Stainless Steel 420J2 · hardness band
Stainless Steel 420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC
Properties of the Q&T 50-55 HRC condition, compared with the other 420J2 tempers.
Choose for knife blades, scissors and wear surfaces where edge retention outranks toughness.
What is 420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC?
420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC is 420J2 heat treated to Q&T 50-55 HRC — choose for knife blades, scissors and wear surfaces where edge retention outranks toughness. 420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC has a yield strength of 1,550 MPa (225 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,850 MPa (268 ksi) — stronger than 100% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi). 420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC has a density of 7.75 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), lighter than 66% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Q&T 50-55 HRC is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High strength — 1,550 MPa (225 ksi), better than 100% of stainless steel grades
- 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
- Low embodied carbon — 3.2 kg CO₂/kg, better than 95% 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 ductility — 4%, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 100% of stainless steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 18/100, worse than 99% of stainless steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 92% of stainless steel grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 48/100, worse than 81% of stainless steel grades
420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC properties
Typical room-temperature values for 420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC — 11 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 420J2 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the stainless steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC has a density of 7.75 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), lighter than 66% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F).
Mechanical15
420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC has a yield strength of 1,550 MPa (225 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,850 MPa (268 ksi) — stronger than 100% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
420J2 Q&T 50-55 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 10.5 µm/m·K (5.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC conducts electricity at 3.1 % IACS, better than 99% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (48/100), worse than 81% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC takes about 45 MJ of energy and emits 3.2 kg of CO₂ — less than 91% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability6
420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC's machinability is poor (18/100, worse than 99% 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 420J2 tempers and conditions
420J2 is also supplied in 6 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 420J2 overview.
- AnnealedDefaultDefault stock condition for machining, blanking and forming before hardening.400 MPa yield · 220 HB
- HardenedMaximum hardness for wear-only parts; brittle and residual-stressed, so a low temper/stress relief is normally applied.1,550 MPa yield · 55 HRC
- Q&T 50-55 HRCChoose for knife blades, scissors and wear surfaces where edge retention outranks toughness.1,550 MPa yield · 53 HRC
- Hardened & TemperedStandard service condition for blades, instruments and valve parts — best balance of hardness, strength and corrosion resistance.1,450 MPa yield · 50 HRC
- Q&T 45-50 HRCSlightly softer, tougher condition for shafts, pump sleeves and mould inserts that see impact.1,300 MPa yield · 47 HRC
- Cold DrawnPick for close-tolerance shafts and wire where extra strength and a bright surface are wanted without heat treatment.700 MPa yield · 26 HRC
- +QT800European mechanical-property class for tempered bar/forgings where ductility and machinability matter more than hardness.650 MPa yield · 27 HRC
Working with 420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC
Is 420J2 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed condition with sharp, rigid tooling, moderate speed and generous coolant; hardened parts above ~45 HRC need carbide or CBN, or should be finished by grinding/EDM.
Can 420J2 be welded?
Poor weldability — preheat 200–300 °C, use matching or 309/310 filler, and temper immediately after welding to avoid cracking of the hard martensite.
Can 420J2 be formed, bent or molded?
Only light cold bending/blanking in the annealed state; harden at 1000–1050 °C, quench in oil or air, then temper at 150–350 °C (avoid 400–550 °C temper embrittlement).
What surface finishes work on 420J2?
Polishes to a mirror finish and is the standard choice for polished mould inserts; passivate or lightly oil after grinding, and consider hard chrome/PVD for extra corrosion or wear protection.
420J2 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CJIS SUS420J2 / GB 3Cr13; EN X30Cr13 is 0.26–0.35 | 0.26 – 0.4 | 0.32 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.4 |
| Mn | ≤ 1 | 0.5 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| SEN limit 0.015; free-machining variants up to 0.030 | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Cr | 12 – 14 | 13 |
| Niresidual allowance (JIS/GB) | ≤ 0.6 | 0.3 |
| Fe | balance | — |
420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC — frequently asked
What is 420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC used for?
420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC is typically used for cutlery and kitchen knives, surgical scalpels and instruments, polished plastic mould inserts, scissors and shear blades, valve seats and needle valves and shafts and wear pins. In short: higher-carbon cutlery stainless.
What is the yield strength of 420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC?
420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC has a typical yield strength of 1,550 MPa (225 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,850 MPa (268 ksi) — stronger than 100% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is 420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (18/100, worse than 99% of stainless steel grades). Machine in the annealed condition with sharp, rigid tooling, moderate speed and generous coolant; hardened parts above ~45 HRC need carbide or CBN, or should be finished by grinding/EDM.
Can 420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Poor weldability — preheat 200–300 °C, use matching or 309/310 filler, and temper immediately after welding to avoid cracking of the hard martensite.
What surface finishes work on 420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC?
Polishes to a mirror finish and is the standard choice for polished mould inserts; passivate or lightly oil after grinding, and consider hard chrome/PVD for extra corrosion or wear protection.
Can 420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC be formed, bent or molded?
Only light cold bending/blanking in the annealed state; harden at 1000–1050 °C, quench in oil or air, then temper at 150–350 °C (avoid 400–550 °C temper embrittlement).
What is the maximum service temperature of 420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC?
420J2 Q&T 50-55 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 420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC?
Yes — 420J2 Q&T 50-55 HRC is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- JIS G 4303 — Stainless steel bars (SUS420J2) — JSA (2021)
- GB/T 1220 — Stainless steel bars (3Cr13/30Cr13) — SAC (2007)
- EN 10088-1 / 10088-3 — Stainless steels, X30Cr13 (1.4028) — CEN (2014)
- ASTM A276/A276M — Stainless steel bars and shapes (Type 420) — ASTM (2017)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Stainless Steels — ASM International (1994)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Martensitic stainless 1.4028 / 420 bar and strip datasheets — Outokumpu / Sandvik (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.