Stainless Steel 409 Cold Drawn
Supply condition
AISI/SAE 409 · UNS S40900 · EN 1.4512, X2CrTi12 · JIS SUS409L, SUS409 · GB 06Cr11Ti, 022Cr12Ti
Bar/wire condition with higher strength and better machining chip control; ductility reduced.
Values for the Cold Drawn condition
Other 409 tempers and conditions
409 is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at 409.
- Annealed
- Temper Rolled
- Cold Drawn
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault mill annealed (ASTM A240 / EN 1.4512 solution condition) | Standard stocked condition for exhaust sheet, strip and tube; best formability and weldability. | 250 | 450 | 30 | 150 HB | 2.9 % IACS |
lightly cold worked strip | Small amount of cold reduction to raise yield strength and suppress stretcher strains in roll-formed tube. | 330 | 490 | 22 | 170 HB | 2.9 % IACS |
Cold DrawnThis page bar and wire, as-drawn (not re-annealed) | Bar/wire condition with higher strength and better machining chip control; ductility reduced. | 450 | 550 | 15 | 195 HB | 2.9 % IACS |
What is 409 Cold Drawn?
409 Cold Drawn is 409 supplied in the Cold Drawn condition — bar/wire condition with higher strength and better machining chip control; ductility reduced. 409 Cold Drawn has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — stronger than 70% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi). 409 Cold Drawn has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,482°C (2,700 °F). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Cold Drawn is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 60/100, better than 98% of stainless steel grades
- Low embodied carbon — 2.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 98% of stainless steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 24.9 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 87% of stainless steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 2.9 % IACS, better than 87% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 38/100, worse than 95% of stainless steel grades
- Limited ductility — 15%, worse than 89% of stainless steel grades
- Hard to polish — 55/100, worse than 89% of stainless steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 400°C (752 °F), worse than 78% of stainless steel grades
409 Cold Drawn properties
Typical room-temperature values for 409 Cold Drawn; 21 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 409 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
409 Cold Drawn has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,482°C (2,700 °F).
Mechanical15
409 Cold Drawn has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — stronger than 70% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
409 Cold Drawn is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 24.9 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 87% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.7 µm/m·K (6.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
409 Cold Drawn conducts electricity at 2.9 % IACS, better than 87% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (38/100), worse than 95% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 409 Cold Drawn takes about 40 MJ of energy and emits 2.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 97% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 65%.
Manufacturability7
409 Cold Drawn's machinability is good (60/100, better than 98% of stainless steel grades); weldability very good (75/100); formability fair (50/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 409 Cold Drawn
Is 409 easy to machine?
Machines more easily than 304 (softer, lower work hardening) but chips are stringy — use sharp positive-rake carbide, rigid setup and generous coolant.
Can 409 be welded?
Excellent weldability with GTAW/GMAW/laser; titanium stabilization avoids sensitization, but keep heat input low to limit weld-metal grain coarsening and use 409Cb/430Ti or 308L filler.
Can 409 be formed, bent or molded?
Good deep-draw and roll-form behaviour in annealed 2B; less stretch formability than austenitics, so allow larger bend radii and watch for ridging/roping.
What surface finishes work on 409?
Usually left bare, shot blasted or painted/aluminized; can be brushed or polished, though Ti inclusions and ferrite banding limit mirror finishes.
409 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CS40900 modern; older 409 allowed 0.08 max | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Mn | ≤ 1 | 0.4 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.5 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.03 |
| S | ≤ 0.02 | 0 |
| CrEN 1.4512: 10.5–12.5 | 10.5 – 11.75 | 11.2 |
| Ni | ≤ 0.5 | 0.2 |
| Ti6×(C+N) min; EN 1.4512 max 0.65 | 0.17 – 0.5 | 0.25 |
| N | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Fe | balance | — |
409 Cold Drawn — frequently asked
What is 409 Cold Drawn used for?
409 Cold Drawn is typically used for automotive exhaust systems, muffler shells and baffles, catalytic converter shells, exhaust manifolds and downpipes, tailpipes and welded exhaust tubing and heat shields. In short: automotive exhaust ferritic stainless.
What is the yield strength of 409 Cold Drawn?
409 Cold Drawn has a typical yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — stronger than 70% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is 409 Cold Drawn easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, better than 98% of stainless steel grades). Machines more easily than 304 (softer, lower work hardening) but chips are stringy — use sharp positive-rake carbide, rigid setup and generous coolant.
Can 409 Cold Drawn be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (75/100). Excellent weldability with GTAW/GMAW/laser; titanium stabilization avoids sensitization, but keep heat input low to limit weld-metal grain coarsening and use 409Cb/430Ti or 308L filler.
What surface finishes work on 409 Cold Drawn?
Usually left bare, shot blasted or painted/aluminized; can be brushed or polished, though Ti inclusions and ferrite banding limit mirror finishes.
Can 409 Cold Drawn be formed, bent or molded?
Good deep-draw and roll-form behaviour in annealed 2B; less stretch formability than austenitics, so allow larger bend radii and watch for ridging/roping.
What is the maximum service temperature of 409 Cold Drawn?
409 Cold Drawn 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in 409 Cold Drawn?
Yes — 409 Cold Drawn is available for CNC machining and sheet metal; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM A240/A240M — Chromium and Chromium-Nickel Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet, and Strip — ASTM International (2023)
- EN 10088-2 — Stainless steels, Part 2: technical delivery conditions for sheet/plate and strip (1.4512) — CEN (2014)
- GB/T 3280 (022Cr11Ti) — SAC (2015)
- 409 Ferritic Stainless Steel Product Data Sheet — AK Steel / Cleveland-Cliffs (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16: Machining — ASM International (1989)
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.