spore: profile
id: stainless-15-5ph
spore_version: 0.2
family: stainless-precipitation-hardening
name: 15-5 PH stainless steel
abbreviation: 15-5 PH (UNS S15500, AMS 5659)
role: precipitation-hardening structural alloy
category: metals
type: steels-and-stainless
summary: |
  15-5 PH is a precipitation-hardening stainless steel (UNS S15500) with 14.00 to 15.50 percent chromium, 3.50 to 5.50 percent nickel and 2.50 to 4.50 percent copper. Its strength is set by a low-temperature aging step to condition H900, H1025 or H1150. On the SSA AMS 5659 table, yield strength is 170,000 psi at H900 and 105,000 psi at H1150, while elongation rises from 6 % to 11 %. Titanium.com calls its corrosion resistance excellent; Bibus says it is comparable to Types 302 and 304 in many corrosive environments.
best_for: Fittings, shafts, gears and valve parts that need high strength from one aging step and moderate corrosion resistance
weakest_at: Ductility at the highest strength (elongation of 6 % at H900), and no chloride, stress-corrosion or sour-service data in the sources read
identity:
  formula: Fe balance, 14.00 to 15.50 Cr, 3.50 to 5.50 Ni, 2.50 to 4.50 Cu, 0.15 to 0.45 Nb plus Ta, max 0.07 C, max 1.00 Mn, max 1.00 Si, max 0.040 P, max 0.030 S (wt%)
  source: ssa-corp
  where: Chemical Composition table on the SSA AMS 5659 page
  designations:
    - system: UNS
      code: S15500
      source: ssa-corp
      where: 'Designations list: UNS S15500'
    - system: AMS
      code: '5659'
      source: ssa-corp
      where: 'Designations list: AMS 5659'
    - system: EN
      code: '1.4545'
      source: bibus-155
      where: 'Page title and product line: 15-5PH | 1.4545'
    - system: ASTM
      code: A564
      note: type XM-12
      source: titanium-com
      where: 'Designations list: ASTM A564 TYPE XM-12'
    - system: Trade name
      code: PH15-5
      source: ssa-corp
      where: 'Designations list: trade names PH15-5, XM-12, 15Cr-5Ni, SAE 15-5'
tags:
  environments: []
  stresses: []
  applications:
    - structures
    - mechanisms
properties:
  - benchmark: density
    value: 7.8
    unit: g/cm3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      condition: not stated on the page (physical constants list)
    method: Value printed on the Bibus product page as Density 7.8 g/cm³
    status: ground
    source: bibus-155
    where: Physical constants and thermal properties list, Density
  - benchmark: melting_point
    value: 1404
    value_high: 1440
    bound: range
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: melting range as printed
    method: Range printed on the Bibus product page as Melting point 1404 - 1440 °C
    status: ground
    source: bibus-155
    where: Physical constants and thermal properties list, Melting point
  - benchmark: thermal_conductivity
    value: 17.8
    unit: W/m-°C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temperature: 150 (printed as 150° on the page)
      condition: not stated
    method: Value printed on the Bibus product page as Thermal conductivity at 150°
    status: ground
    source: bibus-155
    where: Physical constants and thermal properties list, Thermal conductivity at 150°
  - benchmark: cte
    value: 10.8
    unit: μm/m-°C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temperature_range: 21 to 93 °C (printed as 21-93 °C)
    method: Value printed on the Bibus product page as Coefficient of expansion at 21-93 °C
    status: ground
    source: bibus-155
    where: Physical constants and thermal properties list, Coefficient of expansion
  - benchmark: yield_strength
    value: 1000
    bound: lower
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      condition: H1025 (AMS 5659)
      basis: row printed as min.; the table heading says typical
    method: Row printed under the Bibus heading for condition H1025 (Yield strength min. 1000 MPa)
    status: ground
    source: bibus-155
    where: Mechanical properties table, condition H1025, Yield strength
  - benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
    value: 1070
    bound: lower
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      condition: H1025 (AMS 5659)
      basis: row printed as min.; the table heading says typical
    method: Row printed under the Bibus heading for condition H1025 (Tensile strength min. 1070 MPa)
    status: ground
    source: bibus-155
    where: Mechanical properties table, condition H1025, Tensile strength
  - benchmark: elongation
    value: 11
    bound: lower
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      condition: H1025 (AMS 5659)
      basis: row printed as min.; the table heading says typical
    method: Row printed under the Bibus heading for condition H1025 (Elongation min. 11 %)
    status: ground
    source: bibus-155
    where: Mechanical properties table, condition H1025, Elongation
  - benchmark: yield_strength
    value: 170000
    unit: psi
    scope: material
    conditions:
      condition: H900
      basis: row printed as yield 0.2% offset; the page does not say minimum or typical
    method: Value printed in the AMS 5659 mechanical properties table on the SSA page
    status: ground
    source: ssa-corp
    where: AMS 5659 mechanical properties table, H900 row, Yield 0.2% offset
  - benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
    value: 190000
    unit: psi
    scope: material
    conditions:
      condition: H900
      basis: row printed as tensile; the page does not say minimum or typical
    method: Value printed in the AMS 5659 mechanical properties table on the SSA page
    status: ground
    source: ssa-corp
    where: AMS 5659 mechanical properties table, H900 row, Tensile
  - benchmark: elongation
    value: 6
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      condition: H900
      gauge: in 2 inch (as printed)
    method: Value printed in the AMS 5659 mechanical properties table on the SSA page
    status: ground
    source: ssa-corp
    where: AMS 5659 mechanical properties table, H900 row, Elongation
  - benchmark: reduction_of_area
    value: 15
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      condition: H900
    method: Value printed in the AMS 5659 mechanical properties table on the SSA page (name not in the canonical list)
    status: ground
    source: ssa-corp
    where: AMS 5659 mechanical properties table, H900 row, Reduction of Area
  - benchmark: brinell_hardness
    value: 388
    unit: Bhn
    scope: material
    conditions:
      condition: H900
    method: Value printed in the AMS 5659 mechanical properties table on the SSA page (name not in the canonical list)
    status: ground
    source: ssa-corp
    where: AMS 5659 mechanical properties table, H900 row, Brinell Hardness
  - benchmark: yield_strength
    value: 145000
    unit: psi
    scope: material
    conditions:
      condition: H1025
      basis: row printed as yield 0.2% offset; the page does not say minimum or typical
    method: Value printed in the AMS 5659 mechanical properties table on the SSA page
    status: ground
    source: ssa-corp
    where: AMS 5659 mechanical properties table, H1025 row, Yield 0.2% offset
  - benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
    value: 155000
    unit: psi
    scope: material
    conditions:
      condition: H1025
      basis: row printed as tensile; the page does not say minimum or typical
    method: Value printed in the AMS 5659 mechanical properties table on the SSA page
    status: ground
    source: ssa-corp
    where: AMS 5659 mechanical properties table, H1025 row, Tensile
  - benchmark: elongation
    value: 8
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      condition: H1025
      gauge: in 2 inch (as printed)
    method: Value printed in the AMS 5659 mechanical properties table on the SSA page
    status: ground
    source: ssa-corp
    where: AMS 5659 mechanical properties table, H1025 row, Elongation
  - benchmark: yield_strength
    value: 105000
    unit: psi
    scope: material
    conditions:
      condition: H1150
      basis: row printed as yield 0.2% offset; the page does not say minimum or typical
    method: Value printed in the AMS 5659 mechanical properties table on the SSA page
    status: ground
    source: ssa-corp
    where: AMS 5659 mechanical properties table, H1150 row, Yield 0.2% offset
  - benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
    value: 135000
    unit: psi
    scope: material
    conditions:
      condition: H1150
      basis: row printed as tensile; the page does not say minimum or typical
    method: Value printed in the AMS 5659 mechanical properties table on the SSA page
    status: ground
    source: ssa-corp
    where: AMS 5659 mechanical properties table, H1150 row, Tensile
  - benchmark: elongation
    value: 11
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      condition: H1150
      gauge: in 2 inch (as printed)
    method: Value printed in the AMS 5659 mechanical properties table on the SSA page
    status: ground
    source: ssa-corp
    where: AMS 5659 mechanical properties table, H1150 row, Elongation
  - benchmark: elastic_modulus
    value: 29000
    unit: ksi
    scope: material
    conditions:
      condition: not stated on the page
    method: Value read from the Modulus of Elasticity line of the Titanium.com mechanical properties table; the page gives no temper, and the pairing with its header was read from table layout
    status: ground
    source: titanium-com
    where: Mechanical properties table (Table 3), Modulus of Elasticity (E)
corrosion:
  - environment: Corrosive environments in general (no test conditions given)
    headline: Corrosion resistance is comparable to Types 302 and 304 in many environments.
    effect: The Bibus page says that in many corrosive environments its resistance is better than that of 410 stainless steel and comparable to that of 302 and 304 stainless steels. The page gives no test conditions.
    rating: low
    conditions:
      basis: manufacturer-style product statement; no test conditions printed
    source: bibus-155
    where: Corrosion statement on the product page
  - environment: General corrosion (no test conditions given)
    headline: The Titanium.com page calls its corrosion resistance excellent.
    effect: The stockist page says the alloy exhibits excellent corrosion resistance. The page gives no chloride, sea-water or stress-corrosion test data.
    rating: low
    conditions:
      basis: product statement only; no test conditions printed
    source: titanium-com
    where: Product description, corrosion statement
risks:
  hazards:
    - text: PubChem's GHS summary for elemental nickel (CID 935), one of the alloying elements, gives the signal word Danger with H317 (may cause an allergic skin reaction), H351 (suspected of causing cancer) and H372 (causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure). It describes the metal, not the finished alloy.
      ghs: []
      source: pubchem-ni
      where: Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification (CID 935)
  failure_risks:
    - mode: Loss of strength at a higher aging temperature
      trigger: Aging to H1150 instead of H900
      consequence: Yield strength falls from 170,000 psi at H900 to 105,000 psi at H1150 on the SSA table, and elongation rises from 6 % to 11 %.
      severity: moderate
      source: ssa-corp
      where: AMS 5659 mechanical properties table, H900 and H1150 rows
  side_effects: []
  handling:
    - text: The SSA page says the alloy is readily weldable, and that it can be machined in any of the several thermal conditions available to this grade.
      source: ssa-corp
      where: Welding and machinability statements
  mitigations:
    - text: 'Choose the aging condition for the load: the SSA table prints separate H900, H1025 and H1150 rows, so the condition sets both strength and elongation.'
      source: ssa-corp
      where: AMS 5659 mechanical properties table
uses:
  - application: structures
    device: Aerospace structural components
    example: The SSA product page lists aerospace structural components among the typical applications of 15-5 PH.
    source: ssa-corp
    where: Typical applications list on the product page
  - application: mechanisms
    device: Valves, gears and shafts
    example: The SSA product page lists valves, gears and shafts among the typical applications, and the Bibus page lists valves, gears and pumps.
    source: ssa-corp
    where: Typical applications list on the product page; Bibus applications list
supply:
  - subject: Chromium
    producers:
      - country: South Africa
        share_percent: 45.1
        year: 2025
      - country: Turkey
        share_percent: 17.6
        year: 2025
      - country: Kazakhstan
        share_percent: 13.7
        year: 2025
      - country: India
        share_percent: 5.9
        year: 2025
    recycling: 'USGS: in 2025 recycled chromium, contained in reported stainless-steel scrap receipts, accounted for 21% of apparent consumption.'
    substitutes:
      - 'USGS: chromium has no substitute in stainless steel, the leading end use.'
    source: usgs-cr
    where: World Mine Production and Reserves table, 2025e (shares calculated by Space Mushroom against the printed world total of 51,000); Recycling; Substitutes
  - subject: Nickel
    producers:
      - country: Indonesia
        share_percent: 66.7
        year: 2025
      - country: Philippines
        share_percent: 6.9
        year: 2025
      - country: Russia
        share_percent: 5.1
        year: 2025
      - country: Canada
        share_percent: 3.6
        year: 2025
    recycling: 'USGS: in 2025 nickel recovered from scrap accounted for approximately 60% of apparent consumption.'
    substitutes: []
    source: usgs-ni
    where: World Mine Production and Reserves table, 2025e (nickel content; shares calculated by Space Mushroom against the printed world total of 3,900,000); Recycling
  - subject: Niobium (columbium)
    producers:
      - country: Brazil
        share_percent: 92.9
        year: 2025
      - country: Canada
        share_percent: 5.4
        year: 2025
    recycling: 'USGS: niobium was recycled when niobium-bearing steels and superalloys were recycled.'
    substitutes:
      - 'USGS: substitutes for niobium carry a performance loss or higher cost, as the chapter states.'
    source: usgs-nb
    where: World Mine Production and Reserves table, 2025e (niobium content; shares calculated by Space Mushroom against the printed world total of 112,000); Recycling; Substitutes
  - subject: Copper
    producers:
      - country: Chile
        share_percent: 23
        year: 2025
      - country: Congo (Kinshasa)
        share_percent: 13.9
        year: 2025
      - country: Peru
        share_percent: 11.7
        year: 2025
      - country: China
        share_percent: 7.8
        year: 2025
    substitutes: []
    source: usgs-cu
    where: World Mine and Refinery Production table, mine production 2025e (shares calculated by Space Mushroom against the printed world total of 23,000)
media: []
documents:
  - title: Stainless Steel 15-5PH alloy page (Titanium.com)
    type: datasheet
    url: https://titanium.com/alloys/stainless-steel/stainless-steel-15-5ph/
  - title: 15-5PH | 1.4545 product page (Bibus Metals)
    type: datasheet
    url: https://sd-metals.bibus.com/de-en/materials/itm/15-5PH-1-4545/
  - title: 15-5 PH (AMS 5659) product page (SSA)
    type: datasheet
    url: https://ssa-corp.com/he/15-5-ph-AMS-5659.php
  - title: Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Chromium
    type: report
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-chromium.pdf
    year: 2026
  - title: Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Nickel
    type: report
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-nickel.pdf
    year: 2026
  - title: Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Niobium (Columbium)
    type: report
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-niobium.pdf
    year: 2026
  - title: Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Copper
    type: report
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-copper.pdf
    year: 2026
  - title: 'PubChem: Nickel (CID 935), GHS classification summary'
    type: database
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/935
gaps:
  - No Carpenter, ATI or Allegheny datasheet for 15-5 PH could be opened in this run. Every property comes from stockist or distributor pages (Titanium.com, Bibus Metals, SSA).
  - The stockist pages disagree on basis. Bibus prints its H1025 rows as minimum under a typical heading; SSA does not say minimum or typical; Titanium.com gives minimum and maximum across conditions, so those ranges are not recorded because they mix tempers.
  - No stress-corrosion, pitting, chloride, sea-water or sour-service data for 15-5 PH were found in the sources read here, so no such rating is given.
  - Hazard data rest on PubChem's elemental nickel summary. No safety data sheet for the alloy was opened, and no chromium or copper hazard record was read.
  - 'Titanium.com prints density as 0.282 with no unit and gives melting point as 2560 °F. Neither is recorded: the first has no unit, and the Bibus range 1404 to 1440 °C is recorded instead.'
  - 'Two property names are not in the canonical list and are used as written: reduction_of_area and brinell_hardness.'
  - Critical-mineral list status for chromium, nickel, niobium and copper was not checked in this run, so the supply entries carry no critical_lists field.
  - No space, flight or vacuum source was found for 15-5 PH in this run. Its structures and mechanisms tags rest on the stockist application lists only.
  - The EN name X5CrNiCuNb15-5 is not printed on any source read, so it is not listed. A DIN 1.4545 code appears on the SSA page and is not recorded separately because it is the same number as the EN 1.4545 entry.
  - No Wikipedia article for 15-5PH was found.
sources:
  titanium-com:
    title: Stainless Steel 15-5PH alloy page (Titanium.com)
    id: Stainless Steel 15-5PH, product page
    url: https://titanium.com/alloys/stainless-steel/stainless-steel-15-5ph/
    kind: datasheet
    license: cited, not reproduced
  bibus-155:
    title: 15-5PH | 1.4545 product page (Bibus Metals)
    id: 15-5PH | 1.4545; condition H1025; AMS 5659
    url: https://sd-metals.bibus.com/de-en/materials/itm/15-5PH-1-4545/
    kind: datasheet
    license: cited, not reproduced
  ssa-corp:
    title: 15-5 PH (AMS 5659) product page (SSA)
    id: 15-5 PH, AMS 5659 mechanical properties table
    url: https://ssa-corp.com/he/15-5-ph-AMS-5659.php
    kind: datasheet
    license: cited, not reproduced
  usgs-cr:
    title: Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Chromium
    id: USGS MCS 2026, February 2026
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-chromium.pdf
    year: 2026
    kind: report
    license: public domain (USGS)
  usgs-ni:
    title: Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Nickel
    id: USGS MCS 2026, February 2026
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-nickel.pdf
    year: 2026
    kind: report
    license: public domain (USGS)
  usgs-nb:
    title: Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Niobium (Columbium)
    id: USGS MCS 2026, February 2026
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-niobium.pdf
    year: 2026
    kind: report
    license: public domain (USGS)
  usgs-cu:
    title: Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Copper
    id: USGS MCS 2026, February 2026
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-copper.pdf
    year: 2026
    kind: report
    license: public domain (USGS)
  pubchem-ni:
    title: PubChem compound record, Nickel (CID 935), GHS classification
    id: CID 935
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/935
    kind: database
    license: public domain (NCBI)
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-11-01'
review:
  status: draft
  method: assistant
  checked_values: 19
  caveats: 3
  note: Written by an AI assistant on 2026-11-01 from pages fetched in this run only. Stockist pages are the value sources; no manufacturer datasheet was opened. Heat-treat conditions are kept with each value, and minimum, typical and range bases are kept as printed.
story:
  recipe:
    line: 15-5 PH is an iron-based precipitation-hardening stainless steel, UNS S15500 (AMS 5659), made to the composition limits in the identity record with iron as the balance. Its strength is set by a low-temperature aging step to condition H900, H1025 or H1150 (SSA, Titanium.com).
    parts:
      - name: Iron
        symbol: Fe
        share_note: balance
        role: Matrix of the alloy.
      - name: Chromium
        symbol: Cr
        share_percent: 14
        share_high: 15.5
        role: Gives the passive film that resists general corrosion.
      - name: Nickel
        symbol: Ni
        share_percent: 3.5
        share_high: 5.5
        role: Part of the chromium-nickel-copper alloy that responds to aging.
      - name: Copper
        symbol: Cu
        share_percent: 2.5
        share_high: 4.5
        role: Forms the copper-rich phase that gives the strength on aging.
      - name: Niobium plus tantalum
        symbol: Nb+Ta
        share_percent: 0.15
        share_high: 0.45
        role: Alloying addition printed as Columbium plus Tantalum (SSA).
      - name: Carbon
        symbol: C
        share_percent: 0
        share_high: 0.07
        limit: maximum
        role: Kept low, maximum 0.07 percent.
  risk_groups:
    - title: For people
      level: 0
      verdict: Nickel is the hazard in the record
      lead: The hazard entry is for elemental nickel. No safety data sheet for the alloy was opened in this run.
      points:
        - label: Nickel
          line: PubChem's GHS summary for elemental nickel (CID 935) gives the signal word Danger with H317, H351 and H372.
        - label: Workshop
          line: Check the supplier safety data sheet before cutting, grinding or welding this alloy.
    - title: In service
      level: 1
      verdict: Aging condition sets the strength
      lead: The strongest condition is the least ductile.
      points:
        - label: Aging
          line: On the SSA table, yield strength is 170,000 psi at H900 and 105,000 psi at H1150, while elongation rises from 6 % to 11 %.
        - label: Corrosion
          line: Bibus says its corrosion resistance is comparable to Types 302 and 304 in many corrosive environments. The sources read give no chloride or stress-corrosion data.
    - title: Handling and fabrication
      points:
        - label: Welding
          line: The SSA page says the alloy is readily weldable.
        - label: Machining
          line: The SSA page says it can be machined in any of the several thermal conditions available to this grade.
  why: 15-5 PH is chosen when a stainless steel must reach high strength from a single low-temperature heat treatment, with corrosion resistance close to Types 302 and 304 in many environments. The SSA table gives a yield strength of 170,000 psi at H900 and 105,000 psi at H1150, and the choice of aging condition is the main design decision.
  uses:
    - where: Aerospace structural components
      line: The SSA product page lists aerospace structural components among the typical applications of 15-5 PH, and Titanium.com says the alloy meets requirements for aerospace and nuclear applications.
    - where: Valves, gears and shafts
      line: The SSA page lists valves, gears and shafts among the typical applications. The Bibus page also lists valves, gears and pumps, and fasteners.
  can_do:
    - label: Strength
      line: yield strength of 170,000 psi and tensile strength of 190,000 psi at H900 (SSA). At H1025 the same table gives 145,000 psi and 155,000 psi.
    - label: Minimum strength
      line: 1000 MPa yield and 1070 MPa tensile at H1025, as printed as minimum values on the Bibus page.
    - label: Hardness and ductility
      line: Brinell hardness of 388 Bhn at H900, and elongation of 6 % at H900 rising to 11 % at H1150 (SSA).
    - label: Stiffness
      line: elastic modulus of 29000 ksi, printed without a temper on the Titanium.com page.
  compare: Bibus says that in many corrosive environments the corrosion resistance of 15-5 PH is better than that of 410 stainless steel and comparable to that of Types 302 and 304. Titanium.com calls its corrosion resistance excellent but gives no test conditions. The SSA table gives separate strength rows for each aging condition, so the strength depends on which condition is ordered.
  compare_rows:
    - label: Yield strength at H900
      benchmark: yield_strength
    - label: Elastic modulus
      benchmark: elastic_modulus
    - label: Melting range
      benchmark: melting_point
  handling:
    - Age to a specified condition (H900, H1025 or H1150) for the strength you need; the SSA table prints each row.
    - The alloy is readily weldable, according to the SSA page.
    - It can be machined in any of the several thermal conditions available to this grade (SSA).
    - 'Use a supplier safety data sheet for the alloy: the hazard entry here is for elemental nickel only.'
  good_for:
    - Fittings, shafts, gears and valve parts that need high strength from a single low-temperature heat treatment (SSA).
    - Structural components that the SSA page lists as typical aerospace use.
  watch_out:
    - 'Strength falls as the aging temperature rises: 170,000 psi yield at H900 against 105,000 psi at H1150 (SSA).'
    - The sources read give no chloride, sea-water or stress-corrosion data, so check the data for the chosen condition in the environment.
    - Nickel, one of the alloying elements, is classified Danger in PubChem's elemental summary (CID 935).
  verdict: '15-5 PH is the strong stainless choice when a low-temperature aging step can set the strength. The aging condition sets the trade: H900 gives the most strength and H1150 gives the most elongation.'