Stainless Steel 1.4122
EN 1.4122
1.4122 (X39CrMo17-1, EN 10088-3) is a 17% Cr martensitic stainless with a molybdenum addition that improves hardenability and corrosion resistance relative to plain 420-type steels.
Reference datasheet — 1.4122 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
1.4122 tempers and conditions
1.4122 is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. +A is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
+ADefault Annealed | Mill-stocked condition for machining, forming and subsequent hardening; max hardness limited by EN 10088-3. | 460 | 780 | 18 | 22 HRC | — |
Quenched and tempered, Rm 650–850 MPa | Lowest-strength Q&T delivery condition of EN 10088-3, chosen when toughness and machinability outweigh hardness. | 520 | 750 | 16 | 20 HRC | — |
Quenched and tempered, Rm 750–950 MPa | Standard supply condition for valve stems, pump shafts and fasteners needing balanced strength, toughness and corrosion resistance. | 620 | 850 | 14 | 26 HRC | — |
Cold drawn | Choose for close-tolerance shafting and screw-machine stock supplied ready-to-machine before hardening. | 650 | 880 | 12 | 27 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
Quenched and tempered, Rm 800–1000 MPa | Higher-strength Q&T bar used for shafts and mould plates where extra yield strength is required with acceptable toughness. | 680 | 900 | 12 | 30 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
Hardened and tempered to 44–48 HRC | Mid-hardness condition for mould inserts, dies and shafts needing wear resistance with some residual toughness. | 1,200 | 1,450 | 6 | 46 HRC | — |
Hardened and low-temper, 50–54 HRC | Maximum hardness and corrosion resistance condition for knife blades, scissors, wear rings and cutting tools. | 1,500 | 1,800 | 3 | 52 HRC | — |
What is 1.4122?
1.4122 (X39CrMo17-1, EN 10088-3) is a 17% Cr martensitic stainless with a molybdenum addition that improves hardenability and corrosion resistance relative to plain 420-type steels. It is stocked as annealed (+A) or cold-drawn (+C) bar and plate and in +QT650, +QT750 and +QT800 tempers, with 460 MPa yield, 780 MPa tensile, 18% elongation and 240 HB (22 HRC) as delivered, and hardens and tempers to 45–52 HRC for mould plates and valve parts. Weldability is poor (score 22), corrosion resistance is modest (score 32) and service is limited to about 400 °C. For higher hardness and wear resistance, step up to 1.4125 (440C). 1.4122 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). 1.4122 has a yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 73% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 216 GPa (31.3 Msi).
What is 1.4122 used for?
- plastic injection mold plates
- valve parts
- cutlery
- surgical instruments
- pump shafts
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 99% of stainless steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 2.9 % IACS, better than 87% of stainless steel grades
- Easy to machine — 45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 32/100, worse than 99% of stainless steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 22/100, worse than 94% of stainless steel grades
- Limited ductility — 18%, worse than 83% of stainless steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 400°C (752 °F), worse than 78% of stainless steel grades
1.4122 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1.4122-+A; bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
1.4122 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
1.4122 has a yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 73% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 216 GPa (31.3 Msi).
Thermal6
1.4122 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
1.4122 conducts electricity at 2.9 % IACS, better than 87% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (32/100), worse than 99% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1.4122 takes about 55 MJ of energy and emits 4.8 kg of CO₂ — more than 50% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 50%.
Manufacturability6
1.4122's machinability is fair (45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades); weldability poor (22/100); 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. 1.4122 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1.4122
Is 1.4122 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed condition with sharp, rigid tooling, positive-rake carbide and generous coolant; above ~45 HRC use ceramic/CBN or grind and EDM.
Can 1.4122 be welded?
Poor weldability — preheat 200–300 °C, use matching or austenitic (309/312) filler, and temper immediately after welding to avoid martensitic cracking.
Can 1.4122 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold forming is limited to gentle bends in the annealed state; hot work at 1050–850 °C followed by slow cooling and soft annealing at 750–800 °C.
1.4122 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 | 0.33 – 0.45 | 0.39 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.4 |
| Mn | ≤ 1.5 | 0.6 |
| Pimpurity | ≤ 0.04 | |
| Simpurity | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Cr | 15.5 – 17.5 | 16.5 |
| Mo | 0.8 – 1.3 | 1.05 |
| Niresidual/optional addition | ≤ 1 | 0.4 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1.4122?
Takes a high mirror polish when hardened and vacuum-melted quality is used; passivate after machining, and hard chrome or nitriding can be applied for extra wear resistance.
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 1.4122 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- X39CrMo17-110088-3
How much does 1.4122 cost?
1.4122 is a premium-cost stainless steel ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
1.4122 — frequently asked
What is 1.4122 used for?
1.4122 is typically used for plastic injection mold plates, valve parts, cutlery, surgical instruments and pump shafts. In short: mo-bearing 420 upgrade; hardens to 52 HRC; mould-plate martensitic grade.
What is the yield strength of 1.4122?
1.4122 has a typical yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 73% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is 1.4122 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades). Machine in the annealed condition with sharp, rigid tooling, positive-rake carbide and generous coolant; above ~45 HRC use ceramic/CBN or grind and EDM.
Can 1.4122 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (22/100). Poor weldability — preheat 200–300 °C, use matching or austenitic (309/312) filler, and temper immediately after welding to avoid martensitic cracking.
What surface finishes work on 1.4122?
Takes a high mirror polish when hardened and vacuum-melted quality is used; passivate after machining, and hard chrome or nitriding can be applied for extra wear resistance.
Can 1.4122 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold forming is limited to gentle bends in the annealed state; hot work at 1050–850 °C followed by slow cooling and soft annealing at 750–800 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1.4122?
1.4122 is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does 1.4122 cost?
1.4122 is a premium-cost stainless steel ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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 — CEN (2014)
- EN 10088-1 Stainless steels — List of stainless steels (physical properties) — CEN (2014)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.13B — Corrosion: Materials — ASM International (2005)
- Martensitic stainless bar/mould steel datasheets (X39CrMo17-1 class) — European stainless bar producers (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.