Stainless Steel 15-7 Mo vs 17-7 PH
Stainless Steel · grade comparison
Stainless Steel 15-7 Mo and 17-7 PH are both stainless steel grades, both high strength ss. 15-7 Mo is the stronger of the two: yield strength 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) against 276 MPa (40 ksi) for 17-7 PH, about 50% more; tensile strength follows at 950 MPa (138 ksi) vs 896 MPa (130 ksi). In exchange, 17-7 PH is the more ductile: elongation 35% versus 25% for 15-7 Mo, and 15-7 Mo is harder (200 HB vs 175 HB). On the shop floor, 15-7 Mo machines more easily (fair vs poor) and 15-7 Mo sits in a lower cost tier (premium, $$$) than 17-7 PH (specialty, $$$$$).
15-7 MoChoose it when strength drives the design, or when the part is machined in volume.
17-7 PHChoose it when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded.
15-7 Mo vs 17-7 PH: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all stainless steel grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all stainless steel grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Bulk Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)
Elongation at Break
Reduction in Area
Compressive Strength
Shear Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Rockwell B
Hardness, Rockwell C
Hardness, Vickers
Same in both: Elastic (Young's) Modulus 200 GPa29 Msi · Shear Modulus 77 GPa11.2 Msi
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Same in both: Melting Point (Solidus) 1,400°C2,552 °F · Liquidus Temperature 1,440°C2,624 °F
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Min Service Temperature
Same in both: Specific Heat Capacity 460 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F · Latent Heat of Fusion 270 J/g116 BTU/lb
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Conductivity
Electrical Resistivity
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)
Weldability
Formability (cold)
Same in both: Brazeability / Solderability 40 / 100 · Polishability 70 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Typical Recycled Content
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Modulus of Resilience
Thermal Diffusivity
Same in both: Specific Stiffness (E / density) 25.6 MN·m/kg · Thermal Shock Resistance Index 7
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.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | 15-7 Mo | 17-7 PH |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | Condition A | Condition A |
| Relative cost | $$$ Premium | $$$$$ Specialty |
| Min. machined wall | 0.8 mm | 0.8 mm |
| Best machined surface | Ra 1.6 µm | Ra 1.6 µm |
Both are offered for CNC machining and Sheet metal. Both take the same 32 finishes: AlCrN, AlTiN, Black Oxide, CVD Al2O3, CVD TiCN, CVD TiN, Cerakote, Chrome Plating, CrN, DLC, Electroless Nickel (EN), Electropolishing and 20 more.
15-7 Mo vs 17-7 PH — frequently asked
Is 15-7 Mo stronger than 17-7 PH?
Yes. 15-7 Mo has a typical yield strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) against 276 MPa (40 ksi) for 17-7 PH — about 50% more. Tensile strength is 950 MPa (138 ksi) vs 896 MPa (130 ksi).
Which is cheaper, 15-7 Mo or 17-7 PH?
15-7 Mo is the lower-cost material: it sits in the premium tier ($$$) while 17-7 PH 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, 15-7 Mo or 17-7 PH?
15-7 Mo. Its machinability rates fair (45/100) against poor (32/100) for 17-7 PH; for welding the order is 17-7 PH first (good, 55/100) then 15-7 Mo (fair, 50/100).
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in 15-7 Mo and 17-7 PH 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.