Stainless Steel 444 · temper · default condition
Stainless Steel 444 Annealed
Properties of the Annealed condition, compared with the other 444 tempers.
Standard supply condition for essentially all 444 product; use for forming, welding and general corrosion service.
What is 444 Annealed?
444 Annealed is 444 in the Annealed temper — standard supply condition for essentially all 444 product; use for forming, welding and general corrosion service. 444 Annealed has a yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 490 MPa (71.1 ksi) — weaker than 52% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi). 444 Annealed has a density of 7.8 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), heavier than 50% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 26 W/m·K (15 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of stainless steel grades
- Easy to machine — 45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 2.8 % IACS, better than 79% of stainless steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 70/100, better than 78% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 50 MPa·√m (45.5 ksi·√in), worse than 95% of stainless steel grades
444 Annealed properties
Typical room-temperature values for 444 Annealed — 10 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 444 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the stainless steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
444 Annealed has a density of 7.8 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), heavier than 50% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical16
444 Annealed has a yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 490 MPa (71.1 ksi) — weaker than 52% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
444 Annealed is rated for continuous service to 800°C (1,472 °F). It conducts heat at 26 W/m·K (15 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.4 µm/m·K (5.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
444 Annealed conducts electricity at 2.8 % IACS, better than 79% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (72/100), better than 74% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 444 Annealed takes about 55 MJ of energy and emits 4.2 kg of CO₂ — less than 51% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability6
444 Annealed's machinability is fair (45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades); weldability good (65/100); formability very good (70/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 444 tempers and conditions
444 is also supplied in 4 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 444 overview.
- AnnealedDefaultStandard supply condition for essentially all 444 product; use for forming, welding and general corrosion service.350 MPa yield · 180 HB
- Cold DrawnUse where higher strength, tighter tolerance and better machined finish are needed on bar or small tube; ductility and formability drop.470 MPa yield · 210 HB
Working with 444 Annealed
Is 444 easy to machine?
Machines more freely than 316L with lower work hardening — use rigid setups, sharp positive-rake carbide, moderate speed and generous coolant to avoid built-up edge from Ti/Nb carbonitrides.
Can 444 be welded?
Readily GTAW/GMAW/laser welded thanks to Ti+Nb stabilization; keep heat input and interpass temperature low to limit HAZ grain growth, use 316L or matching Nb-stabilized filler (or autogenous on thin gauge), no post-weld anneal needed.
Can 444 be formed, bent or molded?
Good roll forming, bending and deep drawing with low springback and less work hardening than austenitics, but lower n-value means limited stretch forming; avoid tight bends transverse to rolling in heavy gauge.
What surface finishes work on 444?
Passivates naturally; pickle and passivate after welding to restore the Cr-Mo oxide film, takes 2B/BA and mechanical polishing well, and can be electropolished — no anodizing.
444 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 for stabilization | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.4 |
| Mn | ≤ 1 | 0.4 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Cr | 17.5 – 19.5 | 18.5 |
| Niresidual only | ≤ 1 | 0.3 |
| Mopitting resistance | 1.75 – 2.5 | 2 |
| N | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Ti+NbTi+Nb ≥ 0.20 + 4(C+N); dual stabilization | 0.2 – 0.8 | 0.4 |
| Fe | balance | — |
444 Annealed — frequently asked
What is 444 Annealed used for?
444 Annealed is typically used for water heater tanks, solar absorber panels, hot water and potable water piping, heat exchanger and condenser tubing, food processing equipment and coastal architectural trim and cladding. In short: super-ferritic chemical stainless.
What is the yield strength of 444 Annealed?
444 Annealed has a typical yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 490 MPa (71.1 ksi) — weaker than 52% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is 444 Annealed easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades). Machines more freely than 316L with lower work hardening — use rigid setups, sharp positive-rake carbide, moderate speed and generous coolant to avoid built-up edge from Ti/Nb carbonitrides.
Can 444 Annealed be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (65/100). Readily GTAW/GMAW/laser welded thanks to Ti+Nb stabilization; keep heat input and interpass temperature low to limit HAZ grain growth, use 316L or matching Nb-stabilized filler (or autogenous on thin gauge), no post-weld anneal needed.
What surface finishes work on 444 Annealed?
Passivates naturally; pickle and passivate after welding to restore the Cr-Mo oxide film, takes 2B/BA and mechanical polishing well, and can be electropolished — no anodizing.
Can 444 Annealed be formed, bent or molded?
Good roll forming, bending and deep drawing with low springback and less work hardening than austenitics, but lower n-value means limited stretch forming; avoid tight bends transverse to rolling in heavy gauge.
What is the maximum service temperature of 444 Annealed?
444 Annealed is rated for continuous use to about 800°C (1,472 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 444 Annealed and 444 HRAP?
Annealed is the default condition — standard supply condition for essentially all 444 product; use for forming, welding and general corrosion service. HRAP: thicker gauges (>4 mm) for tube sheets, vessel plate and fabricated heat-exchanger parts; note reduced toughness at heavy thickness. Yield strength is 350 MPa in Annealed versus 330 MPa in HRAP.
Can FabDigit make parts in 444 Annealed?
Yes — 444 Annealed 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 A240/A240M — Chromium and Chromium-Nickel Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet and Strip (S44400) — ASTM International (2023)
- EN 10088-1/-2 — Stainless steels, list of grades and technical delivery conditions (1.4521) — CEN (2014)
- GB/T 3280 — (00Cr18Mo2) — SAC (2015)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Ferritic stainless 4521 / 444 data sheet — Outokumpu (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.