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Stainless Steel 1.4529 vs Alloy 20

Stainless Steel · grade comparison

Stainless Steel 1.4529 and Alloy 20 are both stainless steel grades. 1.4529 is the stronger of the two: yield strength 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) against 310 MPa (45 ksi) for Alloy 20, about 13% more; tensile strength follows at 700 MPa (102 ksi) vs 620 MPa (89.9 ksi). 1.4529 is the more ductile: elongation 45% versus 40% for Alloy 20, and 1.4529 is harder (190 HB vs 160 HB). Alloy 20 runs hotter in service (500°C vs 400°C continuous). On the shop floor, Alloy 20 machines more easily (fair vs poor) and 1.4529 sits in a lower cost tier (high, $$$$) than Alloy 20 (specialty, $$$$$).

1.4529Choose it when strength drives the design, or when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded.

Alloy 20Choose it when the part sees heat, or when the part is machined in volume.

1.4529 vs Alloy 20: properties

1.4529Alloy 20

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Elastic (Young's) Modulus

195 GPa28.3 Msi
193 GPa28 Msi

Shear Modulus

75 GPa10.9 Msi
74 GPa10.7 Msi

Bulk Modulus

162 GPa23.5 Msi
160 GPa23.2 Msi

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)

700 MPa102 ksi
620 MPa89.9 ksi

Yield Strength (0.2% offset)

350 MPa50.8 ksi
310 MPa45 ksi

Elongation at Break

45%
40%

Reduction in Area

65%
60%

Compressive Strength

350 MPa50.8 ksi
—

Shear Strength

430 MPa62.4 ksi
415 MPa60.2 ksi

Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)

300 MPa43.5 ksi
260 MPa37.7 ksi

Fracture Toughness (K_IC)

220 MPa·√m200 ksi·√in
—

Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)

200 J148 ft·lbf
190 J140 ft·lbf

Hardness, Brinell

190 HB
160 HB

Hardness, Rockwell B

90 HRB
85 HRB

Hardness, Vickers

200 HV
—

Same in both: Poisson's Ratio 0.3

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Density

8.1 g/cm³0.29 lb/in³
8.08 g/cm³0.29 lb/in³

Melting Point (Solidus)

1,320°C2,408 °F
1,370°C2,498 °F

Liquidus Temperature

1,400°C2,552 °F
1,425°C2,597 °F

Thermal

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

Thermal Conductivity

11.5 W/m·K6.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F
12 W/m·K6.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Specific Heat Capacity

450 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F
500 J/kg·K0.12 BTU/lb·°F

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)

15.8 µm/m·K8.8 µin/in·°F
14.8 µm/m·K8.2 µin/in·°F

Latent Heat of Fusion

270 J/g116 BTU/lb
285 J/g123 BTU/lb

Max Service Temperature (continuous)

400°C752 °F
500°C932 °F

Same in both: Min Service Temperature -196°C-321 °F

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Electrical Conductivity

1.7 % IACS
1.6 % IACS

Electrical Resistivity

1×10⁻⁶ Ω·m39.4 µΩ·in
1.08×10⁻⁶ Ω·m42.5 µΩ·in

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)

-0.05 V
-0.08 V

Corrosion Resistance

88 / 100
80 / 100

Manufacturability

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

Machinability

25 / 100
38 / 100

Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)

25%
40%

Weldability

78 / 100
80 / 100

Formability (cold)

70 / 100
72 / 100

Brazeability / Solderability

50 / 100
60 / 100

Polishability

80 / 100
75 / 100

Castability

—
55 / 100

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Embodied Energy (primary production)

85 MJ/kg36,543 BTU/lb
100 MJ/kg42,992 BTU/lb

Embodied Carbon (primary production)

6 kg CO₂/kg
7.5 kg CO₂/kg

Embodied Water

130 L/kg15.6 gal/lb
200 L/kg24 gal/lb

Typical Recycled Content

40%
45%

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Specific Strength (UTS / density)

86 kN·m/kg
77 kN·m/kg

Specific Stiffness (E / density)

24.1 MN·m/kg
23.9 MN·m/kg

Modulus of Resilience

314 kJ/m³
249 kJ/m³

Thermal Diffusivity

3.2 mm²/s
3 mm²/s

Same in both: Thermal Shock Resistance Index 3

Strength versus weight

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

3005007001,0001,5002,0007.27.47.67.888.2Density (g/cm³)Yield strength (MPa) — log scaleAlloy 201.4529

Manufacturing and finishing

Capability1.4529Alloy 20
CNC machining—Yes
Sheet metal—Yes
Default condition—Annealed
Relative cost$$$$ High$$$$$ Specialty
Min. machined wall—0.8 mm
Best machined surface—Ra 1.6 µm
AlCrN—Yes
AlTiN—Yes
Black Oxide—Yes
CVD Al2O3—Yes
CVD TiCN—Yes
CVD TiN—Yes
Cerakote—Yes
Chrome Plating—Yes
CrN—Yes
DLC—Yes
Electropolishing—Yes
HVOF Coating—Yes
MoS2—Yes
Multilayer CVD—Yes
Nickel Plating—Yes
PTFE Coating—Yes
Painting—Yes
Passivation (Stainless Steel)—Yes

They share 7 finishes: Electroless Nickel (EN), Epoxy Coating, Gold Plating, Hard Chrome Plating, Pickling, Plasma Spray, Silver Plating.

1.4529 vs Alloy 20 — frequently asked

Is 1.4529 stronger than Alloy 20?

Yes. 1.4529 has a typical yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) against 310 MPa (45 ksi) for Alloy 20 — about 13% more. Tensile strength is 700 MPa (102 ksi) vs 620 MPa (89.9 ksi).

Which is cheaper, 1.4529 or Alloy 20?

1.4529 is the lower-cost material: it sits in the high tier ($$$$) while Alloy 20 is specialty ($$$$$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.

Which is easier to machine, 1.4529 or Alloy 20?

Alloy 20. Its machinability rates fair (38/100) against poor (25/100) for 1.4529.

Ready to make it?

Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in 1.4529 and Alloy 20 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.