less than 91% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability6
410 Q&T 40-45 HRC's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 71% of stainless steel grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability not recommended (5/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 410 tempers and conditions
410 is also supplied in 6 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 410 overview.
- AnnealedDefaultDefault stock condition for bar, sheet and plate — softest, most machinable and formable state prior to hardening.310 MPa yield · 155 HB
- As-QuenchedInterim condition only — maximum hardness but brittle and residual-stressed; must be tempered before service.1,150 MPa yield · 44 HRC
- Q&T 40-45 HRCChoose for cutlery, wear plates, blades and light bearing surfaces where hardness and edge retention matter more than toughness.1,030 MPa yield · 42 HRC
- Hardened & TemperedGeneral-purpose hardened condition (~26–32 HRC) balancing strength, toughness and corrosion resistance for valve parts, shafts and pump components.700 MPa yield · 29 HRC
- Intermediate Tempered (T)Bolting and shaft condition giving ~760 MPa class strength with good ductility and best corrosion resistance of the hardened states.640 MPa yield · 24 HRC
- Cold DrawnPick for close-tolerance, straight bar with higher strength and better surface than hot-rolled annealed, when no hardening follows.480 MPa yield · 200 HB
Working with 410 Q&T 40-45 HRC
Is 410 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed or ≤32 HRC tempered state with rigid setups, sharp carbide, moderate speed and heavy flood coolant; above 40 HRC use ceramic/CBN or grind.
Can 410 be welded?
Weldable with 410/410NiMo or austenitic 309 filler but preheat 200–300 °C, keep interpass warm and post-weld temper at 650–760 °C to avoid hard, crack-prone martensite in the HAZ.
Can 410 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in the annealed state with generous radii and springback allowance; hot work at 1100–1200 °C and cool slowly, then anneal — never air-cool heavy sections from forging without temper.
What surface finishes work on 410?
Takes a bright mirror polish (best after hardening); passivate in nitric acid after machining, and hard chrome, nitride or PVD coat for extra wear resistance — corrosion resistance suffers on scaled or as-welded surfaces.
410 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C0.08–0.15 in EN 1.4006 (X12Cr13) | ≤ 0.15 | 0.12 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.4 |
| Mn | ≤ 1 | 0.6 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.03 |
| SEN 1.4006: S ≤ 0.015 | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Cr | 11.5 – 13.5 | 12.5 |
| Niresidual; EN allows ≤ 0.75 | ≤ 0.75 | 0.3 |
| Fe | balance | — |
410 Q&T 40-45 HRC — frequently asked
What is 410 Q&T 40-45 HRC used for?
410 Q&T 40-45 HRC is typically used for cutlery, steam turbine blades, pump shafts, valve trim and seats, fasteners and bushings and light wear parts. In short: hardening general purpose.
What is the yield strength of 410 Q&T 40-45 HRC?
410 Q&T 40-45 HRC has a typical yield strength of 1,030 MPa (149 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,310 MPa (190 ksi) — stronger than 98% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is 410 Q&T 40-45 HRC easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 71% of stainless steel grades). Machine in the annealed or ≤32 HRC tempered state with rigid setups, sharp carbide, moderate speed and heavy flood coolant; above 40 HRC use ceramic/CBN or grind.
Can 410 Q&T 40-45 HRC be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Weldable with 410/410NiMo or austenitic 309 filler but preheat 200–300 °C, keep interpass warm and post-weld temper at 650–760 °C to avoid hard, crack-prone martensite in the HAZ.
What surface finishes work on 410 Q&T 40-45 HRC?
Takes a bright mirror polish (best after hardening); passivate in nitric acid after machining, and hard chrome, nitride or PVD coat for extra wear resistance — corrosion resistance suffers on scaled or as-welded surfaces.
Can 410 Q&T 40-45 HRC be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in the annealed state with generous radii and springback allowance; hot work at 1100–1200 °C and cool slowly, then anneal — never air-cool heavy sections from forging without temper.
What is the maximum service temperature of 410 Q&T 40-45 HRC?
410 Q&T 40-45 HRC is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in 410 Q&T 40-45 HRC?
Yes — 410 Q&T 40-45 HRC is available for CNC machining and sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM A276/A276M — Stainless Steel Bars and Shapes — ASTM (2017)
- ASTM A240/A240M — Chromium and Chromium-Nickel Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet, and Strip — ASTM (2022)
- EN 10088-1/-2/-3 — Stainless steels (1.4006 X12Cr13) — CEN (2014)
- GB/T 1220 / GB/T 3280 — / (12Cr13) — SAC (2015)
- ASTM A193/A193M Grade B6 — Bolting for High-Temperature Service — ASTM (2020)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Stainless Steels — ASM International (1994)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
- Type 410 stainless steel technical data — Outokumpu / AK Steel / Sandmeyer (2021)
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.