Stainless Steel 420HC
AISI/SAE 420HC
420HC (UNS S42000) is a high-carbon variant of standard 420 martensitic stainless steel, holding more carbon in solution so it hardens to a higher level than base 420 while remaining a low-cost, widely stocked cutlery grade.
Reference datasheet — 420HC 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
420HC tempers and conditions
420HC is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. A is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 8 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ADefault Solution annealed | Standard stocked condition for bar, plate and strip that will be blanked, machined or ground and then hardened by the user. | 345 | 660 | 22 | 195 HB | — |
Cold rolled and annealed strip/coil | Pick for stamped or laser-cut blade and cutlery blanks where flat, clean, dimensionally tight soft strip is needed. | 380 | 690 | 20 | 15 HRC | 3.1 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Choose for as-supplied strength and straightness in machined shafts, pins and screw-machine parts that may not be hardened. | 620 | 790 | 12 | 235 HB | — |
Hardened and tempered to 42–46 HRC | Use where shock loading or bending matters more than edge holding — machetes, large tools, valve and pump parts; note the higher temper reduces corrosion resistance. | 1,200 | 1,450 | 8 | 44 HRC | — |
Hardened and tempered to 48–51 HRC | Balanced condition for scissors, shears, surgical and dental instruments needing some toughness with decent wear resistance. | 1,400 | 1,700 | 5 | 50 HRC | — |
Hardened and low-temperature tempered to 52–55 HRC | Common production knife hardness — good edge retention with enough toughness for folding and kitchen blades. | 1,520 | 1,860 | 3 | 54 HRC | — |
Hardened and tempered to maximum hardness 56–58 HRC | Maximum edge retention and wear resistance for premium 420HC blades and wear parts; accept low toughness and grinding-only machining. | 1,650 | 1,980 | 2 | 57 HRC | — |
Stress relieved | Knife-industry route: quench, sub-zero soak to convert retained austenite, then low temper — slightly higher and more uniform hardness with better dimensional stability than plain Q&T. | 1,650 | 2,020 | 2 | 58 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
What is 420HC?
420HC (UNS S42000) is a high-carbon variant of standard 420 martensitic stainless steel, holding more carbon in solution so it hardens to a higher level than base 420 while remaining a low-cost, widely stocked cutlery grade. Annealed strip and bar run about 345 MPa yield, 660 MPa tensile, 22 % elongation and 195 HB (92 HRB), with formability score 45 for blanking and bending before heat treatment. Maximum service temperature is 425 °C, corrosion resistance is moderate (score 42) and weldability is poor; 7Cr17MoV or 440A give more wear resistance where edge retention is critical. 420HC has a density of 7.75 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), lighter than 65% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F). 420HC has a yield strength of 345 MPa (50 ksi) and a tensile strength of 660 MPa (95.7 ksi) — weaker than 54% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
What is 420HC used for?
- pocket knives
- fixed-blade knives
- cutlery
Advantages
- High electrical conductivity — 3.1 % IACS, better than 99% of stainless steel grades
- Low embodied carbon — 3 kg CO₂/kg, better than 97% 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
- Easy to machine — 45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 42/100, worse than 90% of stainless steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 30/100, worse than 88% of stainless steel grades
- Limited ductility — 22%, worse than 75% of stainless steel grades
420HC properties
Typical room-temperature values for 420HC-A; bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
420HC has a density of 7.75 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), lighter than 65% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F).
Mechanical14
420HC has a yield strength of 345 MPa (50 ksi) and a tensile strength of 660 MPa (95.7 ksi) — weaker than 54% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
420HC is rated for continuous service to 425°C (797 °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 10.3 µm/m·K (5.72 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
420HC conducts electricity at 3.1 % IACS, better than 99% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (42/100), worse than 90% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 420HC takes about 46 MJ of energy and emits 3 kg of CO₂ — less than 88% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 45%.
Manufacturability6
420HC's machinability is fair (45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades); weldability poor (30/100); formability fair (45/100).
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. 420HC is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 420HC
Is 420HC easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed state with sharp, rigid, positive-rake carbide tooling and flood coolant (≈45 % of 1212); hardened 420HC above ~45 HRC is effectively a grinding/EDM job.
Can 420HC be welded?
Poor weldability — air-hardening HAZ cracks readily; if unavoidable, preheat 200–300 °C, use 410/309L filler and temper or fully re-anneal afterwards.
Can 420HC be formed, bent or molded?
Blank, bend and coin in the soft annealed strip condition with generous radii; harden after forming, and expect ~0.05–0.15 % dimensional growth plus warping during quench.
420HC 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chigh-carbon variant of S42000 (base 420 is ≥0.15 C) | 0.4 – 0.5 | 0.45 |
| Cr | 12 – 14 | 13 |
| Mn | ≤ 1 | 0.4 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.4 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Niresidual/optional, mill practice | ≤ 0.75 | 0.25 |
| Mooptional residual in some producer variants | ≤ 0.5 | |
| Voptional grain refiner in some 420HC melts | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 420HC?
Grinds and mirror-polishes very well when hardened; always passivate (nitric/citric) after grinding, and avoid tempering above ~400 °C or chloride-bearing pickles which drop corrosion resistance.
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 420HC in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Similar grades
- S42000
How much does 420HC cost?
420HC 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.
420HC — frequently asked
What is 420HC used for?
420HC is typically used for pocket knives, fixed-blade knives and cutlery. In short: harder than standard 420; low-cost stainless blade steel; form soft, harden after.
What is the yield strength of 420HC?
420HC has a typical yield strength of 345 MPa (50 ksi) and a tensile strength of 660 MPa (95.7 ksi) — weaker than 54% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 420HC easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades). Machine only in the annealed state with sharp, rigid, positive-rake carbide tooling and flood coolant (≈45 % of 1212); hardened 420HC above ~45 HRC is effectively a grinding/EDM job.
Can 420HC be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (30/100). Poor weldability — air-hardening HAZ cracks readily; if unavoidable, preheat 200–300 °C, use 410/309L filler and temper or fully re-anneal afterwards.
What surface finishes work on 420HC?
Grinds and mirror-polishes very well when hardened; always passivate (nitric/citric) after grinding, and avoid tempering above ~400 °C or chloride-bearing pickles which drop corrosion resistance.
Can 420HC be formed, bent or molded?
Blank, bend and coin in the soft annealed strip condition with generous radii; harden after forming, and expect ~0.05–0.15 % dimensional growth plus warping during quench.
What is the maximum service temperature of 420HC?
420HC is rated for continuous use to about 425°C (797 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 420HC-A and 420HC-QT58?
A is the default condition — standard stocked condition for bar, plate and strip that will be blanked, machined or ground and then hardened by the user. QT58: maximum edge retention and wear resistance for premium 420HC blades and wear parts; accept low toughness and grinding-only machining. Yield strength is 345 MPa in A versus 1,650 MPa in QT58.
How much does 420HC cost?
420HC 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
- ASTM A276/A276M — Stainless Steel Bars and Shapes — ASTM International (2023)
- ASTM A240/A240M — Chromium and Chromium-Nickel Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet, and Strip — ASTM International (2023)
- GB/T 1220 / GB/T 3280 (4Cr13 / 20Cr13-40Cr13 series) (2016)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Stainless Steels — ASM International (1994)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- 420HC / 420 modified cutlery steel datasheets (Crucible/Latrobe, Sandvik, Aperam class data) — various mills (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.