Stainless Steel 420V · heat-treated state
Stainless Steel 420V Hardened & Tempered
Properties of the Hardened & Tempered condition, compared with the other 420V tempers.
Standard service condition for knife blades and wear parts: maximum hardness, wear resistance and best corrosion resistance.
What is 420V Hardened & Tempered?
420V Hardened & Tempered is 420V heat treated to Hardened & Tempered — standard service condition for knife blades and wear parts: maximum hardness, wear resistance and best corrosion resistance. 420V Hardened & Tempered has a yield strength of 1,900 MPa (276 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,100 MPa (305 ksi) — stronger than 100% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi). 420V Hardened & Tempered 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). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Hardened & Tempered is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High strength — 1,900 MPa (276 ksi), better than 100% of stainless steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 80/100, better than 89% of stainless steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 2.6 % IACS, better than 77% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 1%, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 100% of stainless steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 5/100, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 5/100, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades
- Limited formability — 2/100, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades
420V Hardened & Tempered properties
Typical room-temperature values for 420V Hardened & Tempered — 17 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 Hardened & Tempered 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 Hardened & Tempered has a yield strength of 1,900 MPa (276 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,100 MPa (305 ksi) — stronger than 100% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
420V Hardened & Tempered is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °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 Hardened & Tempered conducts electricity at 2.6 % IACS, better than 77% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (58/100), worse than 63% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 420V Hardened & Tempered 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 Hardened & Tempered's machinability is not recommended (5/100, worse than 100% of stainless steel grades); weldability not recommended (5/100); formability not recommended (2/100).
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 Hardened & Tempered
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 Hardened & Tempered — frequently asked
What is 420V Hardened & Tempered used for?
420V Hardened & Tempered 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 Hardened & Tempered?
420V Hardened & Tempered has a typical yield strength of 1,900 MPa (276 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,100 MPa (305 ksi) — stronger than 100% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is 420V Hardened & Tempered easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (5/100, 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 Hardened & Tempered be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (5/100). 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 Hardened & Tempered?
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 Hardened & Tempered 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 Hardened & Tempered?
420V Hardened & Tempered is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in 420V Hardened & Tempered?
Yes — 420V Hardened & Tempered 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.