Nickel Alloy Alloy 48-FH (Full hard)
Supply condition
UNS N14076, K94840 · ASTM A753 Type 3 · also Hipernik / 48 Alloy
Maximum-strength as-rolled strip/wire; magnetic properties are poor and a hydrogen anneal is mandatory after forming.
Values for the FH condition
Other Alloy 48 tempers and conditions
Alloy 48 is listed in 7 conditions; see the grade overview at Alloy 48.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hot Rolled / Forged Bar, Annealed | Bar and billet product for machined pole pieces, cores and shields prior to final magnetic anneal. | 190 | 480 | 40 | 120 HB | 3.8 % IACS |
MADefault Magnetically (hydrogen) annealed, 1100–1175 °C | Final-annealed condition for maximum permeability and lowest coercivity — the state parts must be in for magnetic service. | 200 | 500 | 35 | 125 HB | — |
Grain-oriented strip, magnetically annealed | Heavily cold-rolled then critically annealed thin strip with cube texture for square-loop tape-wound cores (pulse transformers, magamps). | 220 | 520 | 25 | 133 HB | 3.8 % IACS |
bright/strand annealed strip and bar as shipped | Standard as-supplied soft condition for stamping and machining; magnetic properties are only partly developed and require a final hydrogen anneal. | 250 | 530 | 30 | 143 HB | 3.8 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Light cold work for springy stamped parts and better cut edges where magnetic performance is restored by a later anneal. | 450 | 620 | 15 | 9 HRC | 3.7 % IACS |
Half hard | Medium cold-worked strip for shielding cans and structural stampings that need stiffness before final anneal. | 600 | 720 | 8 | 18 HRC | 3.7 % IACS |
FHThis page Full hard | Maximum-strength as-rolled strip/wire; magnetic properties are poor and a hydrogen anneal is mandatory after forming. | 780 | 860 | 3 | 23 HRC | 3.6 % IACS |
What is Alloy 48-FH?
Alloy 48-FH is Alloy 48 supplied in the FH condition — maximum-strength as-rolled strip/wire; magnetic properties are poor and a hydrogen anneal is mandatory after forming. Alloy 48-FH has a yield strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) and a tensile strength of 860 MPa (125 ksi) — stronger than 83% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 152 GPa (22 Msi). Alloy 48-FH has a density of 8.25 g/cm³ (0.298 lb/in³), lighter than 58% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F). MA is the default condition FabDigit quotes; FH is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 38/100, better than 98% of nickel alloy grades
- Low embodied carbon — 7.5 kg CO₂/kg, better than 96% of nickel alloy grades
- High electrical conductivity — 3.6 % IACS, better than 92% of nickel alloy grades
- High strength — 780 MPa (113 ksi), better than 83% of nickel alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 100% of nickel alloy grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 32/100, worse than 98% of nickel alloy grades
- Low stiffness — 152 GPa (22 Msi), worse than 93% of nickel alloy grades
- Limited ductility — 3%, worse than 93% of nickel alloy grades
Alloy 48-FH properties
Typical room-temperature values for Alloy 48-FH; 23 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Alloy 48 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among nickel alloy grades.
Physical3
Alloy 48-FH has a density of 8.25 g/cm³ (0.298 lb/in³), lighter than 58% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical13
Alloy 48-FH has a yield strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) and a tensile strength of 860 MPa (125 ksi) — stronger than 83% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 152 GPa (22 Msi).
Thermal6
Alloy 48-FH is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 13.5 W/m·K (7.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 73% of nickel alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 9.2 µm/m·K (5.11 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Alloy 48-FH conducts electricity at 3.6 % IACS, better than 92% of nickel alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (32/100), worse than 98% of nickel alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Alloy 48-FH takes about 92 MJ of energy and emits 7.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 99% of nickel alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
Alloy 48-FH's machinability is fair (38/100, better than 98% of nickel alloy grades); weldability good (55/100); formability poor (25/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Alloy 48-FH
Is Alloy 48 easy to machine?
Gummy and work-hardening — use sharp, positive-rake carbide, rigid setups, heavy feeds at low speed with flood coolant; stress-relieve/hydrogen anneal after machining to restore permeability.
Can Alloy 48 be welded?
GTAW, EB, laser and resistance welding are all practical with matching or Ni-Fe filler; keep heat input low and re-anneal after welding since heat-affected zones lose magnetic quality.
Can Alloy 48 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent deep-drawing, stamping and coining behaviour in the annealed condition; all cold work must be followed by a 1100–1175 °C dry-hydrogen final anneal with slow controlled cooling.
What surface finishes work on Alloy 48?
Cannot be anodized; protect with electroless nickel, tin or zinc plating, oil or paint, and avoid abrasive finishing after the final magnetic anneal to prevent surface stress degradation.
Alloy 48 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| NiNi+Co basis per ASTM A753 Type 3 | 47 – 50 | 48 |
| Mn | 0.3 – 0.8 | 0.5 |
| Si | 0.1 – 0.35 | 0.2 |
| Ckept low for magnetic quality | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| S | ≤ 0.02 | — |
| P | ≤ 0.02 | — |
| Crresidual | ≤ 0.3 | — |
| Curesidual | ≤ 0.2 | — |
| Coresidual | ≤ 0.5 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
Alloy 48-FH — frequently asked
What is Alloy 48-FH used for?
Alloy 48-FH is typically used for magnetic shielding laminations, transformer/relay cores, current transformer cores and magnetic amplifiers. In short: higher saturation than Mumetal; deep-drawable magnetic core alloy; needs hydrogen final anneal.
What is the yield strength of Alloy 48-FH?
Alloy 48-FH has a typical yield strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) and a tensile strength of 860 MPa (125 ksi) — stronger than 83% of nickel alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is Alloy 48-FH easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (38/100, better than 98% of nickel alloy grades). Gummy and work-hardening — use sharp, positive-rake carbide, rigid setups, heavy feeds at low speed with flood coolant; stress-relieve/hydrogen anneal after machining to restore permeability.
Can Alloy 48-FH be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (55/100). GTAW, EB, laser and resistance welding are all practical with matching or Ni-Fe filler; keep heat input low and re-anneal after welding since heat-affected zones lose magnetic quality.
What surface finishes work on Alloy 48-FH?
Cannot be anodized; protect with electroless nickel, tin or zinc plating, oil or paint, and avoid abrasive finishing after the final magnetic anneal to prevent surface stress degradation.
Can Alloy 48-FH be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent deep-drawing, stamping and coining behaviour in the annealed condition; all cold work must be followed by a 1100–1175 °C dry-hydrogen final anneal with slow controlled cooling.
What is the maximum service temperature of Alloy 48-FH?
Alloy 48-FH is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Alloy 48-MA and Alloy 48-FH?
MA is the default condition — final-annealed condition for maximum permeability and lowest coercivity — the state parts must be in for magnetic service. FH: maximum-strength as-rolled strip/wire; magnetic properties are poor and a hydrogen anneal is mandatory after forming. Yield strength is 200 MPa in MA versus 780 MPa in FH.
Sources
- ASTM A753 — Wrought Nickel-Iron Soft Magnetic Alloys (Type 3) — ASTM International (2019)
- GB/T 14986 — (1J46 / 1J50) (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (magnetically soft Ni-Fe alloys) — ASM International (1990)
- High Permeability 49 / Alloy 48 technical datasheet — Carpenter Technology (2020)
- Soft magnetic Ni-Fe alloys (PERMENORM / MUMETALL family) data — Vacuumschmelze (VAC) (2021)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.