Stainless Steel Alloy 20 Annealed vs Alloy 20 Cold Worked Hard
Stainless Steel · Alloy 20 temper comparison
Alloy 20 Annealed and Alloy 20 Cold Worked Hard are two conditions of the same stainless steel grade, Alloy 20: Annealed versus Cold Worked Hard (cold Worked). The chemistry is identical, so every difference below comes from the condition. Alloy 20 Cold Worked Hard is the stronger of the two: yield strength 790 MPa (115 ksi) against 310 MPa (45 ksi) for Alloy 20 Annealed, about 155% more; tensile strength follows at 930 MPa (135 ksi) vs 620 MPa (89.9 ksi). In exchange, Alloy 20 Annealed is the more ductile: elongation 40% versus 12% for Alloy 20 Cold Worked Hard, and Alloy 20 Cold Worked Hard is harder (300 HB vs 160 HB).
Alloy 20 AnnealedChoose it when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded.
Alloy 20 Cold Worked HardChoose it when strength drives the design.
Alloy 20 Annealed vs Alloy 20 Cold Worked Hard: 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.
Alloy 20 AnnealedAlloy 20 Cold Worked Hard
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)
Elongation at Break
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Hardness, Brinell
Same in both: Elastic (Young's) Modulus 193 GPa28 Msi · Shear Modulus 74 GPa10.7 Msi · Bulk Modulus 160 GPa23.2 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.3 · Reduction in Area 60% · Shear Strength 415 MPa60.2 ksi · Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT) 190 J140 ft·lbf · Hardness, Rockwell B 85 HRB
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Same in both: Density 8.08 g/cm³0.29 lb/in³ · Melting Point (Solidus) 1,370°C2,498 °F · Liquidus Temperature 1,425°C2,597 °F
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Same in both: Thermal Conductivity 12 W/m·K6.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F · Specific Heat Capacity 500 J/kg·K0.12 BTU/lb·°F · Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C) 14.8 µm/m·K8.2 µin/in·°F · Latent Heat of Fusion 285 J/g123 BTU/lb · Max Service Temperature (continuous) 500°C932 °F · Min Service Temperature -196°C-321 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Same in both: Electrical Conductivity 1.6 % IACS · Electrical Resistivity 1.08×10⁻⁶ Ω·m42.5 µΩ·in
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Same in both: Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE) -0.08 V
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Formability (cold)
Same in both: Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %) 40% · Weldability 80 / 100 · Castability 55 / 100 · Brazeability / Solderability 60 / 100 · Polishability 75 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Same in both: Embodied Energy (primary production) 100 MJ/kg42,992 BTU/lb · Embodied Carbon (primary production) 7.5 kg CO₂/kg · Embodied Water 200 L/kg24 gal/lb · Typical Recycled Content 45%
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.
Alloy 20 Annealed vs Alloy 20 Cold Worked Hard — frequently asked
Is Alloy 20 Cold Worked Hard stronger than Alloy 20 Annealed?
Yes. Alloy 20 Cold Worked Hard has a typical yield strength of 790 MPa (115 ksi) against 310 MPa (45 ksi) for Alloy 20 Annealed — about 155% more. Tensile strength is 930 MPa (135 ksi) vs 620 MPa (89.9 ksi).
Which condition does FabDigit quote by default, Annealed or Cold Worked Hard?
Annealed is the default Alloy 20 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.
When should I choose Alloy 20 Annealed over Alloy 20 Cold Worked Hard?
Pick Alloy 20 Annealed when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded. Pick Alloy 20 Cold Worked Hard when strength drives the design.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Alloy 20 Annealed and Alloy 20 Cold Worked Hard 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.