Stainless Steel 420 · print state
Stainless Steel 420-HIP
Properties of the HIP condition, compared with the other 420 tempers.
Use for powder-metallurgy, MIM or AM parts needing full density and closed internal porosity; delivered in a soft, machinable state ready for hardening.
What is 420-HIP?
420-HIP is 420 in the HIP condition — use for powder-metallurgy, MIM or AM parts needing full density and closed internal porosity; delivered in a soft, machinable state ready for hardening. 420-HIP has a yield strength of 480 MPa (69.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 750 MPa (109 ksi) — stronger than 75% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi). 420-HIP has a density of 7.74 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), lighter than 72% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,454°C (2,649 °F). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; HIP is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High electrical conductivity — 3.1 % IACS, better than 99% of stainless steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 85/100, better than 97% 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
- Low embodied carbon — 3.5 kg CO₂/kg, better than 88% of stainless steel grades
- High strength — 480 MPa (69.6 ksi), better than 75% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 92% of stainless steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 60 MPa·√m (54.6 ksi·√in), worse than 91% of stainless steel grades
- Limited ductility — 15%, worse than 89% of stainless steel grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 43/100, worse than 88% of stainless steel grades
420-HIP properties
Typical room-temperature values for 420-HIP — 11 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 420 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the stainless steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
420-HIP has a density of 7.74 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), lighter than 72% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,454°C (2,649 °F).
Mechanical16
420-HIP has a yield strength of 480 MPa (69.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 750 MPa (109 ksi) — stronger than 75% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
420-HIP is rated for continuous service to 650°C (1,202 °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 10.3 µm/m·K (5.72 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
420-HIP conducts electricity at 3.1 % IACS, better than 99% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (43/100), worse than 88% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 420-HIP takes about 55 MJ of energy and emits 3.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 51% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 45%.
Manufacturability7
420-HIP's machinability is fair (42/100, better than 79% of stainless steel grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability fair (40/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 420 tempers and conditions
420 is also supplied in 7 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 420 overview.
- AnnealedDefaultStandard stocked condition for machining, blanking or forming before hardening.360 MPa yield · 200 HB
- HardenedMaximum hardness condition; only for parts that will be tempered or for very hard wear surfaces tolerating brittleness.1,500 MPa yield · 54 HRC
- Hardened & TemperedStandard service condition for cutlery, blades, tool and mould parts, valve trim and wear surfaces needing maximum hardness with best corrosion resistance.1,400 MPa yield · 50 HRC
- As PrintedAs-built AM condition: fine as-quenched martensite gives high hardness but low ductility and residual stress; normally stress-relieved or fully re-hardened before use.1,100 MPa yield · 49 HRC
- Stress RelievedUse to remove machining, grinding or additive-build residual stress and prevent distortion/cracking, with only partial loss of hardness.950 MPa yield · 40 HRC
- Q&T 30-35 HRCChoose when toughness and machinability matter more than wear resistance — shafts, pump/valve stems, structural fittings.800 MPa yield · 32 HRC
- Cold DrawnPick for close-tolerance turned parts, screws and shafts where extra as-supplied strength and better surface finish are wanted without heat treatment.640 MPa yield · 24 HRC
- HIPUse for powder-metallurgy, MIM or AM parts needing full density and closed internal porosity; delivered in a soft, machinable state ready for hardening.480 MPa yield · 21 HRC
Working with 420-HIP
Is 420 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed condition with sharp, rigid setups, positive-rake carbide, 60–120 m/min and heavy coolant; hardened 48–52 HRC parts need grinding, CBN or hard-turning.
Can 420 be welded?
Air-hardening and crack-prone: preheat 200–300 °C, use 410/420 or austenitic (309/312) filler, and temper/anneal immediately after welding — avoid welding hardened parts where possible.
Can 420 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in the annealed state with generous radii and no more than mild bends; hot work 1100→850 °C then slow-cool or anneal at 750–800 °C to avoid quench cracks.
What surface finishes work on 420?
Takes an excellent mirror polish (mould and cutlery use); passivate or nitric-acid clean after grinding to restore the passive film, and hard-chrome or nitride for extra wear life — never leave scale or free iron on the surface.
420 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 A276: 0.15 min; EN 1.4021 0.16–0.25, 1.4028 0.26–0.35 (X30Cr13) | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.2 |
| Cr | 12 – 14 | 13 |
| Mn | ≤ 1 | 0.5 |
| SiEN limit 1.00; GB 20Cr13 ≤1.00 | ≤ 1 | 0.4 |
| Niresidual; EN 10088-3 ≤0.75 for 1.4021 | ≤ 0.75 | 0.3 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| SEN ≤0.015; free-machining versions higher | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Fe | balance | — |
420-HIP — frequently asked
What is 420-HIP used for?
420-HIP is typically used for surgical scalpel blades, dental instruments, cutlery and knife blades, valve trim and seats, plastic mould inserts and cavities and shafts and bearing races. In short: standard cutting stainless.
What is the yield strength of 420-HIP?
420-HIP has a typical yield strength of 480 MPa (69.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 750 MPa (109 ksi) — stronger than 75% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 420-HIP easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (42/100, better than 79% of stainless steel grades). Machine in the annealed condition with sharp, rigid setups, positive-rake carbide, 60–120 m/min and heavy coolant; hardened 48–52 HRC parts need grinding, CBN or hard-turning.
Can 420-HIP be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Air-hardening and crack-prone: preheat 200–300 °C, use 410/420 or austenitic (309/312) filler, and temper/anneal immediately after welding — avoid welding hardened parts where possible.
What surface finishes work on 420-HIP?
Takes an excellent mirror polish (mould and cutlery use); passivate or nitric-acid clean after grinding to restore the passive film, and hard-chrome or nitride for extra wear life — never leave scale or free iron on the surface.
Can 420-HIP be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in the annealed state with generous radii and no more than mild bends; hot work 1100→850 °C then slow-cool or anneal at 750–800 °C to avoid quench cracks.
What is the maximum service temperature of 420-HIP?
420-HIP is rated for continuous use to about 650°C (1,202 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 420 Annealed and 420-HIP?
Annealed is the default condition — standard stocked condition for machining, blanking or forming before hardening. HIP: use for powder-metallurgy, MIM or AM parts needing full density and closed internal porosity; delivered in a soft, machinable state ready for hardening. Yield strength is 360 MPa in Annealed versus 480 MPa in HIP.
Can FabDigit make parts in 420-HIP?
Yes — 420-HIP is available for CNC machining 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)
- EN 10088-1/-3 — Stainless steels, X20Cr13 (1.4021), X30Cr13 (1.4028) — CEN (2014)
- GB/T 1220 — (20Cr13/2Cr13) — SAC (2007)
- JIS G 4303 — SUS420J1 / SUS420J2 stainless steel bars — JISC (2012)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- 420 Stainless Steel product data sheet — AK Steel / Cleveland-Cliffs (2020)
- Sandvik / Outokumpu martensitic 13Cr grade datasheets — Alleima / Outokumpu (2022)
- MatWeb / CES EduPack martensitic stainless steel records — MatWeb / Granta (2023)
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.