Stainless Steel 1.3549
EN 1.3549
1.3549 (X89CrMoV18-1, 440C type) is a high-carbon 18% Cr martensitic stainless steel with molybdenum and vanadium additions, developed for corrosion-resistant rolling bearings.
Reference datasheet — 1.3549 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the A condition
1.3549 tempers and conditions
1.3549 is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. A is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ADefault Solution annealed | Standard as-delivered bar/tube condition for machining bearing rings and blanks before hardening. | 450 | 760 | 13 | 23 HRC | — |
Cold drawn | Pick for close-tolerance ground bar stock going straight into turning of small bearing/valve parts. | 620 | 880 | 9 | 28 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
Hardened + secondary-hardening temper 500–520 °C | Use for elevated-temperature bearings/tooling (up to ~400 °C) or when nitriding/PVD coating follows; corrosion resistance is reduced. | 1,700 | 1,850 | 2.5 | 56 HRC | — |
Hardened 1020–1060 °C + tempered ~250 °C | Choose when slightly higher toughness/impact tolerance is worth a few points of hardness (valve parts, knife blades, shafts). | 1,750 | 1,900 | 3 | 57 HRC | — |
Hardened 1030–1060 °C, oil/gas quenched + tempered 150–180 °C | Standard corrosion-resistant rolling-bearing condition: maximum hardness with best pitting resistance. | 1,900 | 2,000 | 2 | 60 HRC | — |
Hardened + deep-freeze (−80 °C) + tempered 150–180 °C | Bearing-quality route with sub-zero treatment to remove retained austenite — best dimensional stability and rolling-contact fatigue life. | 1,950 | 2,050 | 1.5 | 61 HRC | — |
What is 1.3549?
1.3549 (X89CrMoV18-1, 440C type) is a high-carbon 18% Cr martensitic stainless steel with molybdenum and vanadium additions, developed for corrosion-resistant rolling bearings. It is machined in the soft-annealed condition — 450 MPa yield, 760 MPa tensile, 13% elongation, 245 HB (23 HRC) — then hardened and tempered to 54–62 HRC for high rolling-contact fatigue life. Corrosion resistance (45) is below austenitic grades, formability (20) and machinability (30) are low, and service is limited to about 400 °C. Standard 440C/1.4125 is the nearest alternative where bearing-quality cleanliness is not required. 1.3549 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,370°C (2,498 °F). 1.3549 has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 70% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 13% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
What is 1.3549 used for?
- precision bearings
- valve balls
- corrosion-resistant rolling elements
- aerospace bearings
Advantages
- High electrical conductivity — 2.9 % IACS, better than 87% of stainless steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 24 W/m·K (13.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 81% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 10/100, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 45 MPa·√m (41 ksi·√in), worse than 95% of stainless steel grades
- Limited ductility — 13%, worse than 93% of stainless steel grades
- Limited formability — 20/100, worse than 86% of stainless steel grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 45/100, worse than 85% of stainless steel grades
1.3549 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1.3549-A; bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
1.3549 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,370°C (2,498 °F).
Mechanical17
1.3549 has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 70% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 13% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
1.3549 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 24 W/m·K (13.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 81% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.4 µm/m·K (5.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1.3549 conducts electricity at 2.9 % IACS, better than 87% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (45/100), worse than 85% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1.3549 takes about 53 MJ of energy and emits 4.7 kg of CO₂ — less than 67% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability7
1.3549's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 70% of stainless steel grades); weldability not recommended (10/100); formability poor (20/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the stainless steel family
Yield strength against density for every stainless steel grade FabDigit runs. 1.3549 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1.3549
Is 1.3549 easy to machine?
Machine only in the soft-annealed state with sharp, rigid, positive-rake carbide or CBN tooling at low speed and generous coolant; hardened parts must be ground, hard-turned with CBN, or EDM'd.
Can 1.3549 be welded?
Essentially non-weldable for structural joints — high carbon causes hard, crack-prone martensite; if unavoidable, preheat 250–300 °C, use matching or austenitic filler and temper immediately after.
Can 1.3549 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1050–1150 °C with slow cooling and immediate spheroidize anneal (~850–870 °C, slow cool); cold forming limited to light straightening — no deep drawing or sharp bends.
1.3549 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C | 0.85 – 0.95 | 0.9 |
| Si | ≤ 0.7 | 0.4 |
| Mn | ≤ 1 | 0.5 |
| Pbearing quality often ≤0.025 | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Slow-S for rolling-contact fatigue | ≤ 0.02 | |
| Cr | 17 – 19 | 18 |
| Mo | 0.9 – 1.3 | 1.1 |
| Vgrain refinement, fine carbides | 0.07 – 0.12 | 0.1 |
| Niresidual | ≤ 0.5 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1.3549?
Passivate in nitric or citric acid after hardening (ASTM A967) to restore the chromium oxide film; takes a mirror polish at 58–62 HRC and accepts hard chrome, TiN/DLC PVD (deposit below the tempering temperature).
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on stainless steel parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Passivation
Organic Coating
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Stainless Steel 1.3549 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- X89CrMoV18-1
- Similar grades
- 440C
How much does 1.3549 cost?
1.3549 is a premium-cost stainless steel ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
1.3549 — frequently asked
What is 1.3549 used for?
1.3549 is typically used for precision bearings, valve balls, corrosion-resistant rolling elements and aerospace bearings. In short: bearing-grade 440C; hardens to 62 HRC; highest hardness stainless.
What is the yield strength of 1.3549?
1.3549 has a typical yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 70% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 1.3549 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 70% of stainless steel grades). Machine only in the soft-annealed state with sharp, rigid, positive-rake carbide or CBN tooling at low speed and generous coolant; hardened parts must be ground, hard-turned with CBN, or EDM'd.
Can 1.3549 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (10/100). Essentially non-weldable for structural joints — high carbon causes hard, crack-prone martensite; if unavoidable, preheat 250–300 °C, use matching or austenitic filler and temper immediately after.
What surface finishes work on 1.3549?
Passivate in nitric or citric acid after hardening (ASTM A967) to restore the chromium oxide film; takes a mirror polish at 58–62 HRC and accepts hard chrome, TiN/DLC PVD (deposit below the tempering temperature).
Can 1.3549 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1050–1150 °C with slow cooling and immediate spheroidize anneal (~850–870 °C, slow cool); cold forming limited to light straightening — no deep drawing or sharp bends.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1.3549?
1.3549 is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does 1.3549 cost?
1.3549 is a premium-cost stainless steel ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- EN ISO 683-17 — Heat-treatable steels, alloy steels: ball and roller bearing steels — ISO/CEN (2014)
- EN 10088-3 — Stainless steels: semi-finished products, bars, rods (martensitic grades) — CEN (2014)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys (440C martensitic stainless) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.13B — Corrosion: Materials (martensitic stainless steels) — ASM International (2005)
- High-carbon Cr-Mo-V corrosion-resistant bearing steel bar datasheets (X89CrMoV18-1 / X90CrMoV18 class) — European special-steel producers (2022)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.