Space Mushroom
Sign in

Materials/Metals and alloys/Stainless steels

Martensitic stainless steels

stainless-martensitic

8 materials across 1 types

About martensitic stainless steels

Martensitic stainless steels (410, 440C, S41500): heat treatment, hardness and strength data with sources.

Martensitic stainless steels can be hardened by heat treatment. Their strength and hardness depend on the hardening and tempering temperatures, so each value on these pages names its treatment.

At a glance

  • Highest yield strength: Stainless steel 440C reaches 1,896 MPa. Lowest: Stainless steel 410 starts at 205 MPa. (8 of 8 grades have a sourced value.)
  • Highest tensile strength: Stainless steel 440C reaches 1,965 MPa. Lowest: Stainless steel 410S starts at 414 MPa. (8 of 8 grades have a sourced value.)

Ranges run across the conditions each source reports (temper, heat treatment, form), measured at room temperature where the source says so.

How they compare

The same measurements for every material in the collection. A range means the grade has values under several conditions; "at least" means the source gives a specified minimum. "no data" means no sourced value yet. For ranked tables, open a benchmark.

Martensitic stainless steels: how the grades compare
MaterialYield strengthTensile strengthDensityYoung's modulusThermal conductivityMelting point
Stainless steel 410structural alloy 205 to 1,089 MPa448 to 1,331 MPa7.73 to 7.75 g/cm³200 GPa24.9 W/(m·K)1,482 to 1,532 °C
Stainless steel 440Chigh-carbon martensitic stainless steel for bearings and valve parts 1,896 MPa1,965 MPa7.61 to 7.7 g/cm³200 to 210 GPa22.8 to 24.2 W/(m·K)1,371 to 1,482 °C
Martensitic stainless steel 13Cr-4Ni (UNS S41500)quenched and tempered structural alloy for turbines, pumps and valves at least 517 MPa700 to 1,100 MPa7.61 to 8.1 g/cm³190 to 215 GPa25 W/(m·K)no data
Stainless steel 410Sstructural alloy 207 to 290 MPa414 to 448 MPa7.73 g/cm³200 GPa26.9 W/(m·K)1,480 to 1,530 °C
AISI 416 stainless steelfree-machining structural stainless steel 276 to 951 MPa517 to 1,172 MPa7.7 to 7.81 g/cm³190 to 215 GPa24.9 to 30 W/(m·K)1,490 °C
Stainless steel 420hardenable martensitic stainless steel for blades, bearings and wear parts 355 to 1,311 MPa592 to 1,760 MPa7.7 to 7.75 g/cm³200 to 215 GPa24.9 to 30 W/(m·K)1,454 to 1,510 °C
Stainless steel 431high-strength shaft and valve-stem stainless 600 to 1,034 MPa800 to 1,379 MPa7.8 g/cm³200 to 215 GPa25 W/(m·K)no data
Martensitic stainless steelquenched and tempered corrosion-resistant steel for shafts, axles and pump parts 550 to 920 MPa760 to 1,100 MPa7.7 g/cm³200 GPa15 W/(m·K)no data

What these materials are made of

Composition by weight, as printed in the sources for each grade (the first constituents listed).

Composition of each grade
MaterialMain constituents
Stainless steel 410Fe balance · Cr 11.5 to 13.5% · C 0.08 to 0.15% · Mn up to 1% · Si up to 1% · Ni up to 0.75% · P up to 0.04%
Stainless steel 440CFe balance · C 0.95 to 1.2% · Cr 16 to 18% · Mo up to 0.75% · Mn up to 1% · Si up to 1% · P up to 0.04%
Martensitic stainless steel 13Cr-4Ni (UNS S41500)Fe balance · Cr 11.5 to 14% · Ni 3.5 to 5.5% · Mo 0.5 to 1% · C up to 0.05% · Mn 0.5 to 1% · Si up to 0.6%
Stainless steel 410SFe balance · Cr 11.5 to 13.5% · C up to 0.08% · Mn up to 1% · Si up to 1% · Ni up to 0.6% · Ti up to 0.2%
Stainless steel 431Fe balance · Cr 15 to 17% · Ni 1.5 to 2.5% · C 0.12 to 0.22% · Mn up to 1.5% · Si up to 1% · P up to 0.04%
Martensitic stainless steelFe balance · Cr 15 to 17% · Ni 4 to 6% · Mo 0.8 to 1.5% · C up to 0.06% · Si up to 0.7% · Mn up to 1.5%

Where they are used

Uses
UseGrades
Gate valves and valve componentsStainless steel 410
Nuclear reactor control rod mechanismsStainless steel 410
Steam and gas turbine blades and bucketsStainless steel 410
Rolling-element bearings (ball and roller)Stainless steel 440C
Valve seats and valve partsStainless steel 440C
High-pressure oxygen turbopump bearings of the Space Shuttle main engine (HPOTP)Stainless steel 440C
Hydroelectric turbine partsMartensitic stainless steel 13Cr-4Ni (UNS S41500)
Pumps and compressor componentsMartensitic stainless steel 13Cr-4Ni (UNS S41500)
Valves and actuatorsMartensitic stainless steel 13Cr-4Ni (UNS S41500)
Tower packing and distillation traysStainless steel 410S
Automotive exhaust componentsStainless steel 410S
Quenching racksStainless steel 410S
Axles, shafts and gearsAISI 416 stainless steel
Automatic screw-machine parts and pump and valve componentsAISI 416 stainless steel
Fasteners, bolts, nuts and studsAISI 416 stainless steel
Bearings and industrial chainsStainless steel 420

When each grade fits

Best use and weak spots of each grade
MaterialBest forWeakest at
Stainless steel 410Hardened and tempered valve, shaft and fastener parts that need strength and a magnetic responseChloride, marine and strong-acid service, and toughness after tempering at 482 to 538 C
Stainless steel 440CBearings and valve parts that must be hard and wear-resistant in the hardened and tempered condition (Carpenter, Aalco, Rolled Alloys)Corrosion resistance in the annealed state or after tempering above about 800 F (427 C), and service above about 400 C (NASA 2018 maximum use temperature)
Martensitic stainless steel 13Cr-4Ni (UNS S41500)Quenched and tempered turbine, pump and valve parts that need good strength and low-temperature toughness, in low-chloride media with polished surfacesChloride pitting (DEW: slight attack with a risk of pitting in saturated NaCl at 20 C), the 23 HRC cap for sour gas, and poor weldability (DEW)
Stainless steel 410SFerromagnetic, weldable stainless parts for hot or mildly corrosive service, such as distillation trays, tower packing and exhaust components, where the 410 hardening response is not wantedChloride and marine service (no 410S test data was found), and room-temperature brittleness in thick sections (Jacquet)
AISI 416 stainless steelShafts, axles, gears, valve and pump parts and screw-machine parts that must be cut quickly and then hardened, kept away from chloride exposureCorrosion resistance. The sulfur addition lowers it below the non-free-machining grade 410, and the Aalco datasheet calls high-sulfur free-machining grades totally unsuitable for marine or chloride exposure
Stainless steel 420Hardened wear parts, blades and bearing-type components that need high strength and edge retention, from one steel that reaches 48 HRC after tempering at 440 °FCorrosion resistance and ductility: it resists corrosion less well than austenitic grades, and it loses strength when tempered at 1000 °F (158.5 ksi tensile)
Stainless steel 431High tensile and torsional strength in shafts, valve stems and pump parts that also need reasonable corrosion resistance (Smith Metal, Smiths High Performance)Welding and cold forming: welds crack unless preheated, and the grade is not recommended for cold heading or bending (Smiths High Performance, Voestalpine)
Martensitic stainless steelQuenched and tempered shafts, axles and pump parts that need strength, toughness and good general corrosion resistance, with limited marine exposure (DEW)Chloride pitting: DEW gives a risk of pitting corrosion in saturated sodium chloride and in sea water at 20 C, and welds need heat treatment afterwards (DEW)