410 Stainless Steel
Also: AISI 410, UNS S41000, 1.4006, X12Cr13, SUS410, SAE 51410, 12% chrome stainless, CA-15 (cast), F6a (forgings)
410 is the basic hardenable 12% chromium stainless: cheap, magnetic, quench-and-temper to about 40 HRC, and adequate against mild corrosion. Values annealed and hardened.
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At a glance
| Density | 7.75 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³) |
|---|---|
| Tensile strength | Annealed 480-520 MPa (70-75 ksi); hardened and tempered at 205 °C (400 °F) about 1310 MPa (190 ksi) |
| Yield strength | Annealed 275-310 MPa (40-45 ksi); hardened and tempered at 205 °C (400 °F) about 1000 MPa (145 ksi) |
| Hardness | Annealed 150-160 HB (about 80-85 HRB); hardened and tempered at 205 °C (400 °F) 38-43 HRC; tempered at 595 °C (1100 °F) about 22-26 HRC |
| Elongation | Annealed 25-35%; hardened and tempered low about 15% |
| Modulus of elasticity | 200 GPa (29 Msi) |
| Thermal | Melts at 1480-1530 °C (2700-2790 °F); thermal conductivity ~25 W/m·K; expansion ~9.9 um/m·K; scales above about 700 °C (1300 °F); hardened parts hold strength to about 400 °C (750 °F) |
| Composition | Fe, 11.5-13.5% Cr, 0.08-0.15% C, up to 1% Mn, up to 1% Si, up to 0.75% Ni |
Typical values, First figure annealed (Condition A); second figure hardened from 980 °C (1800 °F), oil quenched and tempered at 205 °C (400 °F). Confirm against the mill certificate and the purchase spec.
- MachinabilityGood
- About 55% of B1112 annealed, noticeably easier than 304: chips break, work hardening is mild, and the cut stays cool. Machine annealed, harden, then grind or finish-machine; 416 is the free-machining version when volume justifies it.
- WeldabilityFair
- The heat-affected zone hardens in air and can crack. Preheat to 200-315 °C (400-600 °F), weld with 410 or 410NiMo filler and temper at 650-760 °C (1200-1400 °F) afterward, or use 309L filler and accept a soft, unmatched weld with no post-weld treatment.
- FormabilityGood
- Annealed sheet bends, draws and stamps well, with less springback than 304; bend at about 1t inside radius. Form annealed, then harden; hardened material does not form.
- Corrosion resistanceFair
- Holds up in atmosphere, fresh water, steam, food and mild chemicals; rusts in chlorides, marine air and reducing acids. Best when hardened, tempered low and polished; annealed or tempered at 425-540 °C it is worse. Passivate after finishing.
410 is the general-purpose martensitic stainless: enough chromium (11.5-13.5%) to resist rust in mild environments and enough carbon (up to 0.15%) to harden like a low-alloy steel. Annealed it is soft, formable and machinable; oil quenched from about 980 °C (1800 °F) and tempered low it reaches 1310 MPa (190 ksi) and 38-43 HRC. It is magnetic in every condition and it costs less than 304 because it carries no nickel.
It is bought for parts that need moderate corrosion resistance plus hardness or strength: valve stems and seats, pump shafts and sleeves, steam turbine blades, fasteners, cutlery and flatware, kitchen tools, firearm components, and stamped hardware. The cast equivalent CA-15 and the forging grade F6a cover valve bodies and flanges. Its wear resistance and edge holding are limited by the low carbon; 420 and 440C take over there.
The limits are corrosion and welding. It resists atmosphere, fresh water, steam, mild acids and food, but chlorides, marine air and reducing acids rust it; it is nowhere near 304, and it does best hardened and polished. Welding hardens the heat-affected zone in air, so preheat and a post-weld temper are needed. Tempering in the 425-540 °C (800-1000 °F) band drops both toughness and corrosion resistance and is avoided.
Heat treatment
Anneal at 815-900 °C (1500-1650 °F) with a slow furnace cool for maximum softness, or subcritical anneal at 745-790 °C (1375-1450 °F). Harden by austenitizing at 925-1010 °C (1700-1850 °F), oil quench or air cool, then temper: 205-370 °C (400-700 °F) for 38-43 HRC and peak corrosion resistance, or 595-705 °C (1100-1300 °F) for 22-30 HRC with better toughness and machinability. Skip the 425-540 °C (800-1000 °F) range, which lowers both impact toughness and corrosion resistance. Cast CA-15 and forging F6a take the same cycles.
Tempers and conditions
- Annealed (Condition A)
- Hardened and tempered, 38-43 HRC
- Hardened and tempered, 22-30 HRC (Condition T)
- Pre-hardened bar to a stated HRC
Stock forms
- Round, hex and flat bar
- Sheet, strip and plate
- Forgings (F6a)
- Tube (limited)
- Wire and fasteners
- Castings as CA-15
Relative cost
Tier 2 of 5. Usually 10-25% cheaper than 304 per pound because it has no nickel, and about 1.5x a plain alloy steel such as 4140. Stocked in fewer sizes than 304; sheet and bar are common, tube and structural shapes are not.
Typical applications
- Valve stems, seats, discs and trim
- Pump shafts, sleeves and wear rings
- Steam and gas turbine blades and buckets
- Fasteners, studs and nuts for mild corrosion
- Cutlery, flatware and kitchen tools
- Firearm and fixture components
- Stamped hardware, springs and clips
Process compatibility
How 410 takes each process, and what to specify. Each process links to its own guide and to the shops that do it.
| Process | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CNC Machining | GoodGood | Easy in the annealed state; machine soft, harden, then finish-grind. Pre-hardened bar at 25-30 HRC machines acceptably with coated carbide. |
| Heat Treating | ExcellentExcellent | A true quench-and-temper stainless: oil quench from 980 °C (1800 °F), temper low for hardness or high for toughness; specify the target HRC and avoid the 425-540 °C temper band. |
| Induction Hardening | GoodGood | Shafts and seats surface-harden well because the carbon is already there; specify the case depth and pattern. |
| Vacuum Heat Treating | GoodGood | Bright hardening in vacuum with gas quench avoids scale on finished stems and blades. |
| Laser Cutting | GoodGood | Annealed sheet cuts cleanly with nitrogen; the cut edge is hardened by the beam, so bend away from the edge or anneal. |
| Metal Stamping | GoodGood | Annealed strip stamps, coins and forms readily; harden and temper afterward for springs and blades. |
| Press Brake Forming | GoodGood | Bend annealed sheet at about 1t inside radius with modest springback; never bend hardened stock. |
| Welding | FairFair | Preheat 200-315 °C (400-600 °F), 410 or 410NiMo filler, post-weld temper; or 309L filler with no post-weld treatment for non-structural joints. |
| Passivation | GoodGood | ASTM A967 after hardening and final finishing; martensitic grades prefer citric or a low-concentration nitric bath so the surface is not etched. |
| Black Oxide | FairFair | MIL-DTL-13924 Class 3 (fused salt) blackens hardened 400-series parts; cosmetic, with a light corrosion benefit under oil. |
| Hard Chrome Plating | FairFair | Chrome stems and sleeves for wear; bake after plating to relieve hydrogen, and shot-peen first on fatigue-loaded shafts. |
| Investment Casting | GoodGood | Cast as CA-15 for valve bodies, impellers and hardware; heat treat the casting the same way as bar. |
| Electropolishing | FairFair | Polishes, but martensitic grades come out less bright than 304 or 316; fine for deburring and passivating stems. |
| Hot-Dip Galvanizing | Not recommendedNot recommended | Zinc does not bond to the passive oxide, and the bath temperature is a temper cycle that softens hardened parts. |
Compare 410
Design and sourcing tips
- Specify the delivered and final condition: "410 per ASTM A276, annealed; harden and temper to 38-42 HRC after machining" or "pre-hardened 26-32 HRC".
- Do not ask for a temper in the 425-540 °C (800-1000 °F) band; it costs toughness and corrosion resistance at the same time. Go low (205-370 °C) or high (595 °C and up).
- For chlorides, marine air or pool chemicals, 410 is the wrong grade; use 316 (soft) or 17-4 PH (hard).
- Polish and passivate hardened parts; corrosion resistance depends on the chromium being in solution and the surface being clean.
- Design welds for preheat and a post-weld temper, or accept a 309L-filler joint that is softer than the base metal.
- Use 416 for the same part turned in volume, 420 for a cutting edge and 440C for bearings and wear surfaces.
Frequently asked questions
- Is 410 stainless steel magnetic?
- Yes, in every condition. It is a martensitic (or ferritic when annealed) 12% chromium steel and a magnet holds firmly. That is often how shops tell it from 304 on the rack.
- Can 410 stainless be hardened?
- Yes. It is a true quench-and-temper steel: austenitize at 925-1010 °C (1700-1850 °F), oil quench or air cool, and temper. A low temper at 205-370 °C (400-700 °F) gives 38-43 HRC and about 1310 MPa (190 ksi) tensile; a high temper at 595-705 °C (1100-1300 °F) gives 22-30 HRC with better toughness.
- Does 410 stainless rust?
- It can. With only 12% chromium it resists atmosphere, fresh water, steam and mild chemicals, but salt spray, chloride cleaners, marine air and reducing acids will rust it. It resists best when hardened, tempered low, polished and passivated; annealed or 425-540 °C tempered material rusts sooner.
- What is the difference between 410 and 416 stainless?
- 416 is 410 with sulfur added for machinability. It cuts about 50% faster (85% of B1112 versus 55%) but gives up some corrosion resistance and toughness and cannot be welded or formed well. Same hardening response. Choose 416 for high-volume turned parts, 410 for welded, formed or corrosion-critical parts.
Processes that commonly use it
Related materials
Where to verify these values
- ASTM A276 and ASTM A240 (minimums by product form)
- AMS 5504 and AMS 5613
- ASM Handbook, Volume 4D: Heat Treating of Irons and Steels (martensitic stainless steels)
- Producer data sheets (Cleveland-Cliffs / AK Steel 410, Carpenter)
