Stainless Steel Alloy 20 vs Haynes 556
Stainless Steel · grade comparison
Stainless Steel Alloy 20 and Haynes 556 are both stainless steel grades. Haynes 556 is the stronger of the two: yield strength 410 MPa (59.5 ksi) against 310 MPa (45 ksi) for Alloy 20, about 32% more; tensile strength follows at 815 MPa (118 ksi) vs 620 MPa (89.9 ksi). Haynes 556 is the more ductile: elongation 48% versus 40% for Alloy 20, and Haynes 556 is harder (200 HB vs 160 HB). Haynes 556 is stiffer (205 GPa vs 193 GPa) and Haynes 556 runs hotter in service (1,100°C vs 500°C continuous). On the shop floor, Alloy 20 machines more easily (fair vs poor) and Haynes 556 sits in a lower cost tier (high, $$$$) than Alloy 20 (specialty, $$$$$).
Alloy 20Choose it when the part is machined in volume.
Haynes 556Choose it when strength drives the design, or when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded.
Alloy 20 vs Haynes 556: 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.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Shear Modulus
Bulk Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)
Elongation at Break
Reduction in Area
Shear Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Rockwell B
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Melting Point (Solidus)
Liquidus Temperature
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Specific Heat Capacity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Latent Heat of Fusion
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Same in both: Min Service Temperature -196°C-321 °F
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)
Castability
Brazeability / Solderability
Polishability
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)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Modulus of Resilience
Thermal Diffusivity
Thermal Shock Resistance Index
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 | Alloy 20 | Haynes 556 |
|---|---|---|
| CNC machining | Yes | — |
| Sheet metal | Yes | — |
| Default condition | Annealed | — |
| Relative cost | $$$$$ Specialty | $$$$ High |
| Min. machined wall | 0.8 mm | — |
| Best machined surface | Ra 1.6 µm | — |
| AlCrN | Yes | — |
| AlTiN | Yes | — |
| Black Oxide | Yes | — |
| CVD Al2O3 | Yes | — |
| CVD TiCN | Yes | — |
| CVD TiN | Yes | — |
| Cerakote | Yes | — |
| Chrome Plating | Yes | — |
| CrN | Yes | — |
| DLC | Yes | — |
| Electropolishing | Yes | — |
| HVOF Coating | Yes | — |
| MoS2 | Yes | — |
| Multilayer CVD | Yes | — |
| Nickel Plating | Yes | — |
| PTFE Coating | Yes | — |
| Painting | Yes | — |
| Passivation (Stainless Steel) | Yes | — |
They share 7 finishes: Electroless Nickel (EN), Epoxy Coating, Gold Plating, Hard Chrome Plating, Pickling, Plasma Spray, Silver Plating.
Alloy 20 vs Haynes 556 — frequently asked
Is Haynes 556 stronger than Alloy 20?
Yes. Haynes 556 has a typical yield strength of 410 MPa (59.5 ksi) against 310 MPa (45 ksi) for Alloy 20 — about 32% more. Tensile strength is 815 MPa (118 ksi) vs 620 MPa (89.9 ksi).
Which is cheaper, Alloy 20 or Haynes 556?
Haynes 556 is the lower-cost material: it sits in the high tier ($$$$) while Alloy 20 is specialty ($$$$$). 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, Alloy 20 or Haynes 556?
Alloy 20. Its machinability rates fair (38/100) against poor (20/100) for Haynes 556; for welding the order is Alloy 20 first (very good, 80/100) then Haynes 556 (very good, 72/100).
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Alloy 20 and Haynes 556 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.