Stainless Steel 4Cr13 Annealed
Temper · default condition
EN 4Cr13 · UNS S42000
Standard stocked delivery condition for machining, blanking and subsequent hardening.
Values for the Annealed condition
Other 4Cr13 tempers and conditions
4Cr13 is listed in 6 conditions; see the grade overview at 4Cr13.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefaultThis page soft annealed bar, plate and sheet | Standard stocked delivery condition for machining, blanking and subsequent hardening. | 380 | 700 | 22 | 217 HB | — |
Cold drawn | Choose for close-tolerance shafting and screw-machine parts that will not be hardened. | 600 | 790 | 12 | 245 HB | — |
Q&T 600–680 °C | Toughest condition — for shafts, pump/valve stems and fasteners needing strength plus impact resistance rather than wear resistance. | 800 | 1,000 | 15 | 31 HRC | — |
Q&T 300 °C | Slightly tougher mould / valve-trim condition where some impact loading is expected. | 1,350 | 1,650 | 6 | 49 HRC | — |
Q&T 200 °C | Standard cutlery / shear-blade / bearing condition — maximum wear resistance with minimum toughness loss. | 1,450 | 1,750 | 4 | 52 HRC | — |
Hardened | Maximum as-quenched hardness; brittle and must normally be tempered before service. | — | 1,950 | 1 | 56 HRC | — |
What is 4Cr13 Annealed?
4Cr13 Annealed is 4Cr13 in the Annealed temper — standard stocked delivery condition for machining, blanking and subsequent hardening. 4Cr13 Annealed has a yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 52% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi). 4Cr13 Annealed has a density of 7.75 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), lighter than 65% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Advantages
- High electrical conductivity — 3.1 % IACS, better than 99% of stainless steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 85/100, better than 97% of stainless steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 24.9 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 87% of stainless steel grades
- Easy to machine — 45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades
- Low embodied carbon — 3.6 kg CO₂/kg, better than 83% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 42/100, worse than 90% of stainless steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 60 MPa·√m (54.6 ksi·√in), worse than 88% of stainless steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 30/100, worse than 88% of stainless steel grades
- Limited ductility — 22%, worse than 75% of stainless steel grades
4Cr13 Annealed properties
Typical room-temperature values for 4Cr13 Annealed; 17 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 4Cr13 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
4Cr13 Annealed has a density of 7.75 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), lighter than 65% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical16
4Cr13 Annealed has a yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 52% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
4Cr13 Annealed is rated for continuous service to 500°C (932 °F). It conducts heat at 24.9 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 87% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.3 µm/m·K (5.72 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
4Cr13 Annealed conducts electricity at 3.1 % IACS, better than 99% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (42/100), worse than 90% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 4Cr13 Annealed takes about 46 MJ of energy and emits 3.6 kg of CO₂ — less than 88% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 55%.
Manufacturability6
4Cr13 Annealed's machinability is fair (45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades); weldability poor (30/100); formability fair (35/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 4Cr13 Annealed
Is 4Cr13 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed state with sharp, rigid tooling, low speeds and flood coolant; hardened >45 HRC parts need carbide/CBN or grinding and EDM.
Can 4Cr13 be welded?
Poor weldability — preheat 200–300 °C, use matching or austenitic (309/310) filler and temper immediately after welding to avoid HAZ cracking.
Can 4Cr13 be formed, bent or molded?
Only light cold forming in the annealed condition (bending radii ≥2t); hot work at 1100–850 °C and always slow-cool or anneal after hot forging.
What surface finishes work on 4Cr13?
Takes an excellent mirror polish (mould cavities); passivate in nitric or citric acid after grinding/polishing, and hard chrome or nitriding can be added for extra wear life.
4Cr13 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CGB/T 1220 40Cr13 | 0.36 – 0.45 | 0.4 |
| Si | ≤ 0.6 | 0.35 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.8 | 0.45 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Cr | 12 – 14 | 13 |
| Niresidual | ≤ 0.6 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
4Cr13 Annealed — frequently asked
What is 4Cr13 Annealed used for?
4Cr13 Annealed is typically used for cutting tools, medical instruments and bearing rings. In short: harder than 3Cr13; mirror-polishing mould grade; low-cost cutlery stainless.
What is the yield strength of 4Cr13 Annealed?
4Cr13 Annealed has a typical yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 52% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 4Cr13 Annealed easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades). Machine in the annealed state with sharp, rigid tooling, low speeds and flood coolant; hardened >45 HRC parts need carbide/CBN or grinding and EDM.
Can 4Cr13 Annealed be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (30/100). Poor weldability — preheat 200–300 °C, use matching or austenitic (309/310) filler and temper immediately after welding to avoid HAZ cracking.
What surface finishes work on 4Cr13 Annealed?
Takes an excellent mirror polish (mould cavities); passivate in nitric or citric acid after grinding/polishing, and hard chrome or nitriding can be added for extra wear life.
Can 4Cr13 Annealed be formed, bent or molded?
Only light cold forming in the annealed condition (bending radii ≥2t); hot work at 1100–850 °C and always slow-cool or anneal after hot forging.
What is the maximum service temperature of 4Cr13 Annealed?
4Cr13 Annealed is rated for continuous use to about 500°C (932 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 4Cr13 Annealed and 4Cr13-QT200?
Annealed is the default condition — standard stocked delivery condition for machining, blanking and subsequent hardening. QT200: standard cutlery / shear-blade / bearing condition — maximum wear resistance with minimum toughness loss. Yield strength is 380 MPa in Annealed versus 1,450 MPa in QT200.
Sources
- GB/T 1220 (40Cr13/4Cr13) — SAC (2007)
- ASTM A276/A276M Stainless Steel Bars and Shapes (Type 420, UNS S42000) — ASTM (2017)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16 — Machining — ASM International (1989)
- Type 420 Stainless Steel product data sheet — AK Steel / Cleveland-Cliffs (2018)
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.