Stainless Steel 422 Annealed vs 422 Hardened & Tempered
Stainless Steel · 422 temper comparison
422 Annealed and 422 Hardened & Tempered are two conditions of the same stainless steel grade, 422: Annealed versus Hardened & Tempered (quenched and tempered). The chemistry is identical, so every difference below comes from the condition. 422 Hardened & Tempered is the stronger of the two: yield strength 860 MPa (125 ksi) against 590 MPa (85.6 ksi) for 422 Annealed, about 46% more; tensile strength follows at 1,030 MPa (149 ksi) vs 790 MPa (115 ksi). In exchange, 422 Annealed is the more ductile: elongation 20% versus 16% for 422 Hardened & Tempered, and 422 Hardened & Tempered is harder (302 HB vs 240 HB). 422 Hardened & Tempered runs hotter in service (650°C vs 500°C continuous).
422 AnnealedChoose it when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded.
422 Hardened & TemperedChoose it when strength drives the design, or when the part sees heat.
422 Annealed vs 422 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.
422 Annealed422 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)
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Rockwell C
Same in both: Elastic (Young's) Modulus 213 GPa30.9 Msi · Shear Modulus 83 GPa12 Msi · Bulk Modulus 162 GPa23.5 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.29 · Shear Strength 620 MPa89.9 ksi · Fracture Toughness (K_IC) 75 MPa·√m68.3 ksi·√in · Hardness, Vickers 318 HV
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Same in both: Density 7.8 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³ · Melting Point (Solidus) 1,425°C2,597 °F · Liquidus Temperature 1,510°C2,750 °F
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Same in both: Thermal Conductivity 24 W/m·K13.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F · Specific Heat Capacity 460 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F · Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C) 11.2 µm/m·K6.2 µin/in·°F · Min Service Temperature -30°C-22 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Same in both: Electrical Resistivity 6×10⁻⁷ Ω·m23.6 µΩ·in
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Same in both: Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE) -0.3 V
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 30 / 100 · Brazeability / Solderability 40 / 100 · Polishability 70 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Same in both: Embodied Energy (primary production) 53 MJ/kg22,786 BTU/lb · Embodied Carbon (primary production) 3.5 kg CO₂/kg · Embodied Water 120 L/kg14.4 gal/lb · Typical Recycled Content 40%
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.
422 Annealed vs 422 Hardened & Tempered — frequently asked
Is 422 Hardened & Tempered stronger than 422 Annealed?
Yes. 422 Hardened & Tempered has a typical yield strength of 860 MPa (125 ksi) against 590 MPa (85.6 ksi) for 422 Annealed — about 46% more. Tensile strength is 1,030 MPa (149 ksi) vs 790 MPa (115 ksi).
Which condition does FabDigit quote by default, Annealed or Hardened & Tempered?
Hardened & Tempered is the default 422 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, 422 Annealed or 422 Hardened & Tempered?
422 Annealed, by a small margin. Both rate fair for machinability — 42/100 against 35/100 for 422 Hardened & Tempered.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in 422 Annealed and 422 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.