Stainless Steel 1.4021 +H
Grade
EN 1.4021 · UNS S42000 · AISI/SAE 420 · JIS SUS420J1 · GB 20Cr13, 2Cr13
+H = hardened 980–1050 °C and low-temperature tempered
Full-hardness condition for blades, cutting tools, wear plates and plastic-mould inserts; lowest toughness.
Values for the +H condition
Other 1.4021 tempers and conditions
1.4021 is listed in 8 conditions; see the grade overview at 1.4021.
Compare all 8 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Softest condition for machining, cold forming or blanking before the part is hardened. | 370 | 640 | 24 | 195 HB | — |
Hot rolled | Mill hot-rolled bar for re-forging or for parts that will be fully heat treated afterwards. | 480 | 760 | 16 | 22 HRC | 3.1 % IACS |
Quenched and tempered, Rm 650–850 MPa | Highest-temper Q&T class: pick when toughness and machinability matter more than strength. | 520 | 730 | 19 | 18 HRC | — |
+QT700Default Quenched and tempered, Rm 700–850 MPa | Most widely stocked Q&T bar class — balanced strength, toughness and machinability for shafts, valve stems and fasteners. | 580 | 780 | 17 | 22 HRC | — |
Quenched and tempered, Rm 750–950 MPa | Higher-strength Q&T class for pump shafts and highly loaded bolts where some ductility is still required. | 630 | 840 | 15 | 25 HRC | — |
Cold drawn | Bright, close-tolerance bar for automatic-lathe parts and shafts that stay unhardened. | 640 | 780 | 12 | 24 HRC | 3.1 % IACS |
Quenched and tempered, Rm 800–950 MPa | Strongest standard Q&T bar class of 1.4021 — for highly stressed shafts and wear parts with reduced impact demands. | 680 | 880 | 14 | 28 HRC | — |
+HThis page Hardened 980–1050 °C and low-temperature tempered | Full-hardness condition for blades, cutting tools, wear plates and plastic-mould inserts; lowest toughness. | 1,350 | 1,600 | 6 | 48 HRC | — |
What is 1.4021 +H?
1.4021 +H is 1.4021 in the +H grade — full-hardness condition for blades, cutting tools, wear plates and plastic-mould inserts; lowest toughness. 1.4021 +H has a yield strength of 1,350 MPa (196 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,600 MPa (232 ksi) — stronger than 99% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 215 GPa (31.2 Msi). 1.4021 +H has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F). +QT700 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; +H is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 90/100, better than 100% of stainless steel grades
- High strength — 1,350 MPa (196 ksi), better than 99% of stainless steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 99% of stainless steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 3.1 % IACS, better than 99% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 22 MPa·√m (20 ksi·√in), worse than 100% of stainless steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 15/100, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades
- Limited formability — 3/100, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades
- Limited ductility — 6%, worse than 99% of stainless steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 250°C (482 °F), worse than 99% of stainless steel grades
1.4021 +H properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1.4021 +H; 20 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 1.4021 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
1.4021 +H has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F).
Mechanical16
1.4021 +H has a yield strength of 1,350 MPa (196 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,600 MPa (232 ksi) — stronger than 99% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 215 GPa (31.2 Msi).
Thermal6
1.4021 +H is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 99% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.5 µm/m·K (5.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1.4021 +H conducts electricity at 3.1 % IACS, better than 99% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (50/100), worse than 78% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1.4021 +H takes about 53 MJ of energy and emits 4.3 kg of CO₂ — less than 67% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 55%.
Manufacturability7
1.4021 +H's machinability is poor (15/100, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability not recommended (3/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 1.4021 +H
Is 1.4021 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed or ≤ 250 HB Q&T condition with sharp, rigid tooling, ~25–35 % lower speed than 304 and generous coolant; above 40 HRC switch to ceramic/CBN or grinding.
Can 1.4021 be welded?
Weldable only with preheat 200–300 °C, matching 410/420 or austenitic 309L filler, and immediate 700–750 °C temper — otherwise hard, crack-prone HAZ martensite.
Can 1.4021 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold bending and light forming only in the +A condition with generous radii (≥2t); hot work at 1100–1150 °C, stop above 900 °C, then slow-cool or anneal to avoid quench cracking.
What surface finishes work on 1.4021?
Takes a mirror or blade polish very well; passivate per ASTM A967 (nitric or citric, avoid over-pickling) after machining, and hard chrome, nitride or PVD coat where extra wear/corrosion life is needed.
1.4021 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CEN 10088-3 X20Cr13 | 0.16 – 0.25 | 0.2 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.4 |
| Mn | ≤ 1.5 | 0.5 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | — |
| S≤0.015 for improved polishability grades; free-machining variant 1.4029 has 0.15–0.35 S | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Cr | 12 – 14 | 13 |
| NiNot limited by EN 10088-3; ASTM A276 Type 420 and many mill specs cap at ~0.75 | ≤ 0.75 | 0.3 |
| Fe | balance | — |
1.4021 +H — frequently asked
What is 1.4021 +H used for?
1.4021 +H is typically used for cutlery, surgical instruments, valve trim, molds and pump shafts. In short: hardens to 45–50 HRC; workhorse 420 bar grade; stronger than 1.4006.
What is the yield strength of 1.4021 +H?
1.4021 +H has a typical yield strength of 1,350 MPa (196 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,600 MPa (232 ksi) — stronger than 99% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 1.4021 +H easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (15/100, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades). Machine in the annealed or ≤ 250 HB Q&T condition with sharp, rigid tooling, ~25–35 % lower speed than 304 and generous coolant; above 40 HRC switch to ceramic/CBN or grinding.
Can 1.4021 +H be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Weldable only with preheat 200–300 °C, matching 410/420 or austenitic 309L filler, and immediate 700–750 °C temper — otherwise hard, crack-prone HAZ martensite.
What surface finishes work on 1.4021 +H?
Takes a mirror or blade polish very well; passivate per ASTM A967 (nitric or citric, avoid over-pickling) after machining, and hard chrome, nitride or PVD coat where extra wear/corrosion life is needed.
Can 1.4021 +H be formed, bent or molded?
Cold bending and light forming only in the +A condition with generous radii (≥2t); hot work at 1100–1150 °C, stop above 900 °C, then slow-cool or anneal to avoid quench cracking.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1.4021 +H?
1.4021 +H is rated for continuous use to about 250°C (482 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- EN 10088-1 Stainless steels — List of stainless steels — CEN (2014)
- EN 10088-3 Stainless steels — Semi-finished products, bars, rods, wire, sections and bright products — CEN (2014)
- ASTM A276/A276M Stainless Steel Bars and Shapes (Type 420 / UNS S42000) — ASTM International (2017)
- GB/T 1220 (20Cr13) — SAC (2007)
- JIS G4303 Stainless steel bars (SUS420J1) — JSA (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Specialty Handbook — Stainless Steels — ASM International (1994)
- Martensitic stainless bar datasheets (1.4021 / 420) — Outokumpu / Sandvik / Böhler-Uddeholm (2023)
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.