Stainless Steel 1.4116 · heat-treated state

Stainless Steel 1.4116 Hardened & Tempered

Properties of the Hardened & Tempered condition, compared with the other 1.4116 tempers.

Standard finished-blade condition: best balance of edge holding, toughness and corrosion resistance.

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Quote a part in 1.4116 Hardened & Tempered 1.4116 overview

What is 1.4116 Hardened & Tempered?

1.4116 Hardened & Tempered is 1.4116 heat treated to Hardened & Tempered — standard finished-blade condition: best balance of edge holding, toughness and corrosion resistance. 1.4116 Hardened & Tempered has a yield strength of 1,650 MPa (239 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,950 MPa (283 ksi) — stronger than 100% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 215 GPa (31.2 Msi). 1.4116 Hardened & Tempered 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). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Hardened & Tempered is available on request or by drawing note.

Advantages

High strength — 1,650 MPa (239 ksi), better than 100% of stainless steel grades
Conducts heat well — 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 99% of stainless steel grades
Polishes to a fine finish — 85/100, better than 97% of stainless steel grades
High electrical conductivity — 2.9 % IACS, better than 87% of stainless steel grades

Limitations

Limited ductility — 2%, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades
Limited service temperature — 150°C (302 °F), worse than 100% of stainless steel grades
Difficult to machine — 10/100, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades
Difficult to weld — 10/100, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades
Limited formability — 5/100, worse than 99% of stainless steel grades

1.4116 Hardened & Tempered properties

Typical room-temperature values for 1.4116 Hardened & Tempered — 17 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 1.4116 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the stainless steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.

Physical3

1.4116 Hardened & Tempered 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).

Density7.7 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³

Melting Point (Solidus)1,420°C2,588 °F

Liquidus Temperature1,480°C2,696 °F

Mechanical14

1.4116 Hardened & Tempered has a yield strength of 1,650 MPa (239 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,950 MPa (283 ksi) — stronger than 100% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 215 GPa (31.2 Msi).

Elastic (Young's) Modulus215 GPa31.2 Msi

Shear Modulus82 GPa11.9 Msi

Bulk Modulus160 GPa23.2 Msi

Poisson's Ratio0.28

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)1,950 MPa283 ksi

Yield Strength (0.2% offset)1,650 MPa239 ksi

Elongation at Break2%

Reduction in Area40%

Shear Strength1,200 MPa174 ksi

Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)750 MPa109 ksi

Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)10 J7.4 ft·lbf

Hardness, Brinell240 HB

Hardness, Rockwell B99 HRB

Hardness, Vickers600 HV

Thermal6

1.4116 Hardened & Tempered is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °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).

Thermal Conductivity30 W/m·K17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Specific Heat Capacity460 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)10.5 µm/m·K5.8 µin/in·°F

Latent Heat of Fusion270 J/g116 BTU/lb

Max Service Temperature (continuous)150°C302 °F

Min Service Temperature-50°C-58 °F

Electrical3

1.4116 Hardened & Tempered conducts electricity at 2.9 % IACS, better than 87% of stainless steel grades.

Electrical Conductivity2.9 % IACS

Electrical Resistivity6×10⁻⁷ Ω·m23.6 µΩ·in

Magnetic Responseferromagnetic

Chemical & Environmental3

Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 71% of stainless steel grades.

Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)-0.3 V

Corrosion ResistanceGood55/100

Chemical Resistance SummaryGood against fresh water, food acids in short contact, alcohols and dilute organics when polished and passive; attacked by chlorides (salt, brine, sea water), bleach, mineral acids and prolonged wet acidic food residues — blades must be wiped dry.

Sustainability4

Producing a kilogram of 1.4116 Hardened & Tempered takes about 50 MJ of energy and emits 4.8 kg of CO₂ — less than 81% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 50%.

Embodied Energy (primary production)50 MJ/kg21,496 BTU/lb

Embodied Carbon (primary production)4.8 kg CO₂/kg

Embodied Water100 L/kg12 gal/lb

Typical Recycled Content50%

Manufacturability7

1.4116 Hardened & Tempered's machinability is not recommended (10/100, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades); weldability not recommended (10/100); formability not recommended (5/100).

MachinabilityNot recommended10/100

Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)8%

WeldabilityNot recommended10/100

Formability (cold)Not recommended5/100

Brazeability / SolderabilityFair45/100

PolishabilityExcellent85/100

Anodizing Responsen/a — ferrous alloy; use passivation, electropolishing or PVD coatings instead

Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.

Other 1.4116 tempers and conditions

1.4116 is also supplied in 4 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 1.4116 overview.

AnnealedDefaultPick for blanking, stamping, machining and forging of blades before hardening.450 MPa yield · 240 HB
H&T 56-58 HRCPick for thin kitchen/scalpel edges where wear resistance matters more than impact toughness.1,750 MPa yield · 57 HRC
Hardened & TemperedStandard finished-blade condition: best balance of edge holding, toughness and corrosion resistance.1,650 MPa yield · 55 HRC
H&T 50-52 HRCPick for large or impact-loaded blades, cleavers and machine knives where chipping must be avoided.1,450 MPa yield · 51 HRC
Cold RolledPick when thin strip must hold flatness/temper for stamping small blades before hardening.750 MPa yield · 300 HB

Working with 1.4116 Hardened & Tempered

Is 1.4116 easy to machine?

Machine only in the annealed state with sharp carbide tools, rigid setups and flood coolant (≈45 % of 1212); after hardening, work by grinding/EDM only.

Can 1.4116 be welded?

Effectively non-weldable for structural joints — high carbon gives hard, crack-sensitive HAZ; if unavoidable, preheat 250–300 °C, use austenitic filler and post-weld temper.

Can 1.4116 be formed, bent or molded?

Blank, stamp and forge in the annealed condition (forge 1050–1100 °C, slow cool, then anneal ~800–850 °C); harden from 1020–1080 °C with oil/air quench and temper 150–250 °C.

What surface finishes work on 1.4116?

Grinds and polishes to a bright mirror finish; passivate or electropolish after grinding for best stainless behaviour, or apply PVD/DLC coatings below the tempering temperature.

1.4116 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	0.45 – 0.55	0.5
Si	≤ 1	0.4
Mn	≤ 1	0.5
P	≤ 0.04	—
Smax per EN 10088-3; some suppliers 0.030 max	≤ 0.02	—
Cr	14 – 15	14.5
Mo	0.5 – 0.8	0.65
V	0.1 – 0.2	0.15
Fe	balance	—

1.4116 Hardened & Tempered — frequently asked

What is 1.4116 Hardened & Tempered used for?

1.4116 Hardened & Tempered is typically used for kitchen and chef knives, pocket and folding knife blades, surgical and dental instruments, scissors and shears, food processing blades and scalpel and razor blades. In short: cutlery-grade German stainless.

What is the yield strength of 1.4116 Hardened & Tempered?

1.4116 Hardened & Tempered has a typical yield strength of 1,650 MPa (239 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,950 MPa (283 ksi) — stronger than 100% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.

Is 1.4116 Hardened & Tempered easy to machine?

Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (10/100, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades). Machine only in the annealed state with sharp carbide tools, rigid setups and flood coolant (≈45 % of 1212); after hardening, work by grinding/EDM only.

Can 1.4116 Hardened & Tempered be welded?

Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (10/100). Effectively non-weldable for structural joints — high carbon gives hard, crack-sensitive HAZ; if unavoidable, preheat 250–300 °C, use austenitic filler and post-weld temper.

What surface finishes work on 1.4116 Hardened & Tempered?

Grinds and polishes to a bright mirror finish; passivate or electropolish after grinding for best stainless behaviour, or apply PVD/DLC coatings below the tempering temperature.

Can 1.4116 Hardened & Tempered be formed, bent or molded?

Blank, stamp and forge in the annealed condition (forge 1050–1100 °C, slow cool, then anneal ~800–850 °C); harden from 1020–1080 °C with oil/air quench and temper 150–250 °C.

What is the maximum service temperature of 1.4116 Hardened & Tempered?

1.4116 Hardened & Tempered is rated for continuous use to about 150°C (302 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.

Can FabDigit make parts in 1.4116 Hardened & Tempered?

Yes — 1.4116 Hardened & Tempered is available for CNC machining and sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.

Sources

EN 10088-1/-2/-3 Stainless steels — X50CrMoV15 (1.4116) — CEN (2014)
GB/T 1220 / 5Cr15MoV — SAC (2007)
ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
ASM Handbook Vol.13B / Vol.16 — Corrosion and Machining — ASM International (2005)
Cutlery strip steel datasheets (1.4116 / X50CrMoV15) — European strip 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.