Stainless Steel Alloy 20 vs N08026
Stainless Steel · grade comparison
Stainless Steel Alloy 20 and N08026 are both stainless steel grades. Both yield at about 310 MPa — strength does not separate them. N08026 is the more ductile: elongation 45% versus 40% for Alloy 20, and N08026 is harder (170 HB vs 160 HB). On the shop floor, Alloy 20 machines more easily (fair vs poor) and N08026 sits in a lower cost tier (high, $$$$) than Alloy 20 (specialty, $$$$$).
Alloy 20Choose it when the part is machined in volume.
N08026Choose it when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded, or when cost is the deciding factor.
Alloy 20 vs N08026: 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.
Shear Modulus
Elongation at Break
Shear Strength
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Rockwell B
Compressive Strength
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Hardness, Vickers
Same in both: Elastic (Young's) Modulus 193 GPa28 Msi · Bulk Modulus 160 GPa23.2 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.3 · Tensile Strength (Ultimate) 620 MPa89.9 ksi · Yield Strength (0.2% offset) 310 MPa45 ksi · Reduction in Area 60% · Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit) 260 MPa37.7 ksi
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)
Same in both: 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).
Same in both: Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE) -0.08 V · Corrosion Resistance 80 / 100
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
Same in both: Typical Recycled Content 45%
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Thermal Diffusivity
Same in both: Specific Strength (UTS / density) 77 kN·m/kg · Modulus of Resilience 249 kJ/m³ · Thermal Shock Resistance Index 3
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 | N08026 |
|---|---|---|
| CNC machining | Yes | — |
| Sheet metal | Yes | — |
| Default condition | Annealed | — |
| Relative cost | $$$$$ Specialty | $$$$ High |
| Min. machined wall | 0.8 mm | — |
| Best machined surface | Ra 1.6 µm | — |
| AlCrN | Yes | — |
| AlTiN | Yes | — |
| Black Oxide | Yes | — |
| CVD Al2O3 | Yes | — |
| CVD TiCN | Yes | — |
| CVD TiN | Yes | — |
| Cerakote | Yes | — |
| Chrome Plating | Yes | — |
| CrN | Yes | — |
| DLC | Yes | — |
| Electropolishing | Yes | — |
| HVOF Coating | Yes | — |
| MoS2 | Yes | — |
| Multilayer CVD | Yes | — |
| Nickel Plating | Yes | — |
| PTFE Coating | Yes | — |
| Painting | Yes | — |
| Passivation (Stainless Steel) | Yes | — |
They share 7 finishes: Electroless Nickel (EN), Epoxy Coating, Gold Plating, Hard Chrome Plating, Pickling, Plasma Spray, Silver Plating.
Alloy 20 vs N08026 — frequently asked
What is the difference between Alloy 20 and N08026?
Stainless Steel Alloy 20 and N08026 are both stainless steel grades. Both yield at about 310 MPa — strength does not separate them. N08026 is the more ductile: elongation 45% versus 40% for Alloy 20, and N08026 is harder (170 HB vs 160 HB).
Which is cheaper, Alloy 20 or N08026?
N08026 is the lower-cost material: it sits in the high tier ($$$$) while Alloy 20 is specialty ($$$$$). 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 N08026?
Alloy 20. Its machinability rates fair (38/100) against poor (28/100) for N08026.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Alloy 20 and N08026 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.