Stainless Steel 1.3549 QT 500 (54-57 HRC)
Other
EN 1.3549
QT 500 (54-57 HRC) = 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.
Values for the QT 500 (54-57 HRC) condition
Other 1.3549 tempers and conditions
1.3549 is listed in 6 conditions; see the grade overview at 1.3549.
- A
- +C
- QT 500 (54-57 HRC)
- QT 55-58 HRC
- QT 58-62 HRC
- QT+DF 60-62 HRC
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 |
QT 500 (54-57 HRC)This page 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 QT 500 (54-57 HRC)?
1.3549 QT 500 (54-57 HRC) is 1.3549 in the QT 500 (54-57 HRC) condition — use for elevated-temperature bearings/tooling (up to ~400 °C) or when nitriding/PVD coating follows; corrosion resistance is reduced. 1.3549 QT 500 (54-57 HRC) has a yield strength of 1,700 MPa (247 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,850 MPa (268 ksi) — stronger than 100% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 2.5% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi). 1.3549 QT 500 (54-57 HRC) 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). A is the default condition FabDigit quotes; QT 500 (54-57 HRC) is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High strength — 1,700 MPa (247 ksi), better than 100% of stainless steel grades
- 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
- Limited ductility — 2.5%, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 6/100, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades
- 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
- Needs corrosion protection — 40/100, worse than 93% of stainless steel grades
1.3549 QT 500 (54-57 HRC) properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1.3549 QT 500 (54-57 HRC); 10 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 1.3549 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
1.3549 QT 500 (54-57 HRC) 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 QT 500 (54-57 HRC) has a yield strength of 1,700 MPa (247 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,850 MPa (268 ksi) — stronger than 100% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 2.5% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
1.3549 QT 500 (54-57 HRC) 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 QT 500 (54-57 HRC) conducts electricity at 2.9 % IACS, better than 87% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (40/100), worse than 93% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1.3549 QT 500 (54-57 HRC) 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 QT 500 (54-57 HRC)'s machinability is not recommended (6/100, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades); weldability not recommended (10/100); formability poor (20/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 1.3549 QT 500 (54-57 HRC)
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.
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).
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 | — |
1.3549 QT 500 (54-57 HRC) — frequently asked
What is 1.3549 QT 500 (54-57 HRC) used for?
1.3549 QT 500 (54-57 HRC) 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 QT 500 (54-57 HRC)?
1.3549 QT 500 (54-57 HRC) has a typical yield strength of 1,700 MPa (247 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,850 MPa (268 ksi) — stronger than 100% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 1.3549 QT 500 (54-57 HRC) easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (6/100, worse than 100% 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 QT 500 (54-57 HRC) 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 QT 500 (54-57 HRC)?
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 QT 500 (54-57 HRC) 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 QT 500 (54-57 HRC)?
1.3549 QT 500 (54-57 HRC) 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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.