Stainless Steel HC-F (As fabricated)
Temper · default condition
UNS J92605 · ASTM A297 Grade HC
Standard supply condition for furnace hardware; used directly after cleaning and stress relief of risers.
Values for the F condition
Other HC tempers and conditions
HC is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at HC.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stress relieved | Choose for dimensionally critical or heavily machined castings to relieve casting and welding stresses; slightly softer, marginally more ductile. | 420 | 640 | 14 | 195 HB | 2.2 % IACS |
FDefaultThis page As fabricated | Standard supply condition for furnace hardware; used directly after cleaning and stress relief of risers. | 450 | 690 | 12 | 205 HB | 2.2 % IACS |
Centrifugally cast | Pick for radiant tubes, rolls and cylindrical retorts needing sounder, finer-grained walls than static sand castings. | 470 | 720 | 14 | 210 HB | 2.2 % IACS |
After prolonged high-temperature service exposure | Design reference for parts already in service: strength holds up but room-temperature toughness and ductility collapse from sigma-phase and 475 °C embrittlement. | 520 | 720 | 2 | 20 HRC | 2.2 % IACS |
What is HC-F?
HC-F is HC in the F temper — standard supply condition for furnace hardware; used directly after cleaning and stress relief of risers. HC-F has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — stronger than 70% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi). HC-F has a density of 7.6 g/cm³ (0.275 lb/in³), lighter than 98% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,385°C (2,525 °F).
Advantages
- High service temperature — 1,090°C (1,994 °F), better than 93% of stainless steel grades
- Low embodied carbon — 3.8 kg CO₂/kg, better than 77% of stainless steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 21 W/m·K (12.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 76% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Limited formability — 8/100, worse than 97% of stainless steel grades
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 96% of stainless steel grades
- Limited ductility — 12%, worse than 95% of stainless steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 30/100, worse than 88% of stainless steel grades
HC-F properties
Typical room-temperature values for HC-F; 21 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are HC reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
HC-F has a density of 7.6 g/cm³ (0.275 lb/in³), lighter than 98% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,385°C (2,525 °F).
Mechanical15
HC-F has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — stronger than 70% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
HC-F is rated for continuous service to 1,090°C (1,994 °F). It conducts heat at 21 W/m·K (12.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 76% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.8 µm/m·K (6 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
HC-F conducts electricity at 2.2 % IACS, worse than 61% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (60/100), worse than 58% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of HC-F takes about 55 MJ of energy and emits 3.8 kg of CO₂ — more than 50% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 75%.
Manufacturability8
HC-F's machinability is poor (32/100, worse than 62% of stainless steel grades); weldability poor (30/100); formability not recommended (8/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with HC-F
Is HC easy to machine?
Machine with rigid setups, sharp carbide tooling, low speed and heavy positive feed to cut under the abrasive Cr-carbide network; avoid dwelling to prevent work hardening.
Can HC be welded?
Weldable with 26Cr-type or high-Ni (ERNiCr) filler using 150–260 °C preheat, low heat input and post-weld anneal near 790 °C to restore some ductility; expect brittle coarse-grained HAZ.
Can HC be formed, bent or molded?
A casting alloy only — sand and investment cast with generous fillets and controlled solidification; no cold forming, and hot working is impractical.
What surface finishes work on HC?
Shot-blast or pickle plus passivate for scale removal; leave uncoated for furnace service since the self-forming chromia scale is the protective layer — painting and plating are pointless above 500 °C.
HC 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CASTM A297 max | ≤ 0.5 | 0.35 |
| Cr | 26 – 30 | 28 |
| Ni | ≤ 4 | 1.5 |
| Si | ≤ 2 | 1.2 |
| Mn | ≤ 1 | 0.7 |
| Moresidual, not intentionally added | ≤ 0.5 | — |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.04 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
HC-F — frequently asked
What is HC-F used for?
HC-F is typically used for furnace parts, combustion chamber components, heat treatment fixtures and kiln hardware. In short: low-nickel heat-resisting casting; 1090 °C oxidizing service; brittle after thermal exposure.
What is the yield strength of HC-F?
HC-F has a typical yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — stronger than 70% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is HC-F easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (32/100, worse than 62% of stainless steel grades). Machine with rigid setups, sharp carbide tooling, low speed and heavy positive feed to cut under the abrasive Cr-carbide network; avoid dwelling to prevent work hardening.
Can HC-F be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (30/100). Weldable with 26Cr-type or high-Ni (ERNiCr) filler using 150–260 °C preheat, low heat input and post-weld anneal near 790 °C to restore some ductility; expect brittle coarse-grained HAZ.
What surface finishes work on HC-F?
Shot-blast or pickle plus passivate for scale removal; leave uncoated for furnace service since the self-forming chromia scale is the protective layer — painting and plating are pointless above 500 °C.
Can HC-F be formed, bent or molded?
A casting alloy only — sand and investment cast with generous fillets and controlled solidification; no cold forming, and hot working is impractical.
What is the maximum service temperature of HC-F?
HC-F is rated for continuous use to about 1,090°C (1,994 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between HC-F and HC Aged?
F is the default condition — standard supply condition for furnace hardware; used directly after cleaning and stress relief of risers. Aged: design reference for parts already in service: strength holds up but room-temperature toughness and ductility collapse from sigma-phase and 475 °C embrittlement. Yield strength is 450 MPa in F versus 520 MPa in Aged.
Sources
- ASTM A297/A297M — Steel Castings, Iron-Chromium and Iron-Chromium-Nickel, Heat Resistant, for General Application — ASTM International (2019)
- ASTM A608/A608M — Centrifugally Cast Iron-Chromium-Nickel High-Alloy Tubing for Pressure Application at High Temperatures — ASTM International (2018)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Heat-Resistant Materials — Cast Heat-Resistant Alloys (ACI H-series) — ASM International (1997)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Cast Stainless Steels — ASM International (1990)
- Steel Founders' Society of America — High Alloy Data Sheets, Heat Series — SFSA (2004)
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.