Stainless Steel S30V · temper · default condition
Stainless Steel S30V Annealed
Properties of the Annealed condition, compared with the other S30V tempers.
Stock condition for blanking, milling and drilling before hardening.
What is S30V Annealed?
S30V Annealed is S30V in the Annealed temper — stock condition for blanking, milling and drilling before hardening. S30V Annealed has a yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — stronger than 88% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 214 GPa (31 Msi). S30V Annealed has a density of 7.43 g/cm³ (0.268 lb/in³), lighter than 100% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 80/100, better than 89% of stainless steel grades
- High strength — 620 MPa (89.9 ksi), better than 88% of stainless steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 2.6 % IACS, better than 77% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 10/100, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades
- Limited ductility — 10%, worse than 98% of stainless steel grades
- Limited formability — 15/100, worse than 91% of stainless steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), worse than 90% of stainless steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 25/100, worse than 88% of stainless steel grades
S30V Annealed properties
Typical room-temperature values for S30V Annealed — 10 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every S30V temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the stainless steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical2
S30V Annealed has a density of 7.43 g/cm³ (0.268 lb/in³), lighter than 100% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Mechanical8
S30V Annealed has a yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — stronger than 88% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 214 GPa (31 Msi).
Thermal5
S30V Annealed is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 20 W/m·K (11.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 74% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.6 µm/m·K (5.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
S30V Annealed conducts electricity at 2.6 % IACS, better than 77% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is fair (45/100), worse than 85% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of S30V Annealed takes about 60 MJ of energy and emits 4.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 70% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 20%.
Manufacturability7
S30V Annealed's machinability is poor (25/100, worse than 88% of stainless steel grades); weldability not recommended (10/100); formability poor (15/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other S30V tempers and conditions
S30V is also supplied in 4 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the S30V overview.
- AnnealedDefaultStock condition for blanking, milling and drilling before hardening.620 MPa yield · 25 HRC
- Hardened & TemperedStandard service condition for blades and wear parts; best overall balance of wear resistance, toughness and corrosion resistance.1,800 MPa yield · 60 HRC
- H&T 60-61 HRCPick when abrasive wear resistance and edge holding dominate and impact loading is low.61 HRC
- H&T 56-58 HRCUse for thick blades, chisels or shear/punch parts where chipping resistance matters more than ultimate wear resistance.57 HRC
Working with S30V Annealed
Is S30V easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed state with rigid setups, low speeds and coated carbide or ceramic tools; hardened parts must be ground/EDM'd with CBN or diamond abrasives.
Can S30V be welded?
Not recommended — high carbon air-hardening chemistry cracks; if unavoidable, preheat 200–300 °C, use matching PM filler and immediately re-temper.
Can S30V be formed, bent or molded?
No practical cold forming; hot work 1050–1120 °C with slow controlled cooling and full anneal afterwards, and always through-harden rather than form after hardening.
What surface finishes work on S30V?
Hardens to a fine-carbide structure that takes a high mirror polish; passivate or PVD/DLC coat after grinding, black oxide also works well.
S30V 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chigh carbon for vanadium/chromium carbide formation | 1.4 – 1.5 | 1.45 |
| Crprovides stainless matrix | 13.5 – 14.5 | 14 |
| Vfine MC carbides, wear resistance | 3.7 – 4.3 | 4 |
| Mohardenability and pitting resistance | 1.8 – 2.2 | 2 |
| Mntypical residual level | ≤ 0.6 | 0.4 |
| Sitypical residual level | ≤ 0.6 | 0.4 |
| Fe | balance | — |
S30V Annealed — frequently asked
What is S30V Annealed used for?
S30V Annealed is typically used for pocket knife blades, hunting knife blades, paper and plastic slitting blades, industrial cutting knives, wear-resistant tooling inserts and corrosion-resistant wear parts. In short: high-end knife steel.
What is the yield strength of S30V Annealed?
S30V Annealed has a typical yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — stronger than 88% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is S30V Annealed easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, worse than 88% of stainless steel grades). Machine only in the annealed state with rigid setups, low speeds and coated carbide or ceramic tools; hardened parts must be ground/EDM'd with CBN or diamond abrasives.
Can S30V Annealed be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (10/100). Not recommended — high carbon air-hardening chemistry cracks; if unavoidable, preheat 200–300 °C, use matching PM filler and immediately re-temper.
What surface finishes work on S30V Annealed?
Hardens to a fine-carbide structure that takes a high mirror polish; passivate or PVD/DLC coat after grinding, black oxide also works well.
Can S30V Annealed be formed, bent or molded?
No practical cold forming; hot work 1050–1120 °C with slow controlled cooling and full anneal afterwards, and always through-harden rather than form after hardening.
What is the maximum service temperature of S30V Annealed?
S30V Annealed is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in S30V Annealed?
Yes — S30V Annealed is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- CPM S30V Data Sheet — Crucible Industries (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Tool Materials — ASM International (1995)
- Knife-steel and tool-steel small-lot distributor pricing — US knife/tool steel distributors (2025)
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.