Stainless Steel 154CM
AISI/SAE 154CM
154CM is a high-carbon, high-chromium martensitic stainless steel with a molybdenum addition, catalogued under UNS S44004 alongside the 440C group.
Reference datasheet — 154CM 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 Annealed condition
154CM tempers and conditions
154CM is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault mill-annealed (spheroidized) bar, plate and sheet | Standard as-supplied stock condition for blanking, machining and grinding before hardening. | 450 | 760 | 13 | 235 HB | — |
730–760 °C, softening after machining or forging | Use to re-soften cold-worked or forged stock without full spheroidizing cycle. | 500 | 820 | 11 | 25 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
Hardened & tempered to 55–57 HRC | Choose for choppers, tools and parts where impact toughness matters more than peak edge life. | 1,700 | 1,900 | 2 | 56 HRC | — |
Hardened & tempered to 58–60 HRC | The mainstream heat treat for production folders and fixed blades — best balance of edge holding, toughness and stain resistance. | 1,850 | 2,050 | 1.5 | 59 HRC | — |
Austenitize + deep cryogenic (−196 °C) + double temper, 59–61 HRC | Best-practice knife heat treat: near-zero retained austenite for dimensional stability, slightly higher hardness and improved corrosion behaviour. | 1,900 | 2,150 | 1.2 | 60 HRC | — |
Hardened & tempered to 60–62 HRC | Pick for slicing-focused blades and wear parts where maximum hardness outweighs chipping risk. | 1,950 | 2,200 | 1 | 61 HRC | — |
What is 154CM?
154CM is a high-carbon, high-chromium martensitic stainless steel with a molybdenum addition, catalogued under UNS S44004 alongside the 440C group. Engineers specify it for edge retention combined with corrosion resistance, and it is stocked mainly as annealed strip and flat bar for blade blanks that are hardened to 55-57, 58-60 or 60-62 HRC. Annealed properties are 450 MPa yield, 760 MPa tensile, 13 % elongation and 235 HB, with a 400 °C service ceiling set by the temper; machinability rates 33, formability 22 and it is effectively non-weldable. ATS-34 and 440C are the nearest substitutes. 154CM has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F). 154CM has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 70% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 13% and the elastic modulus is 204 GPa (29.6 Msi).
What is 154CM used for?
- Premium knife blades
- High-performance kitchen cutlery
- Folding pocket knife blades
- Hunting and outdoor fixed blades
- Wear-resistant cutting edges
- Custom blade blanks for grinding
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 82/100, better than 95% of stainless steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 2.9 % IACS, better than 87% of stainless steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 24 W/m·K (13.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 81% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 98% of stainless steel grades
- Limited ductility — 13%, worse than 93% of stainless steel grades
- Limited formability — 22/100, worse than 82% of stainless steel grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 48/100, worse than 80% of stainless steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 400°C (752 °F), worse than 78% of stainless steel grades
154CM properties
Typical room-temperature values for 154CM-Annealed; bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
154CM has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Mechanical13
154CM has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 70% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 13% and the elastic modulus is 204 GPa (29.6 Msi).
Thermal6
154CM is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 24 W/m·K (13.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 81% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.2 µm/m·K (5.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
154CM conducts electricity at 2.9 % IACS, better than 87% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (48/100), worse than 80% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 154CM takes about 55 MJ of energy and emits 4.2 kg of CO₂ — more than 50% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability8
154CM's machinability is poor (33/100, worse than 57% of stainless steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability poor (22/100).
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. 154CM is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 154CM
Is 154CM easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed state with rigid setups, sharp carbide or coated carbide at low-to-moderate speed and generous feed; after hardening, finish by grinding/EDM only.
Can 154CM be welded?
Essentially non-weldable in service parts — high carbon promotes martensite cracking; if unavoidable, preheat 250–300 °C, use matching or 309-type filler and temper immediately.
Can 154CM be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1050–1150 °C with slow cooling and immediate anneal; cold forming limited to gentle bends in thin annealed sheet.
154CM 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 | 0.95 – 1.2 | 1.05 |
| Cr | 13.5 – 14.5 | 14 |
| Mokey difference vs 440C | 3.75 – 4.25 | 4 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.6 | 0.5 |
| Si | ≤ 0.5 | 0.3 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 154CM?
Hand or belt polish easily to mirror when hardened; passivate in nitric or citric acid after grinding, and PVD/DLC or bead-blast finishes work well below the tempering temperature.
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 154CM in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Similar grades
- S44004
How much does 154CM cost?
154CM is a high-cost stainless steel ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
154CM — frequently asked
What is 154CM used for?
154CM is typically used for premium knife blades, high-performance kitchen cutlery, folding pocket knife blades, hunting and outdoor fixed blades, wear-resistant cutting edges and custom blade blanks for grinding. In short: US 440C-class blade steel; hardens to 62 HRC; edge retention over toughness.
What is the yield strength of 154CM?
154CM has a typical yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 70% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 154CM easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (33/100, worse than 57% of stainless steel grades). Machine only in the annealed state with rigid setups, sharp carbide or coated carbide at low-to-moderate speed and generous feed; after hardening, finish by grinding/EDM only.
Can 154CM be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Essentially non-weldable in service parts — high carbon promotes martensite cracking; if unavoidable, preheat 250–300 °C, use matching or 309-type filler and temper immediately.
What surface finishes work on 154CM?
Hand or belt polish easily to mirror when hardened; passivate in nitric or citric acid after grinding, and PVD/DLC or bead-blast finishes work well below the tempering temperature.
Can 154CM be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1050–1150 °C with slow cooling and immediate anneal; cold forming limited to gentle bends in thin annealed sheet.
What is the maximum service temperature of 154CM?
154CM is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does 154CM cost?
154CM is a high-cost stainless steel ($$$$), pricier than about 78% 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
- 154CM / CPM 154 martensitic stainless data sheet — Crucible Industries (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys (440C, high-C martensitic SS) — ASM International (1990)
- ASTM A276 / A756 — Stainless steel bars and shapes — ASTM International (2017)
- ASM Handbook Vol.13B: Corrosion — Materials — ASM International (2005)
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.