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420 mod. STANDARD VALUES

Composition - Chemical analysis:

C

0.16 – 0.25

Si

0 – 1

Mn

0 – 1.5

P

0 – 0.04

S

0 – 0.015

Cr

12 – 14
Chemical name:
X20Cr13
Working hardness:
approx. 25 HRC (delivery condition) - 47 HRC
Delivery condition:
max. 252 HB
Chemical name:
X20Cr13
Working hardness:
approx. 25 HRC (delivery condition) - 47 HRC
Delivery condition:
max. 252 HB
420 mod. stainless steel physical properties
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420 mod. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

420 mod. stainless steel has an average corrosion resistance that can be enhanced by fine grinding or polishing the surface to a high finish.

Finely ground or polished it lends itself for cutlery, blades, kitchen articles or decorative purposes but it can be also used in moderately aggressive media, steam or freshwater.

420 mod. does loose ductility at sub-zero temperatures and strength when over tempering this material at elevated temperatures.

Yes, the 420 mod. is a stainless steel with a mass fraction of 12 - 14% of chromium.

A stainless steel has a minimum mass fraction of 10.5% chromium. 
Yes, with a mass fraction of 12 - 14% of chromium the 420 mod. is a corrosion resistant steel.

On a scale where 1 is weak and 6 is good, the corrosion resistance for 420 mod. stands at 5.
This stainless steel has good corrosion resistance in slightly corrosive environments free of chlorides like detergents, organic acid, or soaps.

420 mod. is resistant to oxidation up to a temperature of 1112°F (600°C). This grade is not suitable to be used in sea water as pitting corrosion will occur when used in this environment.

In general, the corrosion resistance of this steel grade is lower than common austenitic grades. To enhance corrosion resistance for this steel, parts should be finished with a finely ground or polished surface.
The 420 mod. can be magnetized which is beneficial for applications where magnetic properties are needed and is suitable for magnetic clamping.
The wear resistance of the 420 mod. is 3 on a scale where 1 is low and 6 is high.

Heat the material uniformly to a temperature range of 2100 - 2250°F (1149 - 1232°C). Hot working this steel below 1700°F (927°C) should be avoided as cracking may occur.

Corrosion resistance is compromised by discoloration caused by hot forming, welding or by scaling. These should be removed by pickling (pickling solution), grinding or sandblasting. For this process only iron-free tools may be used.

It is not recommended to cold work this material in this condition, only for minor modifications can be done to the material.

Severe manipulation will result in cracking of the material. This steel grade is most often machined to shape.

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420 mod. TECHNICAL PROPERTIES

The 420 mod. can be used for knife blades, surgical instruments as well as cutting tools as it has an excellent hardness after heat treatment. So yes, the 420 mod can be used as a knife steel.
The working hardness for the stainless steel 420 mod. is at approx. 250 BHN (delivery condition) - 445 BHN (25 HRC (delivery condition) - 47 HRC).

Typically the density of 420 mod. stainless steel is 0.278 lb/in3 (7.7g/cm3) at room temperature.

The tensile strength for the 420 mod. is approx. 123.2 KSI (0.145KSI = 1MPa).

This value is the result from a tensile test to show how much force is needed before the material starts to stretch or elongate before it breaks.
The range for the stainless steel 420 mod. is between 72.5 to 87.0 KSI (500 - 600 MPa).

The yield strength shows how much stress can be applied to a material before it plastically deforms. Beyond this point it does not return to its original form when the stresses have been removed.The material deforms permanently or breaks past that point.

The heat conductivity for the 420 mod. stainless steel is at 30 W/(m*K) (208 BTU/(h-ft*°F)) at room temperature.

This diagram shows how much the 420 mod. might expand or contract when the temperatures change which can be very important when working with high temperatures or strong temperature changes.

Medium thermal expansion coefficient

10-6m/(m • K)

At a temperature of

10.5 

68 - 212°F 

11.0

68 - 392°F 

11.5

68 - 572°F 

12.0

68 - 752°F 


The specific heat capacity of the 420 mod. stainless steel at room temperature is at 0.46 J/g-°C (0.109 BTU/lb-°F).

This value shows how much heat is needed  to heat 1lb of material by 1 Fahrenheit.

The following table shows the electrical resistivity of stainless steel 420 mod. 

Table of the specific electrical resistivity

Value

At a temperature of

0.6  (Ohm*mm²)/m

68°F 


The stress and strain modulus or modulus of elasticity (Young’s modulus) for 420 mod. stainless steel is at 31.183 KSI (215 GPa).

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420 mod. stainless steel procedures
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420 mod. PROCEDURE

Heat the material uniformly to a temperature range of 1373 - 1517°F (745 - 825°C), hold and follow this with a slow cooling in air or in the furnace.
Specific temperatures and times for each of the following steps can vary based on size and shape of the workpieces and their final desired properties.

Controlled heating and cooling is crucial to achieve the ideal structure and properties for this steel grade.
Stress relieving the 420 mod. is done to ensure dimensional stability and to prevent cracking. Heat the material to a temperature range between 300 - 390°F (150 - 200°C) and hold for 2 hours per inch (25.4 mm) of thickness.

To finish this process, cool the material down to room temperature in still air. Finally inspect the material to see that the reduction of residual stresses has been achieved and mechanical properties and dimensions have not been altered.
Heat the material uniformly to a temperature of 1922 - 1742°F (950 - 1050°C) and hold, then cool in oil or air. As the hardness of the 420 mod. increases the tensile strength also increases.

Quenching is done rapidly to transform austenite back to martensite. 

Oil
Air
Polymer

The tempering temperature is chosen for hardness requirements, to reduce brittleness after quenching or to adjust the balance between hardness and toughness.

Tempering temperatures for the 420 mod. are between 1112 - 1292°F (600 - 700°C), the temperature range of 752 - 1112°F (400 - 600°C) should be avoided due to precipitation and unwanted phases.

420 mod. stainless steel tempering chart diagram
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420 mod. SURFACE TREATMENT

Surface treatment can enhance properties, corrosion resistance, wear resistance as well as aesthetics of a steel. Here are a few examples of surface treatments for the 420 mod.
Polishing the 420 mod. to a high gloss finish can enhance corrosion resistance or remove contaminants from the surface but also enhances the aesthetic appeal of the material and makes it ideal for knife making.
The process removes free iron from the surface with nitric or citric acids and adds a protective oxide layer over the material.
Both processes deposit a thin protective layer on the material surface to enhance corrosion resistance, improve wear resistance or reduce friction.
This process is an impact treatment where multiple high velocity shots are blasted onto the material surface leaving small indentations removing stress risers. It makes the surface more resistant and can prevent fatigue and stress corrosion failure.

Note: Protective gear like goggles, masks, helmets, gloves and protective clothing should be worn and adequate ventilation or dust extraction should be provided.

Appropriate guards to prevent shot spillage should be in place, equipment regularly maintained and shot should be free from contaminants.

Abrasive particles like glass or ceramic beads are blasted against the surface to remove contaminants like rust, paint or scale and to promote a uniform matt finish.

Note: Care has to be taken during this process as the process produces dust and small parts might be propelled back. Protective gear like masks, helmets and protective clothing should be worn and adequate ventilation or dust extraction should be provided.

This is a superficial treatment that may enhance corrosion resistance but is most often used to color the surface blue-black to reduce the reflection of light.
In this process a laser melts a thin layer with a high power beam which is followed by rapid cooling and solidifying of the material. This improves the surface hardness and corrosion resistance.
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420 mod. PROCESSING

On a scale where 1 is weak and 6 is good, the machinability of 420 mod. reaches a score of 4.

Machining 420 mod. is essentially no different than machining non-alloy carbon steels of similar or matching strength.
Dimensional changes can occur during heat treatment, cooling and manufacturing.

Heating and cooling lets any material grade expand or contract but also can phase changes and stress relieve be a factor for dimensional changes and should be considered when tight tolerances are needed. Controlled heat treatment and good machining practices can support dimensional stability.
Slowly and uniformly preheat the material to a temperature of 1562°F (850°C) and then more rapidly to the temperature range of 2102 - 21056°F (1150 - 1180°C).

Forge the parts at the range of 2012 - 1652°F (1100 - 900°C) and finish the process by cooling the parts down slowly in the furnace or dry ash or similar materials that promote slow cooling.

Though 420 mod. has poor weldability it can be welded by all types of welding processes.

When gas welding care should be taken to avoid contamination, for example nitrogen or hydrogen, as this will affect the mechanical properties of the parts.

Preheat parts to 392 - 572°F (200 - 300°C) and if a filler is needed it should match the base metal. Let the parts cool down to 248°F (120°C) before tempering. To restore some of the ductility in the weld zone it should be tempered at a temperature of 1202°F (650°C).

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420 mod. APPLICATION OPTIONS

The 420 mod. can be used for applications needing high hardness, strength and moderate corrosion resistance like kitchenware, cutlery, pumps, shafts, valves or machine components like gears, bolts and nuts. 

• Automotive industry
• Power engineering
• Turbine and power plant construction
• Medical technology
• Mechanical engineering
• Petrochemical industry
• Cutting tool industry
• Knives
• Fasteners
• Architecture and decoration

420 mod. stainless steel application options
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420 mod. CONCLUSION

420 mod. is well suited for applications that require a good balance between wear resistance and moderate corrosion resistance. It can be used in mild environments and can be used to make surgical instruments or cutlery due to its durability and wear resistance. All in all, it is a very versatile stainless steel with a good variety of applications.

- Corrosion-resistant stainless steel (quenched and tempered version shown here)
- Martensitic chromium steel
- Good mechanical properties
- Can be polished to a mirror finish
- Suitable as knife steel
- Good forgeability
- Medium weldability
- Limited acid resistance
- Magnetizable
- Cold formable (low degree of deformation)
- Not resistant to seawater
find alternatives to 420 mod. stainless steel
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420 mod. ALTERNATIVES

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420 mod. DATASHEET

Download the technical data sheet in PDF format here.

download 420 mod. data sheet
Disclaimer

The data shown here has been compiled with the greatest diligence and is regularly updated with regard to the correctness and completeness of its content. The content is indicative only and should not be taken as a warranty of specific properties of the product described or a warranty of suitability for a particular purpose. All information presented is given in good faith and no liability will be accepted for actions taken by third parties in reliance on this information. ABRAMS Industries reserves the right to change or amend the information given here in full or parts without prior notice.