Stainless Steel 201 · supply condition
Stainless Steel 201-1/2 Hard
Properties of the 1/2 Hard condition, compared with the other 201 tempers.
Good balance of high strength and limited bendability for brackets, clips and structural strip.
What is 201-1/2 Hard?
201-1/2 Hard is 201 supplied in the 1/2 Hard condition — good balance of high strength and limited bendability for brackets, clips and structural strip. 201-1/2 Hard has a yield strength of 830 MPa (120 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,100 MPa (160 ksi) — stronger than 97% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 197 GPa (28.6 Msi). 201-1/2 Hard 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). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; 1/2 Hard is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High strength — 830 MPa (120 ksi), better than 97% of stainless steel grades
- Low embodied carbon — 4 kg CO₂/kg, better than 75% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), worse than 90% of stainless steel grades
- Limited ductility — 18%, worse than 83% of stainless steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 45/100, worse than 79% of stainless steel grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 52/100, worse than 77% of stainless steel grades
201-1/2 Hard properties
Typical room-temperature values for 201-1/2 Hard — 10 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 201 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the stainless steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
201-1/2 Hard 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).
Mechanical15
201-1/2 Hard has a yield strength of 830 MPa (120 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,100 MPa (160 ksi) — stronger than 97% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 197 GPa (28.6 Msi).
Thermal6
201-1/2 Hard is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 16.2 W/m·K (9.36 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 64% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 16 µm/m·K (8.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
201-1/2 Hard conducts electricity at 2.5 % IACS, better than 75% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (52/100), worse than 77% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 201-1/2 Hard takes about 42 MJ of energy and emits 4 kg of CO₂ — less than 95% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 55%.
Manufacturability7
201-1/2 Hard's machinability is fair (42/100, better than 79% of stainless steel grades); weldability fair (45/100); formability fair (40/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 201 tempers and conditions
201 is also supplied in 6 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 201 overview.
- AnnealedDefaultDefault stocked condition for forming, drawing, welding and decorative sheet/tube.380 MPa yield · 190 HB
- Full HardMaximum strength/stiffness thin strip for springs, shims and blades; essentially not formable.1,100 MPa yield · 43 HRC
- 3/4 HardFor flat spring-like strip and high-strength stampings with only slight forming.1,000 MPa yield · 40 HRC
- 1/2 HardGood balance of high strength and limited bendability for brackets, clips and structural strip.830 MPa yield · 36 HRC
- 1/4 HardUse when moderate strength is needed but some bending/forming must remain possible.570 MPa yield · 28 HRC
- Cold RolledChoose for stiffer, flatter decorative sheet and tube that still bends and roll-forms.480 MPa yield · 96 HRB
Working with 201-1/2 Hard
Is 201 easy to machine?
Gummy and strongly work-hardening — use rigid setups, sharp positive-rake carbide, heavy flood coolant, constant feed and low-to-moderate speed; expect ~40 % of 1212 rates.
Can 201 be welded?
Weld with 308L/209 filler by GTAW/GMAW or resistance spot; keep heat input low, avoid crater cracks, and provide good fume extraction because of the high manganese.
Can 201 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent deep-draw and roll-forming behaviour thanks to a high n-value, but plan for high press loads and large springback; interstage annealing helps on severe draws.
What surface finishes work on 201?
Takes No.4, hairline, mirror (8K), electropolish and PVD colour finishes well; passivate after fabrication and keep away from chloride cleaners — it stains far more easily than 304.
201 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CS20100; 201LN variants ≤0.03 | ≤ 0.15 | 0.08 |
| MnEN 1.4372: 6.0–8.0 | 5.5 – 7.5 | 6.5 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.5 |
| P | ≤ 0.06 | 0.03 |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Cr | 16 – 18 | 17 |
| Nicommodity 201 often runs 1.0-4.0 Ni (low-nickel 201) | 3.5 – 5.5 | 4.5 |
| NEN 1.4372: 0.05–0.25 | ≤ 0.25 | 0.15 |
| Cunot in ASTM limits; common residual/intentional in Chinese 201 | ≤ 1 | 0.4 |
| Fe | balance | — |
201-1/2 Hard — frequently asked
What is 201-1/2 Hard used for?
201-1/2 Hard is typically used for cookware, automotive trim and architectural panels. In short: lower-cost austenitic stainless.
What is the yield strength of 201-1/2 Hard?
201-1/2 Hard has a typical yield strength of 830 MPa (120 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,100 MPa (160 ksi) — stronger than 97% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is 201-1/2 Hard easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (42/100, better than 79% of stainless steel grades). Gummy and strongly work-hardening — use rigid setups, sharp positive-rake carbide, heavy flood coolant, constant feed and low-to-moderate speed; expect ~40 % of 1212 rates.
Can 201-1/2 Hard be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). Weld with 308L/209 filler by GTAW/GMAW or resistance spot; keep heat input low, avoid crater cracks, and provide good fume extraction because of the high manganese.
What surface finishes work on 201-1/2 Hard?
Takes No.4, hairline, mirror (8K), electropolish and PVD colour finishes well; passivate after fabrication and keep away from chloride cleaners — it stains far more easily than 304.
Can 201-1/2 Hard be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent deep-draw and roll-forming behaviour thanks to a high n-value, but plan for high press loads and large springback; interstage annealing helps on severe draws.
What is the maximum service temperature of 201-1/2 Hard?
201-1/2 Hard is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in 201-1/2 Hard?
Yes — 201-1/2 Hard 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
- ASTM A666 — Annealed or Cold-Worked Austenitic Stainless Steel Sheet, Strip, Plate and Flat Bar — ASTM International (2015)
- ASTM A240/A240M — ASTM International (2023)
- EN 10088-1/-2 (X12CrMnNiN17-7-5, 1.4372) — CEN (2014)
- GB/T 3280 (1Cr17Mn6Ni5N / 201) — SAC (2015)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Stainless Steels — ASM International (1994)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 & Vol.13B — ASM International (2005)
- Cr-Mn austenitic stainless (Outokumpu / Yieh United / Baosteel Desheng 201 datasheets) — various producers (2023)
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.