Stainless Steel 403 Cold Drawn vs 403 Hardened & Tempered
Stainless Steel · 403 temper comparison
403 Cold Drawn and 403 Hardened & Tempered are two conditions of the same stainless steel grade, 403: Cold Drawn versus Hardened & Tempered (quenched and tempered). The chemistry is identical, so every difference below comes from the condition. 403 Hardened & Tempered is the stronger of the two: yield strength 655 MPa (95 ksi) against 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) for 403 Cold Drawn, about 19% more; tensile strength follows at 830 MPa (120 ksi) vs 655 MPa (95 ksi). 403 Hardened & Tempered is the more ductile: elongation 20% versus 15% for 403 Cold Drawn, and 403 Hardened & Tempered is harder (262 HB vs 200 HB). On the shop floor, 403 Cold Drawn machines more easily (52 vs 42 out of 100).
403 Cold DrawnChoose it when the part is machined in volume.
403 Hardened & TemperedChoose it when strength drives the design, or when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded.
403 Cold Drawn vs 403 Hardened & Tempered: 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.
403 Cold Drawn403 Hardened & Tempered
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)
Elongation at Break
Reduction in Area
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Hardness, Brinell
Same in both: Elastic (Young's) Modulus 200 GPa29 Msi · Shear Modulus 78 GPa11.3 Msi · Bulk Modulus 160 GPa23.2 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.29 · Compressive Strength 665 MPa96.5 ksi · Shear Strength 500 MPa72.5 ksi · Fracture Toughness (K_IC) 70 MPa·√m63.7 ksi·√in · Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT) 55 J40.6 ft·lbf · Hardness, Rockwell C 26 HRC · Hardness, Vickers 275 HV
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Same in both: Density 7.75 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³ · Melting Point (Solidus) 1,480°C2,696 °F · Liquidus Temperature 1,530°C2,786 °F
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Same in both: Thermal Conductivity 24.9 W/m·K14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F · Specific Heat Capacity 460 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F · Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C) 9.9 µm/m·K5.5 µin/in·°F · Latent Heat of Fusion 270 J/g116 BTU/lb · Max Service Temperature (continuous) 540°C1,004 °F · Min Service Temperature -30°C-22 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Same in both: Electrical Conductivity 3 % IACS · Electrical Resistivity 5.7×10⁻⁷ Ω·m22.4 µΩ·in
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Same in both: Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE) -0.3 V · Corrosion Resistance 45 / 100
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)
Formability (cold)
Same in both: Weldability 35 / 100 · Castability 45 / 100 · Brazeability / Solderability 45 / 100 · Polishability 70 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Same in both: Embodied Energy (primary production) 48 MJ/kg20,636 BTU/lb · Embodied Carbon (primary production) 3.8 kg CO₂/kg · Embodied Water 150 L/kg18 gal/lb · Typical Recycled Content 60%
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.
403 Cold Drawn vs 403 Hardened & Tempered — frequently asked
Is 403 Hardened & Tempered stronger than 403 Cold Drawn?
Yes. 403 Hardened & Tempered has a typical yield strength of 655 MPa (95 ksi) against 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) for 403 Cold Drawn — about 19% more. Tensile strength is 830 MPa (120 ksi) vs 655 MPa (95 ksi).
Which condition does FabDigit quote by default, Cold Drawn or Hardened & Tempered?
Hardened & Tempered is the default 403 condition in the FabDigit quote flow. The other condition is available on request or by drawing note — specify it in the material field or the part notes and the quote is priced for it.
Which is easier to machine, 403 Cold Drawn or 403 Hardened & Tempered?
403 Cold Drawn, by a small margin. Both rate fair for machinability — 52/100 against 42/100 for 403 Hardened & Tempered.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in 403 Cold Drawn and 403 Hardened & Tempered 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.