Steel Custom 455
UNS S45500 · AISI/SAE XM-16 · ASTM A564
Custom 455 (UNS S45500/S45503, XM-16, ASTM A564) is a copper- and titanium-strengthened precipitation-hardening martensitic stainless steel supplied in Condition A and aged H900 through H1050.
Reference datasheet — Custom 455 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 H1000 condition
Custom 455 tempers and conditions
Custom 455 is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. H1000 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solution annealed | Pick for machining, cold forming, heading or welding before a single low-temperature aging cycle. | 795 | 1,000 | 14 | 31 HRC | — |
Condition A, cold drawn bar/wire | Cold-drawn solution-annealed wire and bar for cold-headed fasteners and springs, aged after forming. | 1,030 | 1,170 | 8 | 36 HRC | 2.2 % IACS |
Aged 4 h at 565 °C | Over-aged, toughest condition — choose where ductility, notch toughness and SCC resistance matter more than peak strength. | 1,380 | 1,450 | 14 | 43 HRC | — |
H1000Default Aged 4 h at 540 °C | Most commonly stocked aged condition — ~225 ksi with the best strength/toughness and stress-corrosion balance. | 1,450 | 1,550 | 12 | 46 HRC | — |
Aged 4 h at 510 °C | Standard A564 aerospace fastener condition: ~240 ksi strength with slightly better ductility than H900. | 1,580 | 1,655 | 11 | 48 HRC | — |
Aged 482 °C (900 °F) for 1 h, peak hardness | Highest strength/hardness condition — use for peak-strength fasteners and pins where toughness demand is modest. | 1,620 | 1,720 | 10 | 49 HRC | — |
What is Custom 455?
Custom 455 (UNS S45500/S45503, XM-16, ASTM A564) is a copper- and titanium-strengthened precipitation-hardening martensitic stainless steel supplied in Condition A and aged H900 through H1050. In the aged condition it provides 1450 MPa yield and 1550 MPa tensile at 46 HRC (430 HB), reaching about 1700 MPa at peak aging, together with useful corrosion resistance (score 55), so it replaces coated low-alloy steels in fasteners, shafts and fittings; bar, wire and cold-drawn rod are the usual forms. Formability and weldability are limited (25 and 45) and service is capped near 425 °C; 15-5PH is the cheaper choice when 1700 MPa is not needed. Custom 455 has a density of 7.76 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), lighter than 92% of steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F). Custom 455 has a yield strength of 1,450 MPa (210 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,550 MPa (225 ksi) — stronger than 97% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
What is Custom 455 used for?
- aircraft fasteners
- landing gear parts
- shafts
- structural fittings
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 55/100, better than 99% of steel grades
- High strength — 1,450 MPa (210 ksi), better than 97% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 80/100, better than 97% of steel grades
Limitations
- Poor heat conductor — 17.6 W/m·K (10.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 98% of steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 2.2 % IACS, worse than 98% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 5.2 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 96% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 25/100, worse than 93% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 12%, worse than 84% of steel grades
Custom 455 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Custom 455-H1000; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
Custom 455 has a density of 7.76 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), lighter than 92% of steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Mechanical16
Custom 455 has a yield strength of 1,450 MPa (210 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,550 MPa (225 ksi) — stronger than 97% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
Custom 455 is rated for continuous service to 425°C (797 °F). It conducts heat at 17.6 W/m·K (10.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 98% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.2 µm/m·K (5.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Custom 455 conducts electricity at 2.2 % IACS, worse than 98% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), better than 99% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Custom 455 takes about 65 MJ of energy and emits 5.2 kg of CO₂ — more than 96% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
Custom 455's machinability is poor (25/100, worse than 93% of steel grades); weldability fair (45/100); formability poor (25/100).
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 steel family
Yield strength against density for every steel grade FabDigit runs. Custom 455 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Custom 455
Is Custom 455 easy to machine?
Machine in Condition A with rigid setups, positive-rake carbide, heavy coolant and low speeds; aged H900–H1000 material work-hardens strongly and is best ground or turned with reduced feeds.
Can Custom 455 be welded?
GTAW/EBW without filler or with matching wire is practical; re-solution-treat and re-age (or at minimum re-age) after welding to restore joint strength, and avoid weld cracking by keeping heat input low.
Can Custom 455 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form, bend and cold-head only in Condition A with generous radii; aging at 480–565 °C causes very little distortion so parts can be finished close to final size before hardening.
Custom 455 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.5 | 0.25 |
| Si | ≤ 0.5 | 0.25 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Cr | 11 – 12.5 | 11.75 |
| Ni | 7.5 – 9.5 | 8.5 |
| Mo | ≤ 0.5 | 0.25 |
| Cuprecipitation strengthener | 1.5 – 2.5 | 2 |
| Tiprecipitation strengthener | 0.8 – 1.4 | 1.1 |
| NbCb+Ta | 0.1 – 0.5 | 0.3 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on Custom 455?
Passivate per AMS 2700 after machining; avoid electroplating without a post-plate hydrogen bake-out, and expect excellent response to polishing and shot peening for fatigue improvement.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on 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).
Organic Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel Custom 455 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- S45500
- AISI / SAE
- XM-16
- ASTM
- A564
- Also called
- Custom455
- Similar grades
- S45503
How much does Custom 455 cost?
Custom 455 is a high-cost steel ($$$$), pricier than about 78% 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.
Custom 455 — frequently asked
What is Custom 455 used for?
Custom 455 is typically used for aircraft fasteners, landing gear parts, shafts and structural fittings. In short: corrosion-resistant UHS stainless; aerospace fastener grade; minimal aging distortion.
What is the yield strength of Custom 455?
Custom 455 has a typical yield strength of 1,450 MPa (210 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,550 MPa (225 ksi) — stronger than 97% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is Custom 455 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, worse than 93% of steel grades). Machine in Condition A with rigid setups, positive-rake carbide, heavy coolant and low speeds; aged H900–H1000 material work-hardens strongly and is best ground or turned with reduced feeds.
Can Custom 455 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). GTAW/EBW without filler or with matching wire is practical; re-solution-treat and re-age (or at minimum re-age) after welding to restore joint strength, and avoid weld cracking by keeping heat input low.
What surface finishes work on Custom 455?
Passivate per AMS 2700 after machining; avoid electroplating without a post-plate hydrogen bake-out, and expect excellent response to polishing and shot peening for fatigue improvement.
Can Custom 455 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form, bend and cold-head only in Condition A with generous radii; aging at 480–565 °C causes very little distortion so parts can be finished close to final size before hardening.
What is the maximum service temperature of Custom 455?
Custom 455 is rated for continuous use to about 425°C (797 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Custom 455-H1000 and Custom 455-A?
H1000 is the default condition — most commonly stocked aged condition — ~225 ksi with the best strength/toughness and stress-corrosion balance. A: pick for machining, cold forming, heading or welding before a single low-temperature aging cycle. Yield strength is 1,450 MPa in H1000 versus 795 MPa in A.
How much does Custom 455 cost?
Custom 455 is a high-cost steel ($$$$), pricier than about 78% 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 A564/A564M — Age-Hardening Stainless Steel Bars and Shapes (Type XM-16) — ASTM International (2019)
- Custom 455 Stainless alloy technical datasheet — Carpenter Technology (2021)
- AMS 5617 / AMS 5860 — S45500 bar, wire and forgings — SAE International (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
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.