Stainless Steel 420V · temper · default condition
Stainless Steel 420V Annealed
Properties of the Annealed condition, compared with the other 420V tempers.
Stock condition for rough machining, grinding and blanking before hardening.
What is 420V Annealed?
420V Annealed is 420V in the Annealed temper — stock condition for rough machining, grinding and blanking before hardening. 420V Annealed has a yield strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — stronger than 86% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi). 420V Annealed has a density of 7.39 g/cm³ (0.267 lb/in³), lighter than 100% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Advantages
- High strength — 600 MPa (87 ksi), better than 86% of stainless steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 2.6 % IACS, better than 77% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 15/100, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 10/100, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades
- Limited ductility — 8%, worse than 99% of stainless steel grades
- Limited formability — 8/100, worse than 97% of stainless steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 6.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 92% of stainless steel grades
420V Annealed properties
Typical room-temperature values for 420V Annealed — 10 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 420V temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the stainless steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
420V Annealed has a density of 7.39 g/cm³ (0.267 lb/in³), lighter than 100% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Mechanical9
420V Annealed has a yield strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — stronger than 86% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
420V Annealed is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 19 W/m·K (11 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 74% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.4 µm/m·K (5.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
420V Annealed conducts electricity at 2.6 % IACS, better than 77% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (45/100), worse than 85% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 420V Annealed takes about 80 MJ of energy and emits 6.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 89% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability7
420V Annealed's machinability is poor (15/100, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades); weldability not recommended (10/100); formability not recommended (8/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 420V tempers and conditions
420V is also supplied in 2 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 420V overview.
- AnnealedDefaultStock condition for rough machining, grinding and blanking before hardening.600 MPa yield · 25 HRC
- Hardened & TemperedStandard service condition for knife blades and wear parts: maximum hardness, wear resistance and best corrosion resistance.1,900 MPa yield · 59 HRC
- H&T High Temper 55-57 HRCChoose when parts must be stress-relieved for dimensional stability, nitrided or coated (PVD) at elevated temperature; slightly lower hardness and corrosion resistance.1,750 MPa yield · 56 HRC
Working with 420V Annealed
Is 420V easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed state with rigid setups, positive-rake carbide or CBN tooling, low speeds and heavy coolant; grinding requires CBN or diamond wheels because 9% V carbides destroy alumina wheels.
Can 420V be welded?
Not recommended — high carbon, air-hardening matrix cracks readily; if unavoidable, preheat ~300 °C, use matched PM/tool-steel filler and temper immediately.
Can 420V be formed, bent or molded?
No practical cold forming; hot work 1040–1120 °C with slow controlled cooling, and always follow with a full soft anneal before machining.
What surface finishes work on 420V?
Hardened and low-tempered surfaces take a fine mirror polish; passivate for best stain resistance, or apply PVD/DLC (use the high-temper condition if coating temperature exceeds the temper temperature).
420V 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cforms abundant vanadium MC carbides | 2.15 – 2.45 | 2.3 |
| Cr | 13.5 – 14.5 | 14 |
| Vprimary wear-resistance carbide former | 8.5 – 9.5 | 9 |
| Mo | 0.8 – 1.2 | 1 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.6 | 0.5 |
| Si | ≤ 0.6 | 0.5 |
| Fe | balance | — |
420V Annealed — frequently asked
What is 420V Annealed used for?
420V Annealed is typically used for custom knife blades, cutlery blades, plastic pelletizing and granulating knives, slitting knives for film and paper, wear-resistant mould and die inserts and corrosion-resistant bearing components. In short: extreme wear resistant stainless.
What is the yield strength of 420V Annealed?
420V Annealed has a typical yield strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — stronger than 86% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is 420V Annealed easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (15/100, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades). Machine only in the annealed state with rigid setups, positive-rake carbide or CBN tooling, low speeds and heavy coolant; grinding requires CBN or diamond wheels because 9% V carbides destroy alumina wheels.
Can 420V Annealed be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (10/100). Not recommended — high carbon, air-hardening matrix cracks readily; if unavoidable, preheat ~300 °C, use matched PM/tool-steel filler and temper immediately.
What surface finishes work on 420V Annealed?
Hardened and low-tempered surfaces take a fine mirror polish; passivate for best stain resistance, or apply PVD/DLC (use the high-temper condition if coating temperature exceeds the temper temperature).
Can 420V Annealed be formed, bent or molded?
No practical cold forming; hot work 1040–1120 °C with slow controlled cooling, and always follow with a full soft anneal before machining.
What is the maximum service temperature of 420V Annealed?
420V Annealed 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 420V Annealed?
Yes — 420V Annealed is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- CPM S90V (formerly CPM 420V) Data Sheet — Crucible Industries (2015)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 7: Powder Metallurgy — ASM International (2015)
- ASTM A600 / A681 (tool steel general requirements, for reference) — ASTM (2016)
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.