Steel Ferrium S53
Ferrium S53 is a corrosion-resistant secondary-hardening ultra-high-strength steel qualified to AMS 5922, developed as a landing gear alternative to 300M that does not require cadmium plating.
Reference datasheet — Ferrium S53 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 AMS5922-SCT482 condition
Ferrium S53 tempers and conditions
Ferrium S53 is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. AMS5922-SCT482 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Mill-supplied soft bar/forging for rough machining before final hardening. | 850 | 1,100 | 18 | 34 HRC | 2.4 % IACS |
Solution treated 1060–1090 °C, oil/gas quenched, cryogenic treated | Intermediate as-quenched martensite state — not a service condition; must be aged before use. | 1,100 | 1,500 | 10 | 47 HRC | 2.2 % IACS |
Overaged 496–510 °C | Slightly softer aging used when fracture toughness is prioritized over peak strength. | 1,520 | 1,860 | 13 | 51 HRC | 2.3 % IACS |
AMS5922-SCT482Default AMS 5922 | Standard qualified aerospace condition — ~285 ksi UTS with corrosion resistance; use for landing gear and actuator parts. | 1,620 | 1,985 | 12 | 54 HRC | — |
What is Ferrium S53?
Ferrium S53 is a corrosion-resistant secondary-hardening ultra-high-strength steel qualified to AMS 5922, developed as a landing gear alternative to 300M that does not require cadmium plating. In the SCT 482 condition it provides 1620 MPa yield and 1985 MPa tensile (about 280 ksi) at 54 HRC with 12 % elongation and corrosion resistance rated 55, and is supplied as bar and forgings. Limits are poor machinability (18), a 370 °C service ceiling, no qualified structural fusion welding, high material cost and few melt sources; AerMet 100 with a coating system is the usual alternative. Ferrium S53 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F). Ferrium S53 has a yield strength of 1,620 MPa (235 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,985 MPa (288 ksi) — stronger than 98% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
What is Ferrium S53 used for?
- landing gear
- arresting hooks
- corrosion-critical structural parts
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 55/100, better than 99% of steel grades
- High strength — 1,620 MPa (235 ksi), better than 98% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 80/100, better than 97% of steel grades
Limitations
- Poor heat conductor — 18 W/m·K (10.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 98% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 18/100, worse than 97% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 96% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 95% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 12%, worse than 84% of steel grades
Ferrium S53 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Ferrium S53-AMS5922-SCT482; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
Ferrium S53 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Mechanical15
Ferrium S53 has a yield strength of 1,620 MPa (235 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,985 MPa (288 ksi) — stronger than 98% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
Ferrium S53 is rated for continuous service to 370°C (698 °F). It conducts heat at 18 W/m·K (10.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 98% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
Ferrium S53 has an electrical resistivity of 7.5×10⁻⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), better than 99% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Ferrium S53 takes about 62 MJ of energy and emits 5 kg of CO₂ — more than 96% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 15%.
Manufacturability6
Ferrium S53's machinability is poor (18/100, worse than 97% of steel grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability not recommended (10/100).
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. Ferrium S53 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Ferrium S53
Is Ferrium S53 easy to machine?
Rough machine in the annealed state; finish machining at 54 HRC needs rigid setups, ceramic or coated carbide tooling, low speeds and heavy coolant, or grinding/EDM with stress-relief afterwards.
Can Ferrium S53 be welded?
Not qualified for structural fusion welding — secondary-hardening martensite is crack- and HAZ-sensitive; repair only by approved laser cladding with full re-heat-treat.
Can Ferrium S53 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1050–1150 °C with controlled finish temperature and slow cool to the annealed state; no meaningful cold forming in the hardened condition.
Ferrium S53 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 | 0.19 – 0.23 | 0.21 |
| Co | 13 – 14.5 | 14 |
| Crprovides passivation without Cd plating | 9.5 – 10.5 | 10 |
| Ni | 5 – 5.75 | 5.5 |
| Mosecondary-hardening M2C carbides | 1.75 – 2.25 | 2 |
| W | 0.9 – 1.1 | 1 |
| V | 0.25 – 0.35 | 0.3 |
| Siresidual | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Mnresidual | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Presidual | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Sresidual | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on Ferrium S53?
Designed to be used bare or primed/painted — no cadmium plating needed; avoid electroplating hydrogen-charging processes, and shot-peen plus passivation for maximum fatigue and corrosion life.
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
How much does Ferrium S53 cost?
Ferrium S53 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.
Ferrium S53 — frequently asked
What is Ferrium S53 used for?
Ferrium S53 is typically used for landing gear, arresting hooks and corrosion-critical structural parts. In short: cadmium-free landing gear steel; corrosion-resistant 280 ksi steel; 300M replacement grade.
What is the yield strength of Ferrium S53?
Ferrium S53 has a typical yield strength of 1,620 MPa (235 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,985 MPa (288 ksi) — stronger than 98% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Ferrium S53 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (18/100, worse than 97% of steel grades). Rough machine in the annealed state; finish machining at 54 HRC needs rigid setups, ceramic or coated carbide tooling, low speeds and heavy coolant, or grinding/EDM with stress-relief afterwards.
Can Ferrium S53 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Not qualified for structural fusion welding — secondary-hardening martensite is crack- and HAZ-sensitive; repair only by approved laser cladding with full re-heat-treat.
What surface finishes work on Ferrium S53?
Designed to be used bare or primed/painted — no cadmium plating needed; avoid electroplating hydrogen-charging processes, and shot-peen plus passivation for maximum fatigue and corrosion life.
Can Ferrium S53 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1050–1150 °C with controlled finish temperature and slow cool to the annealed state; no meaningful cold forming in the hardened condition.
What is the maximum service temperature of Ferrium S53?
Ferrium S53 is rated for continuous use to about 370°C (698 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Ferrium S53 AMS5922-SCT482 and Ferrium S53-ANN?
AMS5922-SCT482 is the default condition — standard qualified aerospace condition — ~285 ksi UTS with corrosion resistance; use for landing gear and actuator parts. ANN: mill-supplied soft bar/forging for rough machining before final hardening. Yield strength is 1,620 MPa in AMS5922-SCT482 versus 850 MPa in ANN.
How much does Ferrium S53 cost?
Ferrium S53 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
- AMS 5922 — Steel, Corrosion-Resistant, Bars and Forgings, 10Cr-5.5Ni-14Co-2Mo, Vacuum Melted — SAE International (2020)
- Ferrium S53 alloy technical data — QuesTek Innovations LLC (2021)
- Ferrium S53 VIM-VAR bar product information — Carpenter Technology / Latrobe Specialty Metals (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- MMPDS-style ultra-high-strength steel comparison data (300M, AerMet 100, S53) — Battelle / FAA (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.