Stainless Steel 420J1 · temper · default condition
Stainless Steel 420J1 Annealed
Properties of the Annealed condition, compared with the other 420J1 tempers.
Default stock condition for machining, cold forming and blanking before customer heat treatment.
What is 420J1 Annealed?
420J1 Annealed is 420J1 in the Annealed temper — default stock condition for machining, cold forming and blanking before customer heat treatment. 420J1 Annealed has a yield strength of 440 MPa (63.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 68% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi). 420J1 Annealed has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F).
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 99% of stainless steel grades
- 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
- Polishes to a fine finish — 80/100, better than 89% of stainless steel grades
- Easy to machine — 48/100, better than 88% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 40/100, worse than 93% of stainless steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 35/100, worse than 86% of stainless steel grades
- Limited ductility — 22%, worse than 76% of stainless steel grades
420J1 Annealed properties
Typical room-temperature values for 420J1 Annealed — 15 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 420J1 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the stainless steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
420J1 Annealed has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F).
Mechanical14
420J1 Annealed has a yield strength of 440 MPa (63.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 68% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
420J1 Annealed is rated for continuous service to 600°C (1,112 °F). It conducts heat at 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 99% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.5 µm/m·K (5.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
420J1 Annealed conducts electricity at 3.1 % IACS, better than 99% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (40/100), worse than 93% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 420J1 Annealed takes about 42 MJ of energy and emits 3 kg of CO₂ — less than 95% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 55%.
Manufacturability7
420J1 Annealed's machinability is fair (48/100, better than 88% of stainless steel grades); weldability fair (35/100); 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.
Other 420J1 tempers and conditions
420J1 is also supplied in 7 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 420J1 overview.
- AnnealedDefaultDefault stock condition for machining, cold forming and blanking before customer heat treatment.440 MPa yield · 195 HB
- Hardened & Stress RelievedMaximum-hardness cutting/wear condition supplied for knife blades and dies where toughness is secondary.1,500 MPa yield · 52 HRC
- Hardened & TemperedChoose for cutlery edges, wear parts and instruments that need maximum hardness and best passive-film corrosion behaviour.1,350 MPa yield · 48 HRC
- QT800Highest tempered-strength EN condition, used for higher-load shafts and blades still needing measurable toughness.660 MPa yield · 27 HRC
- Cold DrawnPick for close-tolerance bright bar with better surface and chip control where no subsequent hardening is planned.620 MPa yield · 23 HRC
- QT750Mid-strength engineering condition for valve stems, pump shafts and machined fittings.610 MPa yield · 24 HRC
- QT650Tough structural condition for shafts, bolts and fittings where ductility matters more than hardness.500 MPa yield · 18 HRC
Working with 420J1 Annealed
Is 420J1 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed condition with sharp, rigid tooling, moderate speeds and generous coolant; hardened material above ~45 HRC needs carbide/CBN or grinding.
Can 420J1 be welded?
Poor weldability: preheat 200–300 °C, low-hydrogen 410/420-type or austenitic filler, and post-weld temper at 700–750 °C to avoid martensitic cracking.
Can 420J1 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold-form only when fully annealed and with generous radii; hot work 1100–850 °C followed by slow cooling and annealing, harden from 980–1050 °C with oil or air quench.
What surface finishes work on 420J1?
Takes a bright mirror polish (cutlery finish) which is essential to corrosion performance; passivate after machining, and hard chrome, nitride or PVD coatings are common for extra wear resistance.
420J1 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CJIS SUS420J1 / EN X20Cr13 | 0.16 – 0.25 | 0.2 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.4 |
| Mn | ≤ 1 | 0.5 |
| PEN limit 0.040; JIS 0.040 | ≤ 0.04 | — |
| SEN 0.015 max for some products | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Cr | 12 – 14 | 13 |
| Niresidual, JIS allowance | ≤ 0.6 | 0.25 |
| Fe | balance | — |
420J1 Annealed — frequently asked
What is 420J1 Annealed used for?
420J1 Annealed is typically used for cutlery, surgical instruments and plastic molds. In short: cutlery-grade martensitic stainless.
What is the yield strength of 420J1 Annealed?
420J1 Annealed has a typical yield strength of 440 MPa (63.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 68% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 420J1 Annealed easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (48/100, better than 88% of stainless steel grades). Machine in the annealed condition with sharp, rigid tooling, moderate speeds and generous coolant; hardened material above ~45 HRC needs carbide/CBN or grinding.
Can 420J1 Annealed be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (35/100). Poor weldability: preheat 200–300 °C, low-hydrogen 410/420-type or austenitic filler, and post-weld temper at 700–750 °C to avoid martensitic cracking.
What surface finishes work on 420J1 Annealed?
Takes a bright mirror polish (cutlery finish) which is essential to corrosion performance; passivate after machining, and hard chrome, nitride or PVD coatings are common for extra wear resistance.
Can 420J1 Annealed be formed, bent or molded?
Cold-form only when fully annealed and with generous radii; hot work 1100–850 °C followed by slow cooling and annealing, harden from 980–1050 °C with oil or air quench.
What is the maximum service temperature of 420J1 Annealed?
420J1 Annealed is rated for continuous use to about 600°C (1,112 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 420J1 Annealed and 420J1-QT800?
Annealed is the default condition — default stock condition for machining, cold forming and blanking before customer heat treatment. QT800: highest tempered-strength EN condition, used for higher-load shafts and blades still needing measurable toughness. Yield strength is 440 MPa in Annealed versus 660 MPa in QT800.
Can FabDigit make parts in 420J1 Annealed?
Yes — 420J1 Annealed is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- EN 10088-3 Stainless steels — semi-finished products, bars, rods (X20Cr13, 1.4021) — CEN (2014)
- JIS G 4303 Stainless steel bars (SUS420J1) — JSA (2021)
- GB/T 1220 (2Cr13 / 20Cr13) — SAC (2007)
- ASTM A276/A276M Stainless Steel Bars and Shapes (Type 420) — ASTM (2017)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.13B — Corrosion: Materials — ASM International (2005)
- Stainless steel 1.4021 / X20Cr13 bar and strip datasheets — Outokumpu / Sandvik / Böhler (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.