FabDigit

Steel SCM420 vs SCr445 vs SCM422 vs SCM432

Benchmark · 4 materials

Side-by-side benchmark of 4 steel grades.

SCM420 vs SCr445 and 2 more: properties

SCM420SCr445SCM422SCM432

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Elastic (Young's) Modulus

207 GPa30 Msi
207 GPa30 Msi
206 GPa29.9 Msi
207 GPa30 Msi

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)

660 MPa95.7 ksi
1,030 MPa149 ksi
580 MPa84.1 ksi
1,000 MPa145 ksi

Yield Strength (0.2% offset)

440 MPa63.8 ksi
860 MPa125 ksi
370 MPa53.7 ksi
850 MPa123 ksi

Elongation at Break

22%
14%
25%
17%

Reduction in Area

52%
45%
55%
56%

Shear Strength

430 MPa62.4 ksi
620 MPa89.9 ksi
360 MPa52.2 ksi
600 MPa87 ksi

Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)

300 MPa43.5 ksi
480 MPa69.6 ksi
280 MPa40.6 ksi
470 MPa68.2 ksi

Fracture Toughness (K_IC)

65 MPa·√m59.2 ksi·√in
60 MPa·√m54.6 ksi·√in
85 MPa·√m77.4 ksi·√in

Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)

40 J29.5 ft·lbf
45 J33.2 ft·lbf
45 J33.2 ft·lbf
60 J44.3 ft·lbf

Hardness, Brinell

190 HB
302 HB
170 HB
293 HB

Hardness, Rockwell B

91 HRB
87 HRB

Compressive Strength

880 MPa128 ksi
860 MPa125 ksi

Hardness, Rockwell C

32 HRC
31 HRC

Hardness, Vickers

318 HV
308 HV

Same in both: Shear Modulus 80 GPa11.6 Msi · Bulk Modulus 160 GPa23.2 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.29

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Density

7.85 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³
7.83 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³
7.85 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³
7.85 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³

Melting Point (Solidus)

1,425°C2,597 °F
1,425°C2,597 °F
1,425°C2,597 °F
1,420°C2,588 °F

Liquidus Temperature

1,500°C2,732 °F
1,490°C2,714 °F
1,500°C2,732 °F
1,495°C2,723 °F

Thermal

How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.

Specific Heat Capacity

470 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F
475 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F
470 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F
473 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)

12.2 µm/m·K6.8 µin/in·°F
12.2 µm/m·K6.8 µin/in·°F
12.2 µm/m·K6.8 µin/in·°F
12.3 µm/m·K6.8 µin/in·°F

Max Service Temperature (continuous)

400°C752 °F
350°C662 °F
350°C662 °F
400°C752 °F

Min Service Temperature

-40°C-40 °F
-25°C-13 °F
-40°C-40 °F
-40°C-40 °F

Same in both: Thermal Conductivity 42 W/m·K24.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F · Latent Heat of Fusion 250 J/g107 BTU/lb

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Electrical Conductivity

7.8 % IACS
8 % IACS
8 % IACS
7.8 % IACS

Same in both: Electrical Resistivity 2.2×10⁻⁷ Ω·m8.66 µΩ·in

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)

-0.62 V
-0.6 V
-0.6 V
-0.62 V

Corrosion Resistance

12 / 100
12 / 100
10 / 100
12 / 100

Manufacturability

FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.

Machinability

60 / 100
42 / 100
55 / 100
55 / 100

Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)

62%
45%
60%
55%

Weldability

55 / 100
25 / 100
40 / 100
45 / 100

Formability (cold)

60 / 100
20 / 100
55 / 100
40 / 100

Brazeability / Solderability

65 / 100
45 / 100
55 / 100
55 / 100

Polishability

60 / 100
60 / 100
60 / 100
65 / 100

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Embodied Energy (primary production)

30 MJ/kg12,898 BTU/lb
30 MJ/kg12,898 BTU/lb
34 MJ/kg14,617 BTU/lb
28 MJ/kg12,038 BTU/lb

Embodied Carbon (primary production)

2.3 kg CO₂/kg
2.1 kg CO₂/kg
2.3 kg CO₂/kg
2.1 kg CO₂/kg

Embodied Water

55 L/kg6.6 gal/lb
60 L/kg7.2 gal/lb
60 L/kg7.2 gal/lb
45 L/kg5.4 gal/lb

Typical Recycled Content

30%
30%
25%
30%

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Specific Strength (UTS / density)

84 kN·m/kg
132 kN·m/kg
74 kN·m/kg
127 kN·m/kg

Specific Stiffness (E / density)

26.4 MN·m/kg
26.4 MN·m/kg
26.2 MN·m/kg
26.4 MN·m/kg

Modulus of Resilience

468 kJ/m³
1,786 kJ/m³
332 kJ/m³
1,745 kJ/m³

Thermal Diffusivity

11.4 mm²/s
11.3 mm²/s
11.4 mm²/s
11.3 mm²/s

Thermal Shock Resistance Index

11
17
10
16

Strength versus weight

Yield strength against density for every steel grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.

2005001,0002,0007.588.5Density (g/cm³)Yield strength (MPa) — log scaleSCM420SCr445SCM422SCM432

Manufacturing and finishing

CapabilitySCM420SCr445SCM422SCM432
CNC machiningYes
Sheet metalYes
Default conditionHR
Relative cost$$ Standard$ Budget$ Budget$ Budget
Min. machined wall0.8 mm
Best machined surfaceRa 1.6 µm
AlCrNYes
AlTiNYes
Black OxideYes
CVD Al2O3Yes
CVD TiCNYes
CVD TiNYes
CerakoteYes
Chrome PlatingYes
CrNYes
DLCYes
E-CoatingYes
HVOF CoatingYes
Hot-Dip GalvanizingYes
MoS2Yes
Multilayer CVDYes
Nickel PlatingYes
PTFE CoatingYes
PaintingYes

They share 9 finishes: Copper Plating, Electroless Nickel (EN), Epoxy Coating, Gold Plating, Hard Chrome Plating, Manganese Phosphate, Plasma Spray, Silver Plating, Zinc Phosphate.

Ready to make it?

Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in SCM420 and SCr445 side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.

Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.