Stainless Steel 1.4031
EN 1.4031
1.4031 (X39Cr13, SUS420J2) is a high-carbon 13% Cr martensitic stainless that hardens to about 54–56 HRC, the common European cutlery and instrument steel of the 420 family.
Reference datasheet — 1.4031 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
1.4031 tempers and conditions
1.4031 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 Annealed | Standard supply condition for bar, strip and blanks that will be machined/blanked and hardened afterwards. | 450 | 760 | 16 | 220 HB | — |
Quenched and tempered to 800–950 MPa tensile | Choose for shafts, pins, valve parts and fittings that need moderate strength with usable ductility rather than maximum hardness (high tempering temperature). | 660 | 870 | 14 | 27 HRC | — |
Cold drawn | Pick for close-tolerance bright bar or hard strip where extra straightness and surface finish are needed before hardening. | 700 | 900 | 10 | 27 HRC | 3.1 % IACS |
Quenched and tempered to 900–1050 MPa tensile | Mill-supplied higher-strength quenched-and-tempered bar where a bit more yield strength is required and ductility can drop. | 750 | 960 | 12 | 31 HRC | — |
Hardened and tempered 350–450 °C | Used when slightly higher toughness than the cutlery temper is needed; avoid if maximum corrosion resistance matters (secondary carbide precipitation). | 1,350 | 1,600 | 5 | 49 HRC | — |
Hardened ~1030 °C, oil/air quenched, tempered 150–200 °C | The cutlery/instrument condition: maximum hardness, wear resistance and edge retention, at the cost of very low impact toughness. | 1,550 | 1,900 | 2 | 55 HRC | — |
What is 1.4031?
1.4031 (X39Cr13, SUS420J2) is a high-carbon 13% Cr martensitic stainless that hardens to about 54–56 HRC, the common European cutlery and instrument steel of the 420 family. It is supplied as annealed and cold-rolled strip and bar in +A, +C, +QT800, +QT900 and hardened tempers H+T200 / H+T400; the default condition gives roughly 450 MPa yield, 760 MPa tensile, 16% elongation and 220 HB, with service limited to 400 °C. Weldability is poor (score 20) and corrosion resistance is only moderate. Choose 1.4028 for easier processing at slightly lower hardness. 1.4031 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F). 1.4031 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 16% and the elastic modulus is 215 GPa (31.2 Msi).
What is 1.4031 used for?
- knives
- scissors
- surgical instruments
- dental tools
Advantages
- 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
- Polishes to a fine finish — 85/100, better than 97% of stainless steel grades
- Easy to machine — 45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades
- Low embodied carbon — 3.8 kg CO₂/kg, better than 77% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 20/100, worse than 95% of stainless steel grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 40/100, worse than 93% of stainless steel grades
- Limited ductility — 16%, worse than 88% of stainless steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 400°C (752 °F), worse than 78% of stainless steel grades
1.4031 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1.4031-+A; bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
1.4031 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Mechanical15
1.4031 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 16% and the elastic modulus is 215 GPa (31.2 Msi).
Thermal6
1.4031 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °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
1.4031 conducts electricity at 3.1 % IACS, better than 99% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (40/100), worse than 93% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1.4031 takes about 45 MJ of energy and emits 3.8 kg of CO₂ — less than 91% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability8
1.4031's machinability is fair (45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability fair (40/100).
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. 1.4031 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1.4031
Is 1.4031 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed condition with sharp, rigid carbide tooling, moderate speed and heavy coolant; the alloy work-hardens and is nearly ungrindable-only above ~45 HRC.
Can 1.4031 be welded?
Poor weldability due to ~0.4 %C — preheat 250–350 °C, use matching or austenitic (309/316) filler and temper immediately after welding, otherwise cracking is likely.
Can 1.4031 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in the soft annealed state and with generous bend radii; hot work 1100→850 °C followed by slow furnace cooling, harden from 1000–1050 °C in oil/air and temper below 250 °C.
1.4031 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 10088-1 X39Cr13 | 0.36 – 0.42 | 0.39 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.4 |
| Mn | ≤ 1 | 0.5 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | |
| S≤0.015 for some cutlery strip qualities | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Cr | 12.5 – 14.5 | 13.5 |
| Niresidual, mill practice limit | ≤ 0.5 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1.4031?
Takes a mirror polish; passivate in nitric or citric acid after machining and grinding, and consider hard-chrome or PVD coatings for extra wear/corrosion protection — no anodizing.
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 1.4031 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- X39Cr13
- Similar grades
- SUS420J24Cr13
How much does 1.4031 cost?
1.4031 is a standard-cost stainless steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
1.4031 — frequently asked
What is 1.4031 used for?
1.4031 is typically used for knives, scissors, surgical instruments and dental tools. In short: 54–56 HRC blade steel; hardest 13% Cr grade here; not for welded assemblies.
What is the yield strength of 1.4031?
1.4031 has a typical yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 70% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 1.4031 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades). Machine in the annealed condition with sharp, rigid carbide tooling, moderate speed and heavy coolant; the alloy work-hardens and is nearly ungrindable-only above ~45 HRC.
Can 1.4031 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Poor weldability due to ~0.4 %C — preheat 250–350 °C, use matching or austenitic (309/316) filler and temper immediately after welding, otherwise cracking is likely.
What surface finishes work on 1.4031?
Takes a mirror polish; passivate in nitric or citric acid after machining and grinding, and consider hard-chrome or PVD coatings for extra wear/corrosion protection — no anodizing.
Can 1.4031 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in the soft annealed state and with generous bend radii; hot work 1100→850 °C followed by slow furnace cooling, harden from 1000–1050 °C in oil/air and temper below 250 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1.4031?
1.4031 is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does 1.4031 cost?
1.4031 is a standard-cost stainless steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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 10088-1 Stainless steels — List of stainless steels — CEN (2014)
- EN 10088-3 Technical delivery conditions for semi-finished products, bars, rods, wire and sections — CEN (2014)
- GB/T 1220 (4Cr13) — SAC (2007)
- JIS G 4303 (SUS420J2) — JSA (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Martensitic stainless steel X39Cr13 / 1.4031 data sheet — European long-products mill (typical) (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.