Stainless Steel 420J1 Cold Drawn
Supply condition
EN 420J1 · JIS SUS420J1
Pick for close-tolerance bright bar with better surface and chip control where no subsequent hardening is planned.
Values for the Cold Drawn condition
Other 420J1 tempers and conditions
420J1 is listed in 8 conditions; see the grade overview at 420J1.
Compare all 8 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault soft annealed (+A), 750–800 °C slow cool | Default stock condition for machining, cold forming and blanking before customer heat treatment. | 440 | 700 | 22 | 195 HB | — |
quenched and tempered to Rm 650–850 MPa (high temper) | Tough structural condition for shafts, bolts and fittings where ductility matters more than hardness. | 500 | 740 | 17 | 18 HRC | — |
as hot-rolled / hot-rolled and descaled bar or plate | Low-cost as-rolled feedstock for forging and re-heat-treatment; not for finished dimensional or mechanical duty. | 500 | 800 | 16 | 22 HRC | 3.1 % IACS |
quenched and tempered to Rm 750–950 MPa | Mid-strength engineering condition for valve stems, pump shafts and machined fittings. | 610 | 830 | 14 | 24 HRC | — |
Cold DrawnThis page cold-drawn / peeled bar from annealed stock | Pick for close-tolerance bright bar with better surface and chip control where no subsequent hardening is planned. | 620 | 830 | 12 | 23 HRC | 3.1 % IACS |
quenched and tempered to Rm 800–1000 MPa | Highest tempered-strength EN condition, used for higher-load shafts and blades still needing measurable toughness. | 660 | 880 | 13 | 27 HRC | — |
980–1050 °C oil/air quench + 150–250 °C temper, 45–52 HRC | Choose for cutlery edges, wear parts and instruments that need maximum hardness and best passive-film corrosion behaviour. | 1,350 | 1,600 | 8 | 48 HRC | — |
quench + 180 °C stress relief only, 50–54 HRC | Maximum-hardness cutting/wear condition supplied for knife blades and dies where toughness is secondary. | 1,500 | 1,750 | 3 | 52 HRC | — |
What is 420J1 Cold Drawn?
420J1 Cold Drawn is 420J1 supplied in the Cold Drawn condition — pick for close-tolerance bright bar with better surface and chip control where no subsequent hardening is planned. 420J1 Cold Drawn has a yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 830 MPa (120 ksi) — stronger than 88% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi). 420J1 Cold Drawn has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Cold Drawn is available on request or by drawing note.
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
- Easy to machine — 52/100, better than 91% of stainless steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 80/100, better than 89% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 12%, worse than 95% of stainless steel grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 40/100, worse than 93% of stainless steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 30/100, worse than 88% of stainless steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 400°C (752 °F), worse than 78% of stainless steel grades
- Limited formability — 25/100, worse than 78% of stainless steel grades
420J1 Cold Drawn properties
Typical room-temperature values for 420J1 Cold Drawn; 23 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 420J1 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
420J1 Cold Drawn has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F).
Mechanical14
420J1 Cold Drawn has a yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 830 MPa (120 ksi) — stronger than 88% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
420J1 Cold Drawn is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °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 Cold Drawn 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 Cold Drawn 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 Cold Drawn's machinability is fair (52/100, better than 91% of stainless steel grades); weldability poor (30/100); formability poor (25/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 420J1 Cold Drawn
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 Cold Drawn — frequently asked
What is 420J1 Cold Drawn used for?
420J1 Cold Drawn is typically used for cutlery, surgical instruments and plastic molds. In short: cutlery-grade martensitic stainless.
What is the yield strength of 420J1 Cold Drawn?
420J1 Cold Drawn has a typical yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 830 MPa (120 ksi) — stronger than 88% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 420J1 Cold Drawn easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (52/100, better than 91% 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 Cold Drawn be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (30/100). 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 Cold Drawn?
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 Cold Drawn 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 Cold Drawn?
420J1 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.
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 Cold Drawn?
Yes — 420J1 Cold Drawn is available for CNC machining; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. 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.