Stainless Steel 440B Annealed vs 440B Hardened & Tempered
Stainless Steel · 440B temper comparison
440B Annealed and 440B Hardened & Tempered are two conditions of the same stainless steel grade, 440B: Annealed versus Hardened & Tempered (quenched and tempered). The chemistry is identical, so every difference below comes from the condition. 440B Hardened & Tempered is the stronger of the two: yield strength 1,620 MPa (235 ksi) against 425 MPa (61.6 ksi) for 440B Annealed, about 3.8 times as much; tensile strength follows at 1,860 MPa (270 ksi) vs 740 MPa (107 ksi). In exchange, 440B Annealed is the more ductile: elongation 18% versus 3% for 440B Hardened & Tempered, and 440B Hardened & Tempered is harder (620 HV vs 230 HV). 440B Annealed runs hotter in service (425°C vs 200°C continuous). On the shop floor, 440B Annealed machines more easily (fair vs not recommended) and 440B Annealed welds better (poor vs not recommended).
440B AnnealedChoose it when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded, or when the part sees heat.
440B Hardened & TemperedChoose it when strength drives the design.
440B Annealed vs 440B 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.
440B Annealed440B 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
Compressive Strength
Shear Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)
Hardness, Vickers
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 0.28 · Hardness, Brinell 220 HB · Hardness, Rockwell B 96 HRB
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Same in both: Density 7.75 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³ · Melting Point (Solidus) 1,370°C2,498 °F · Liquidus Temperature 1,450°C2,642 °F
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Same in both: Thermal Conductivity 24.2 W/m·K14 BTU/hr·ft·°F · Specific Heat Capacity 460 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F · Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C) 10.2 µm/m·K5.7 µin/in·°F · Latent Heat of Fusion 270 J/g116 BTU/lb · Min Service Temperature -40°C-40 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Same in both: Electrical Conductivity 2.9 % IACS · 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 %)
Weldability
Formability (cold)
Polishability
Same in both: Castability 35 / 100 · Brazeability / Solderability 45 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Same in both: Embodied Energy (primary production) 53 MJ/kg22,786 BTU/lb · Embodied Carbon (primary production) 4.2 kg CO₂/kg · Embodied Water 130 L/kg15.6 gal/lb · Typical Recycled Content 50%
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.
440B Annealed vs 440B Hardened & Tempered — frequently asked
Is 440B Hardened & Tempered stronger than 440B Annealed?
Yes. 440B Hardened & Tempered has a typical yield strength of 1,620 MPa (235 ksi) against 425 MPa (61.6 ksi) for 440B Annealed — about 3.8 times as much. Tensile strength is 1,860 MPa (270 ksi) vs 740 MPa (107 ksi).
Which condition does FabDigit quote by default, Annealed or Hardened & Tempered?
Annealed is the default 440B 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, 440B Annealed or 440B Hardened & Tempered?
440B Annealed. Its machinability rates fair (38/100) against not recommended (8/100) for 440B Hardened & Tempered; for welding the order is 440B Annealed first (poor, 20/100) then 440B Hardened & Tempered (not recommended, 10/100).
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in 440B Annealed and 440B 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.