Steel Custom 455 A-CD
Supply condition
UNS S45500 · AISI/SAE XM-16 · ASTM A564
A-CD = condition A, cold drawn bar/wire
Cold-drawn solution-annealed wire and bar for cold-headed fasteners and springs, aged after forming.
Values for the A-CD condition
Other Custom 455 tempers and conditions
Custom 455 is listed in 6 conditions; see the grade overview at Custom 455.
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 | — |
A-CDThis page 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 A-CD?
Custom 455 A-CD is Custom 455 supplied in the A-CD condition — cold-drawn solution-annealed wire and bar for cold-headed fasteners and springs, aged after forming. Custom 455 A-CD has a yield strength of 1,030 MPa (149 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,170 MPa (170 ksi) — stronger than 93% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi). Custom 455 A-CD 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). H1000 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; A-CD is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 50/100, better than 99% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 80/100, better than 97% of steel grades
- High strength — 1,030 MPa (149 ksi), better than 93% 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
- Limited ductility — 8%, worse than 95% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 35/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
Custom 455 A-CD properties
Typical room-temperature values for Custom 455 A-CD; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Custom 455 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
Custom 455 A-CD 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 A-CD has a yield strength of 1,030 MPa (149 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,170 MPa (170 ksi) — stronger than 93% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
Custom 455 A-CD is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °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 A-CD conducts electricity at 2.2 % IACS, worse than 98% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (50/100), better than 99% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Custom 455 A-CD 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 A-CD's machinability is fair (35/100, worse than 84% of steel grades); weldability fair (50/100); formability poor (30/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Custom 455 A-CD
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.
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.
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 | — |
Custom 455 A-CD — frequently asked
What is Custom 455 A-CD used for?
Custom 455 A-CD 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 A-CD?
Custom 455 A-CD has a typical yield strength of 1,030 MPa (149 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,170 MPa (170 ksi) — stronger than 93% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is Custom 455 A-CD easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, worse than 84% 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 A-CD be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (50/100). 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 A-CD?
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 A-CD 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 A-CD?
Custom 455 A-CD is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.