Stainless Steel 1.4104
EN 1.4104 · UNS S43020 · ASTM A582 · JIS SUS430F · GB Y1Cr17
1.4104 (X14CrMoS17, 430F / S43020, SUS430F) is a free-machining 17 % chromium stainless with molybdenum and a deliberate sulfur addition, covered by ASTM A582.
Reference datasheet — 1.4104 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
1.4104 tempers and conditions
1.4104 is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. +A is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
+ADefault Annealed | Standard stock condition for high-volume automatic-lathe turning; best machinability, lowest strength. | 340 | 560 | 20 | 185 HB | — |
Cold drawn / cold worked, Rm ≥ 550 MPa | Cold-drawn ground/peeled bar: tighter tolerance and straightness with higher strength, chosen for shafts and pins machined from bar. | 500 | 650 | 12 | 215 HB | — |
Quenched and tempered, Rm 650–850 MPa | Standard hardened-and-tempered bar condition of EN 10088-3 when moderate strength plus wear resistance is required. | 550 | 750 | 15 | 21 HRC | — |
Hardened | Post-machining hardening (≈1000–1050 °C oil/air quench + 200–300 °C temper) for wear parts; toughness and corrosion resistance are marginal. | 950 | 1,250 | 6 | 43 HRC | — |
What is 1.4104?
1.4104 (X14CrMoS17, 430F / S43020, SUS430F) is a free-machining 17 % chromium stainless with molybdenum and a deliberate sulfur addition, covered by ASTM A582. It is a first choice for high-volume Swiss and CNC turned parts, cutting at about 70 % of AISI 1212 with short chips, and is supplied as bar at 340 MPa yield, 560 MPa tensile and 185 HB in the annealed condition. The sulfides make it effectively unweldable, reduce transverse ductility and lower corrosion resistance (score 35); service is limited to about 550 °C. Use 1.4305 (303) where a more corrosion-resistant free-machining bar is needed. 1.4104 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). 1.4104 has a yield strength of 340 MPa (49.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) — weaker than 55% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 215 GPa (31.2 Msi).
What is 1.4104 used for?
- valve stems
- screws
- precision turned components
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 78/100, better than 99% of stainless steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 25 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 93% of stainless steel grades
- Low embodied carbon — 3.8 kg CO₂/kg, better than 77% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 40/100, worse than 99% of stainless steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 98% of stainless steel grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 35/100, worse than 97% of stainless steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 45 MPa·√m (41 ksi·√in), worse than 95% of stainless steel grades
- Limited ductility — 20%, worse than 79% of stainless steel grades
1.4104 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1.4104-+A; bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
1.4104 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).
Mechanical16
1.4104 has a yield strength of 340 MPa (49.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) — weaker than 55% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 215 GPa (31.2 Msi).
Thermal6
1.4104 is rated for continuous service to 550°C (1,022 °F). It conducts heat at 25 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 93% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10 µm/m·K (5.56 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1.4104 conducts electricity at 2.5 % IACS, better than 75% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (35/100), worse than 97% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1.4104 takes about 50 MJ of energy and emits 3.8 kg of CO₂ — less than 80% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 65%.
Manufacturability8
1.4104's machinability is very good (78/100, better than 99% of stainless steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability poor (30/100).
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. 1.4104 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1.4104
Is 1.4104 easy to machine?
Excellent free-cutting behaviour — high feeds on CNC/Swiss lathes, short chips, ~70 % of AISI 1212; use sharp carbide, moderate speed and sulfurised oil to avoid work-hardened smearing.
Can 1.4104 be welded?
Effectively unweldable — the high sulfur causes hot cracking and the martensitic matrix hardens in the HAZ; if unavoidable, preheat 200–300 °C, use 309-type filler and temper afterwards.
Can 1.4104 be formed, bent or molded?
Poor cold formability and low transverse ductility; bending, heading or thread rolling should be limited, roll or cut threads with generous radii, hot work 900–1150 °C followed by slow cooling/annealing.
1.4104 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 X14CrMoS17 | 0.1 – 0.17 | 0.14 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.5 |
| Mncombines with S as MnS chip breakers | ≤ 1.5 | 1 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.03 |
| Sfree-machining addition | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Cr | 15.5 – 17.5 | 16.5 |
| Mo | 0.2 – 0.6 | 0.4 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1.4104?
Passivate in nitric acid (ASTM A967) after machining — citric passivation works poorly on high-S grades; hard chrome or nickel plating is common for wear/corrosion upgrades, and high-gloss polishing shows sulfide pitting.
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 1.4104 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- S43020
- ASTM
- A582
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- X14CrMoS17
- GB (China)
- Y1Cr17
- JIS
- SUS430F
- Similar grades
- 430FX6CrMoS17
How much does 1.4104 cost?
1.4104 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.
1.4104 — frequently asked
What is 1.4104 used for?
1.4104 is typically used for valve stems, screws and precision turned components. In short: free-cutting 430F bar; highest machinability in family; turned parts only, not welded.
What is the yield strength of 1.4104?
1.4104 has a typical yield strength of 340 MPa (49.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) — weaker than 55% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is 1.4104 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (78/100, better than 99% of stainless steel grades). Excellent free-cutting behaviour — high feeds on CNC/Swiss lathes, short chips, ~70 % of AISI 1212; use sharp carbide, moderate speed and sulfurised oil to avoid work-hardened smearing.
Can 1.4104 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Effectively unweldable — the high sulfur causes hot cracking and the martensitic matrix hardens in the HAZ; if unavoidable, preheat 200–300 °C, use 309-type filler and temper afterwards.
What surface finishes work on 1.4104?
Passivate in nitric acid (ASTM A967) after machining — citric passivation works poorly on high-S grades; hard chrome or nickel plating is common for wear/corrosion upgrades, and high-gloss polishing shows sulfide pitting.
Can 1.4104 be formed, bent or molded?
Poor cold formability and low transverse ductility; bending, heading or thread rolling should be limited, roll or cut threads with generous radii, hot work 900–1150 °C followed by slow cooling/annealing.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1.4104?
1.4104 is rated for continuous use to about 550°C (1,022 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 1.4104 +A and 1.4104-H?
+A is the default condition — standard stock condition for high-volume automatic-lathe turning; best machinability, lowest strength. H: post-machining hardening (≈1000–1050 °C oil/air quench + 200–300 °C temper) for wear parts; toughness and corrosion resistance are marginal. Yield strength is 340 MPa in +A versus 950 MPa in H.
How much does 1.4104 cost?
1.4104 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 10088-3 Stainless steels — semi-finished products, bars, rods, sections for general purposes — CEN (2014)
- EN 10088-1 Stainless steels — List of stainless steels (physical properties) — CEN (2014)
- ASTM A582/A582M Free-Machining Stainless Steel Bars (Type 430F) — ASTM (2021)
- GB/T 1220 (Y1Cr17) — SAC (2007)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Free-machining stainless bar 1.4104/430F data sheet — Sandvik / Deutsche Edelstahlwerke (typical bar data) (2020)
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.