Q+T H1025
Through-hardening · Precipitation hardening
Q+T H1025 is a precipitation-hardening condition for 17-4 PH (S17400) and 15-5 PH (S15500).
H1025 at a glance
Four scores, each 0–100 against every heat treatment in this catalog. Hardness is derived from the HRC target (20 HRC = 0, 70 HRC = 100) — treatments without a hardness target (anneals, stress relief, HIP, cryo) are not rated. Toughness, dimensional stability and cost are FabDigit's engineering assessment.
What is H1025?
Q+T H1025 is a precipitation-hardening condition for 17-4 PH (S17400) and 15-5 PH (S15500). It develops strength by solution treatment followed by controlled aging; the final condition, material specification, and acceptance test belong on the drawing.
How it works
Solution treatment dissolves strengthening constituents and establishes a controlled starting microstructure. Cooling retains a supersaturated or otherwise metastable matrix. During the prescribed age, diffusion forms a fine dispersion of strengthening precipitates that obstruct dislocation motion. Temperature and time control precipitate size, spacing, coherency, and grain-boundary chemistry: lower or shorter cycles generally favor peak strength, while overaging trades some strength for toughness, conductivity, or stress-corrosion resistance. The complete route, including the incoming material condition and cooling practice, is therefore part of the engineering definition.
Why specify it
- Produces 35–42 HRC across the stated grade set
- Provides 1070 MPa or greater tensile capability where the cited product condition defines it
- Adds strength through precipitation rather than a carbon-steel temper
- Can be applied after near-net machining with less movement than a severe steel quench
Where it falls short
- Properties depend on alloy, product form, section size, and incoming condition
- Overaging or underaging can miss both strength and corrosion targets
- Solution treatment or quenching may distort thin and asymmetric parts
- A condition name does not replace material heat-lot traceability
The H1025 cycle
Typical furnace parameters from the governing specifications and shop practice; the heat treater sets the exact recipe from the alloy, section size and required result.
| Temperature | 546–566 °C (1,015–1,051 °F) — Primary solution or age temperature window represented by the stages; use the alloy-specific specification. |
|---|---|
| Soak | 4 h — At-temperature time; load and section corrections may apply. |
| Cooling | Still air |
| Atmosphere | Air / vacuum |
| Door to door | 5–9 h — Typical furnace cycle excluding queue and laboratory testing. |
Stages
- 1Start with solution-treated Condition A material
- 2Age at 552 °C (1025 °F) for 4 h
- 3Air cool to room temperature
What H1025 does to the part
| Hardness | 35–42 HRC (331–388 HB) — Condition and product-form range; Brinell is commonly reported as 331–388 HB. |
|---|---|
| Section affected | The whole section transforms. |
| Tensile strength | ≥ 1,070 MPa — Minimum tensile strength is product-form dependent; 1,070 MPa is representative of 17-4 PH H1025 condition tables. |
| Toughness | Balanced strength, ductility, and stress-corrosion resistance; tougher than H900. |
| Distortion | Low risk. Small, predictable age contraction; confirm critical dimensions. |
| Surface after treatment | Bright in vacuum; straw-to-blue heat tint may form in air. |
| Machining sequence | Machine before age; light finish grinding after age is feasible. |
Specifications for H1025
The documents a drawing cites to define this treatment. Each links to a page explaining the standard, its classes and the tests it invokes.
| Standard | Role | Classes used | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Heat Treatment, Precipitation-Hardening Corrosion-Resistant and Maraging Steel Parts | Governing | — | Active |
Steel, Corrosion-Resistant, Bars, Wire, Forgings, Tubing, and Rings, 16Cr - 4.0Ni - 0.30Cb - 4.0Cu, Solution Heat Treated, Precipitation Hardenable | Governing | — | Active |
Standard Specification for Hot-Rolled and Cold-Finished Age-Hardening Stainless Steel Bars and Shapes | Alternative | — | Active |
Test and related methods: ASTM E18 (Standard Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials).
Drawing call-out
17-4 PH PER AMS 5643, CONDITION H1025; AGE PER AMS 2759/3; HARDNESS 35–42 HRC PER ASTM E18Which alloys take H1025?
Verdict per material family, with the grades that behave differently. Each family links to its datasheets in the material library. Typical grades: 17-4 PH (S17400), 15-5 PH (S15500).
| Material family | Verdict | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Designed for martensitic precipitation-hardening stainless grades.
| |
| With care | Applicable to qualified additively manufactured 17-4 PH after the specified solution treatment.
| |
| No | This alloy category does not use the PH stainless cycle. | |
| No | This alloy category does not use the PH stainless cycle. | |
| No | This alloy category does not use the PH stainless cycle. | |
| No | This alloy category does not use the PH stainless cycle. | |
| No | This alloy category does not use the PH stainless cycle. | |
| No | This alloy category does not use the PH stainless cycle. | |
| No | This alloy category does not use the PH stainless cycle. | |
| No | This alloy category does not use the PH stainless cycle. | |
| No | This alloy category does not use the PH stainless cycle. | |
| No | This alloy category does not use the PH stainless cycle. | |
| No | This alloy category does not use the PH stainless cycle. | |
| No | This alloy category does not use the PH stainless cycle. | |
| No | This alloy category does not use the PH stainless cycle. | |
| No | This alloy category does not use the PH stainless cycle. |
Design rules for H1025
What to decide on the drawing before the part goes to the heat treater.
- Machine the solution-treated Condition A part before aging where possible.The precipitation response depends on the material condition entering the age cycle.
- Keep heavy and thin sections thermally balanced in the load.Uniform temperature and controlled transfer reduce property variation and distortion.
- State the alloy, product specification, final condition, and hardness-test method on the drawing.A condition name alone does not define material pedigree or acceptance sampling.
- Protect finished dimensions and verify critical fits after treatment.Precipitation aging is low-distortion but can still produce measurable contraction or growth.
H1025 versus the alternatives
Treatments engineers weigh against H1025, and when each wins.
Cost, lead time and applications
Relative cost
Q+T H1025 is a standard-cost treatment ($$) relative to the other heat treatments in this catalog.
Heat treatment is priced per lot with a furnace minimum. The exact figure appears on the instant quote once the part is uploaded.
Lead time
| Added lead time | 3–7 working days |
|---|---|
| Furnace time | 5–9 h |
What H1025 is used for
- Aerospace structural hardware
- Precision shafts, fittings, and actuators
- High-strength tooling and fixtures
- Corrosion-resistant mechanical components
H1025 — frequently asked
What does H1025 mean?
H1025 identifies a controlled solution-treatment and precipitation-aging condition, not a generic furnace temper. The drawing should also identify the alloy specification and acceptance hardness or tensile requirement.
Is this a quench-and-temper treatment?
No in the metallurgical sense. Strength comes primarily from fine precipitates formed during aging rather than tempering quenched carbon-steel martensite.
Will the part distort?
The expected risk is low. Aging is normally more stable than a hard steel quench, but residual stress, section changes, fixtures, and prior solution treatment still matter.
How should hardness be verified?
Use ASTM E18 for Rockwell hardness on a suitable flat section. The expected catalog range is 35–42 HRC; thin sections may require ASTM E384 microindentation and an approved conversion.
Can the condition be assigned after machining?
Usually yes when the starting material and process route are compatible. The purchase order must preserve traceability to the governing product specification and the heat treater must certify the complete cycle.