Stainless Steel 1.4618
EN 1.4618
1.4618 (X9CrMnNiCu17-8-5-2) is a manganese-substituted, copper-bearing austenitic stainless developed as an economical, low-work-hardening alternative to 18-8 grades for cold heading and free-machining fastener production.
Reference datasheet — 1.4618 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 CR condition
1.4618 tempers and conditions
1.4618 is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. CR 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hot rolled | Pick for thicker sections, hot-rolled wire rod feedstock and bar to be machined or re-drawn; rougher surface, lowest strength. | 300 | 640 | 50 | 180 HB | — |
solution annealed (softest supply condition) | Pick for maximum ductility before deep cold heading, multi-station forming or after intermediate anneals. | 320 | 650 | 50 | 185 HB | — |
CRDefault Cold rolled | Default stocked flat product: cold-rolled strip for stamped, drawn or cold-headed fastener blanks with a smooth 2B surface. | 350 | 680 | 45 | 195 HB | — |
Stress relieved | Post-forming low-temperature treatment to relax heading stresses and restore magnetic/corrosion behaviour on finished parts. | 420 | 700 | 35 | 14 HRC | 2.4 % IACS |
cold drawn to a specified tensile strength range (1/4-hard equivalent) | Choose when a defined intermediate strength/head-forming balance is needed for partly headed or thread-rolled parts. | 520 | 780 | 28 | 21 HRC | 2.4 % IACS |
cold drawn wire / bar (cold heading quality, coated) | Standard cold-heading wire condition: drawn to size with lubricant carrier for screws, bolts and self-tapping fasteners. | 600 | 800 | 22 | 22 HRC | — |
Half hard | Use where spring-back, stiffness or hardness matters more than formability, e.g. clips, washers and roll-formed profiles. | 750 | 950 | 12 | 29 HRC | — |
What is 1.4618?
1.4618 (X9CrMnNiCu17-8-5-2) is a manganese-substituted, copper-bearing austenitic stainless developed as an economical, low-work-hardening alternative to 18-8 grades for cold heading and free-machining fastener production. It is used as CHQ wire and bar in annealed, cold-rolled, cold-drawn, half-hard and stress-relieved conditions, giving 350 MPa yield, 680 MPa tensile, 45 % elongation and 195 HB (91 HRB) with formability rated 88. Corrosion resistance (55) and weldability (55) are below 304, service is limited to about 400 °C, and machinability is moderate at 45. Choose 1.4650 or 304 where welded joints or chloride exposure govern. 1.4618 has a density of 7.8 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), heavier than 50% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F). 1.4618 has a yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 680 MPa (98.6 ksi) — weaker than 52% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 45% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
What is 1.4618 used for?
- cold-headed fasteners
- rivets
- decorative trim
- free-machined small parts
Advantages
- Forms and bends easily — 88/100, better than 97% of stainless steel grades
- Easy to machine — 45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 45%, better than 76% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 400°C (752 °F), worse than 78% of stainless steel grades
1.4618 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1.4618-CR; bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
1.4618 has a density of 7.8 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), heavier than 50% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Mechanical16
1.4618 has a yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 680 MPa (98.6 ksi) — weaker than 52% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 45% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
1.4618 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 15 W/m·K (8.67 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 59% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 16.5 µm/m·K (9.17 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1.4618 conducts electricity at 2.4 % IACS, better than 67% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 71% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1.4618 takes about 50 MJ of energy and emits 4.6 kg of CO₂ — less than 80% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 65%.
Manufacturability7
1.4618's machinability is fair (45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades); weldability good (55/100); formability excellent (88/100).
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. 1.4618 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1.4618
Is 1.4618 easy to machine?
Machines somewhat more freely than 304 thanks to the low work-hardening Cu addition, but still gummy — use rigid setups, positive rake carbide, high feed, low-to-moderate speed and flood coolant; resulphurised lots improve chip break.
Can 1.4618 be welded?
Weldable by TIG/MIG/resistance methods with 307/308L-type or Cr-Mn filler; keep heat input low and avoid interpass overheating because the high C and Cu raise hot-cracking and sensitization risk — no post-weld anneal on fasteners means reduced corrosion margin at welds.
Can 1.4618 be formed, bent or molded?
Its main strength: low work-hardening rate gives excellent multi-station cold heading, thread rolling and deep drawing with lower tool loads and fewer intermediate anneals than 18-8 grades.
1.4618 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cthe '9' in X9 | 0.06 – 0.12 | 0.09 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.5 |
| Mnpartial Ni substitute | 7 – 9 | 8 |
| P | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Sresulphurised variants supplied for improved machining | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Cr | 16 – 18 | 17 |
| Ni | 4 – 6 | 5 |
| Culowers work-hardening rate for cold heading | 1.5 – 2.5 | 2 |
| N | ≤ 0.11 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1.4618?
Passivate or electropolish after forming to restore the chromium oxide film; takes a good mechanical polish or bright anneal, but manganese-rich surfaces stain more readily than 304 so avoid chloride-laden environments and never anodize.
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 1.4618 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- X9CrMnNiCu17-8-5-2
How much does 1.4618 cost?
1.4618 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.
1.4618 — frequently asked
What is 1.4618 used for?
1.4618 is typically used for cold-headed fasteners, rivets, decorative trim and free-machined small parts. In short: low-nickel Cr-Mn austenitic; low work-hardening for heading; cheaper 18-8 substitute.
What is the yield strength of 1.4618?
1.4618 has a typical yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 680 MPa (98.6 ksi) — weaker than 52% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is 1.4618 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades). Machines somewhat more freely than 304 thanks to the low work-hardening Cu addition, but still gummy — use rigid setups, positive rake carbide, high feed, low-to-moderate speed and flood coolant; resulphurised lots improve chip break.
Can 1.4618 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (55/100). Weldable by TIG/MIG/resistance methods with 307/308L-type or Cr-Mn filler; keep heat input low and avoid interpass overheating because the high C and Cu raise hot-cracking and sensitization risk — no post-weld anneal on fasteners means reduced corrosion margin at welds.
What surface finishes work on 1.4618?
Passivate or electropolish after forming to restore the chromium oxide film; takes a good mechanical polish or bright anneal, but manganese-rich surfaces stain more readily than 304 so avoid chloride-laden environments and never anodize.
Can 1.4618 be formed, bent or molded?
Its main strength: low work-hardening rate gives excellent multi-station cold heading, thread rolling and deep drawing with lower tool loads and fewer intermediate anneals than 18-8 grades.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1.4618?
1.4618 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.
What is the difference between 1.4618-CR and 1.4618-C?
CR is the default condition — default stocked flat product: cold-rolled strip for stamped, drawn or cold-headed fastener blanks with a smooth 2B surface. C: standard cold-heading wire condition: drawn to size with lubricant carrier for screws, bolts and self-tapping fasteners. Yield strength is 350 MPa in CR versus 600 MPa in C.
How much does 1.4618 cost?
1.4618 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 10263-5 — Steel rod, bars and wire for cold heading and cold extrusion: stainless steels — CEN (2017)
- EN 10088-1/-3 — Stainless steels: list of grades, semi-finished products, bars, rods, wire — CEN (2014)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Cold-heading stainless wire grade datasheets (Cr-Mn-Ni-Cu austenitics) — European stainless wire 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.