Stainless Steel 1.4590
EN 1.4590
1.4590 (X2CrNbZr17) is a 17% Cr ferritic stainless steel dual-stabilized with niobium and zirconium, which ties up carbon and nitrogen and keeps the weld heat-affected zone free of sensitisation and reasonably tough.
Reference datasheet — 1.4590 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
1.4590 tempers and conditions
1.4590 is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. A is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
As-welded deposit | Property set for welded joints: Nb+Zr stabilisation keeps the HAZ ductile and immune to intergranular attack without post-weld annealing. | 285 | 455 | 22 | 162 HB | 2.9 % IACS |
ADefault Solution annealed | Standard stocked condition for exhaust and heat-transfer sheet: maximum ductility and best formability. | 290 | 470 | 30 | 155 HB | — |
CW 1/4-Hard | Light cold work for higher yield strength and improved flatness/springiness where deep drawing is not needed. | 450 | 560 | 15 | 13 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways 1.4590 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
1D | Hot rolled, annealed and pickled plate/strip | Surface finish |
2R | 2R | Surface finish |
What is 1.4590?
1.4590 (X2CrNbZr17) is a 17% Cr ferritic stainless steel dual-stabilized with niobium and zirconium, which ties up carbon and nitrogen and keeps the weld heat-affected zone free of sensitisation and reasonably tough. It is specified for welded exhaust tube and formed sheet in A, 1D, 2R and cold-worked conditions, with annealed values near 290 MPa yield, 470 MPa tensile, 30% elongation and 155 HB and service to 900 °C. Chloride pitting resistance (score 55) stays below 316 and the grade cannot be hardened by heat treatment; 1.4509 (441) is the usual alternative where Nb+Zr material is not stocked. 1.4590 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F). 1.4590 has a yield strength of 290 MPa (42.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) — weaker than 72% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 220 GPa (31.9 Msi).
What is 1.4590 used for?
- automotive exhaust systems
- catalytic converter housings
- heat shields
- tubing
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 25 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 93% of stainless steel grades
- Low embodied carbon — 3.4 kg CO₂/kg, better than 91% of stainless steel grades
- Easy to machine — 50/100, better than 90% of stainless steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 2.9 % IACS, better than 87% of stainless steel grades
- High service temperature — 900°C (1,652 °F), better than 85% of stainless steel grades
1.4590 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1.4590-A; bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
1.4590 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical14
1.4590 has a yield strength of 290 MPa (42.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) — weaker than 72% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 220 GPa (31.9 Msi).
Thermal6
1.4590 is rated for continuous service to 900°C (1,652 °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
1.4590 conducts electricity at 2.9 % IACS, better than 87% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 71% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1.4590 takes about 52 MJ of energy and emits 3.4 kg of CO₂ — less than 76% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 70%.
Manufacturability7
1.4590's machinability is fair (50/100, better than 90% of stainless steel grades); weldability very good (80/100); formability very good (70/100).
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. 1.4590 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1.4590
Is 1.4590 easy to machine?
Machines like 430/439 — use sharp positive-rake carbide, rigid setup, generous coolant and moderate speed to avoid built-up edge and work-hardened skin.
Can 1.4590 be welded?
Excellent: TIG/MIG/laser and resistance welding without post-weld anneal; Nb+Zr prevents sensitisation, use Ar (+He) shielding, low heat input and back purging to limit grain coarsening.
Can 1.4590 be formed, bent or molded?
Good deep-drawability and low springback versus austenitics; anisotropy is modest, but bend radii should be ≥1t and heavily cold-worked edges deburred before forming.
1.4590 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cextra-low carbon | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.4 |
| Mn | ≤ 1 | 0.4 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.03 |
| S | ≤ 0.02 | 0 |
| Cr | 16 – 17.5 | 16.8 |
| Nbprimary stabiliser; Nb+Zr set to ≥12×(C+N) per EN 10088-2 | 0.2 – 1 | 0.45 |
| Zrco-stabiliser, refines weld-metal grain | 0.05 – 0.6 | 0.2 |
| N | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1.4590?
Passivate or electropolish after pickling; can be brushed, bright-annealed or Ni/Cr plated — do not anodise; protect from carbon-steel contamination to avoid rust staining.
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 1.4590 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- X2CrNbZr17
How much does 1.4590 cost?
1.4590 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.
1.4590 — frequently asked
What is 1.4590 used for?
1.4590 is typically used for automotive exhaust systems, catalytic converter housings, heat shields and tubing. In short: dual-stabilised Nb+Zr ferritic; 900 °C exhaust grade; sensitisation-free welds.
What is the yield strength of 1.4590?
1.4590 has a typical yield strength of 290 MPa (42.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) — weaker than 72% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is 1.4590 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (50/100, better than 90% of stainless steel grades). Machines like 430/439 — use sharp positive-rake carbide, rigid setup, generous coolant and moderate speed to avoid built-up edge and work-hardened skin.
Can 1.4590 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (80/100). Excellent: TIG/MIG/laser and resistance welding without post-weld anneal; Nb+Zr prevents sensitisation, use Ar (+He) shielding, low heat input and back purging to limit grain coarsening.
What surface finishes work on 1.4590?
Passivate or electropolish after pickling; can be brushed, bright-annealed or Ni/Cr plated — do not anodise; protect from carbon-steel contamination to avoid rust staining.
Can 1.4590 be formed, bent or molded?
Good deep-drawability and low springback versus austenitics; anisotropy is modest, but bend radii should be ≥1t and heavily cold-worked edges deburred before forming.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1.4590?
1.4590 is rated for continuous use to about 900°C (1,652 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 1.4590-A and 1.4590-AW?
A is the default condition — standard stocked condition for exhaust and heat-transfer sheet: maximum ductility and best formability. AW: property set for welded joints: Nb+Zr stabilisation keeps the HAZ ductile and immune to intergranular attack without post-weld annealing. Yield strength is 290 MPa in A versus 285 MPa in AW.
How much does 1.4590 cost?
1.4590 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 10088-2 Stainless steels — Technical delivery conditions for sheet/plate and strip for corrosion resisting purposes — CEN (2014)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Stabilised ferritic stainless steels for automotive exhaust systems — Outokumpu / Aperam (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.