Stainless Steel 445
AISI/SAE 445 · UNS S44500
445 (UNS S44500) is a high-purity 22Cr-1Mo ferritic stainless steel, Nb/Ti stabilized, that delivers pitting and crevice corrosion resistance above 444 while avoiding the nickel content and chloride stress-corrosion sensitivity of austenitic grades.
Reference datasheet — 445 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 Annealed-2B condition
445 tempers and conditions
445 is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed-2B is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed-2BDefault Annealed, cold rolled 2B finish | Standard stocked cold-rolled sheet/coil condition for tanks, tubing and appliance panels. | 330 | 480 | 30 | 170 HB | — |
Temper rolled, 1/4 hard strip | Pick for springy flat parts, clips and stiffened panels where extra yield strength beats formability. | 480 | 560 | 12 | 210 HB | — |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways 445 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
BA | Bright annealed (2R/BA) cold rolled | Surface finish |
HRAP-1D | Hot rolled, annealed and pickled (1D) plate/sheet | Surface finish |
No.4 | Annealed + No.4 (2J) brushed finish | Surface finish |
What is 445?
445 (UNS S44500) is a high-purity 22Cr-1Mo ferritic stainless steel, Nb/Ti stabilized, that delivers pitting and crevice corrosion resistance above 444 while avoiding the nickel content and chloride stress-corrosion sensitivity of austenitic grades. Engineers specify it for hot water and food-processing service; it is stocked mainly as sheet and coil in Annealed-2B, BA, HRAP-1D, No.4 and TR-1/4H tempers, with typical annealed properties of 330 MPa yield, 480 MPa tensile and 30 % elongation at 170 HB. Formability (score 72) is good for bending and roll forming but below austenitics for deep draws, and weldability is moderate (score 62) because the HAZ coarsens. 444 is the nearest lower-cost alternative when the extra pitting margin is not required. 445 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F). 445 has a yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 480 MPa (69.6 ksi) — weaker than 57% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
What is 445 used for?
- hot water heaters
- food and beverage equipment
- chemical process piping
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 3.4 kg CO₂/kg, better than 91% of stainless steel grades
- Easy to machine — 48/100, better than 88% of stainless steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 2.9 % IACS, better than 87% of stainless steel grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 78/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 72/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 60 MPa·√m (54.6 ksi·√in), worse than 88% of stainless steel grades
445 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 445-Annealed-2B; bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
445 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical15
445 has a yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 480 MPa (69.6 ksi) — weaker than 57% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
445 is rated for continuous service to 800°C (1,472 °F). It conducts heat at 22 W/m·K (12.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 77% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.4 µm/m·K (5.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
445 conducts electricity at 2.9 % IACS, better than 87% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (78/100), better than 84% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 445 takes about 46 MJ of energy and emits 3.4 kg of CO₂ — less than 88% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability7
445's machinability is fair (48/100, better than 88% of stainless steel grades); weldability good (62/100); formability very good (72/100).
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. 445 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 445
Is 445 easy to machine?
Machines like a soft ferritic stainless — lower work hardening than 304, but use sharp positive-rake tools, rigid setups and generous coolant to avoid built-up edge; ~50 % of 1212 rates.
Can 445 be welded?
Nb/Ti stabilized so no sensitization filler is mandatory; use low heat input, GTAW/laser with pure Ar backing on thin gauge, autogenous or 316L/2209-type filler, and keep interpass low to limit HAZ grain coarsening and embrittlement.
Can 445 be formed, bent or molded?
Good for bending, roll forming and shallow stamping (r/t down to ~1); avoid severe deep draws — limited n-value and possible ridging/roping, so orient blanks and use draw beads.
445 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cultra-low carbon | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.4 |
| Mn | ≤ 1 | 0.3 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.03 |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | 0 |
| Cr | 21 – 23 | 22 |
| Niresidual | ≤ 1 | 0.3 |
| Mo | 0.6 – 1.2 | 1 |
| N | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Nb+Tistabilizers; typically (Nb+Ti) ≥ 0.20 + 4(C+N) | 0.1 – 0.8 | 0.45 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 445?
Passivate or electropolish after fabrication for full pitting resistance; not anodizable, takes bright, brushed or mirror mechanical polishes, and can be PVD coated or painted after abrasive keying.
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 445 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- S44500
How much does 445 cost?
445 is a premium-cost stainless steel ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
445 — frequently asked
What is 445 used for?
445 is typically used for hot water heaters, food and beverage equipment and chemical process piping. In short: best-pitting ferritic stainless; nickel-free 304 substitute; 22Cr-1Mo stabilized grade.
What is the yield strength of 445?
445 has a typical yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 480 MPa (69.6 ksi) — weaker than 57% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is 445 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (48/100, better than 88% of stainless steel grades). Machines like a soft ferritic stainless — lower work hardening than 304, but use sharp positive-rake tools, rigid setups and generous coolant to avoid built-up edge; ~50 % of 1212 rates.
Can 445 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (62/100). Nb/Ti stabilized so no sensitization filler is mandatory; use low heat input, GTAW/laser with pure Ar backing on thin gauge, autogenous or 316L/2209-type filler, and keep interpass low to limit HAZ grain coarsening and embrittlement.
What surface finishes work on 445?
Passivate or electropolish after fabrication for full pitting resistance; not anodizable, takes bright, brushed or mirror mechanical polishes, and can be PVD coated or painted after abrasive keying.
Can 445 be formed, bent or molded?
Good for bending, roll forming and shallow stamping (r/t down to ~1); avoid severe deep draws — limited n-value and possible ridging/roping, so orient blanks and use draw beads.
What is the maximum service temperature of 445?
445 is rated for continuous use to about 800°C (1,472 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does 445 cost?
445 is a premium-cost stainless steel ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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 A240/A240M — Chromium and Chromium-Nickel Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet, and Strip — ASTM International (2023)
- ASTM A268/A268M — Seamless and Welded Ferritic Stainless Steel Tubing — ASTM International (2022)
- POSCO 445NF / high-purity ferritic stainless steel datasheet — POSCO (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Ferritic stainless steel physical/mechanical property compilations — ISSF / Ensinger-type material databases (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.