Material 1.4005 · X12CrS13 · AISI 416
1.4005 (X12CrS13) Forged Bar and Blanks
Forged round bar, hollow bar, discs and machining blanks in 1.4005, the sulphur-bearing free-machining 13 % chromium steel of EN 10088-3. Melted, forged, heat treated and tested at our own works in Jiangyin, China.
1.4005 (X12CrS13, AISI 416, UNS S41600) is a martensitic stainless steel with 12.0 to 14.0 % chromium and a deliberate addition of 0.15 to 0.35 % sulphur. The sulphur forms manganese sulphide inclusions that break the chip, which gives this grade the highest machinability of any stainless steel, rated at about 85 % of free-machining carbon steel.
EN 10088-3 specifies two conditions. Annealed (+A): hardness 220 HBW maximum, tensile strength 730 MPa maximum. Quenched and tempered (+QT650), up to 160 mm: 0.2 % proof strength 450 MPa minimum, tensile strength 650 to 850 MPa, elongation 12 % minimum. No impact energy is specified for this grade, and no elevated-temperature proof strength values are listed for it.
Sulphur also reduces corrosion resistance, weldability and hot workability. 1.4005 is the least corrosion resistant of the stainless grades, welding is discouraged, and its forgeability is rated poor, so the working temperature window is narrower than for plain 13 % chromium steel.
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. melts, forges, heat treats, machines and tests 1.4005 at its works at No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China, and supplies it with EN 10204 3.1 certificates. Call +86 189 2135 9659 or email sales@steelforgepieces.com.
About 1.4005 steel
1.4005 is the EN steel number for X12CrS13, a martensitic corrosion resistant steel listed among the standard grades of EN 10088-3. It is the free-machining version of 1.4006 (X12Cr13, AISI 410): the same 13 % chromium base, with sulphur added and a small molybdenum allowance.
The steel name describes the composition. X marks a high-alloy steel. The 12 is one hundred times the mean carbon content, so about 0.12 %. Cr and S are the alloying elements that define the grade, listed in order of importance. The 13 is the mean chromium content. Sulphur is named because it is added on purpose rather than left as a residual.
The difference is commercial as well as metallurgical. In almost every other steel the ladle furnace is used to take sulphur out, because sulphides cut transverse ductility and impact toughness. In 1.4005 the same inclusions are the product. They interrupt the chip, reduce cutting forces, extend tool life and allow a screw machine to run unattended. The addition is made once, at the furnace, and every other property is worse for it.
Typical parts are valve stems, valve seats and seat rings, pump and motor shafts, bushings, studs, nuts, gears and hydraulic fittings, together with high-volume machined parts for the automotive and electrical industries.
Where 1.4005 sits among the 13 % chromium grades
1.4005 is the choice where machinability governs the part. Where the part has to resist corrosion, carry an impact requirement, be welded or be forged to a complicated shape, one of the neighbouring grades is usually better. The comparison table in the alternatives section sets the four grades side by side.
1.4005 chemical composition
Cast analysis limits in per cent by mass from EN 10088-3:2023, Table 5. Elements shown with a dash are not specified and may not be added intentionally without the purchaser's agreement, except for finishing the cast.
| C | Si | Mn | P | S | Cr | Ni | Mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.06 to 0.15 | 1.00 max | 1.50 max | 0.040 max | 0.15 to 0.35 | 12.0 to 14.0 | not specified | 0.60 max |
Product analysis may deviate from these cast-analysis limits by the tolerances of EN 10088-3:2023, Table 6: carbon ±0.01, silicon ±0.05, manganese ±0.04, phosphorus +0.005, sulphur ±0.02, chromium ±0.15, molybdenum ±0.03.
1.4005 and AISI 416 are not the same limits
The two grades are treated as equivalent in trade, and for most parts they are interchangeable, but the written limits differ in four places. A heat that satisfies one does not automatically satisfy the other.
| Element | 1.4005, EN 10088-3 | 416, ASTM A582 | Effect on the order |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon | 0.06 to 0.15 | 0.15 max, no minimum | A low-carbon 416 heat can fall below the 1.4005 minimum |
| Manganese | 1.50 max | 1.25 max | The tighter ASTM limit governs a dual heat |
| Phosphorus | 0.040 max | 0.060 max | The tighter EN limit governs a dual heat |
| Sulphur | 0.15 to 0.35 | 0.15 min, no maximum | 416 can be made above 0.35 and then fails 1.4005 |
Dual certification is straightforward if it is asked for at enquiry. A heat aimed at carbon 0.06 to 0.15, manganese up to 1.25, phosphorus up to 0.040 and sulphur 0.15 to 0.35, with silicon up to 1.00, chromium 12.0 to 14.0 and molybdenum up to 0.60, meets both specifications at once. We melt our own steel, so the aim can be set before the heat rather than measured afterwards. It cannot be corrected on an existing heat, so the requirement belongs on the enquiry rather than on the purchase order.
1.4005 mechanical properties
EN 10088-3 gives room-temperature properties in two sets. The first applies to hot formed products in conditions 1C, 1E, 1D, 1X, 1G and 2D, which is the relevant set for forged and hot rolled bar. The second applies to bright bar, where the values vary with diameter because the drawing and grinding sequence changes with size.
Hot formed bar and sections
| Condition | Thickness or diameter | Hardness HBW max. | Rp0.2 min. | Rm | A min., longitudinal | KV2 min. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| +A annealed | all | 220 | not specified | 730 MPa max. | not specified | not specified |
| +QT650 | up to 160 mm | not specified | 450 MPa | 650 to 850 MPa | 12 % | not specified |
For rods, only the tensile strength values apply. For sizes above 160 mm the mechanical values are agreed at the time of enquiry and order.
Bright bar
| Diameter or thickness | +A, Rm max. | +A, HBW max. | +QT650, Rp0.2 min. | +QT650, Rm | +QT650, A5 min. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| up to 10 mm | 880 MPa | 280 | 550 MPa | 700 to 1000 MPa | 8 % |
| over 10 up to 16 mm | 880 MPa | 280 | 500 MPa | 700 to 1000 MPa | 8 % |
| over 16 up to 40 mm | 800 MPa | 250 | 450 MPa | 650 to 930 MPa | 10 % |
| over 40 up to 63 mm | 760 MPa | 230 | 450 MPa | 650 to 880 MPa | 10 % |
| over 63 up to 160 mm | 730 MPa | 220 | 450 MPa | 650 to 850 MPa | 12 % |
There is no impact requirement for 1.4005 in EN 10088-3, and no transverse elongation value. The neighbouring grade 1.4006 carries 25 J longitudinal at +QT650; the entry for 1.4005 is blank. The sulphide inclusions are the reason. If a drawing calls for Charpy results on this grade, the test temperature and the acceptance value are agreed at enquiry between buyer and maker, since the standard does not set them.
Response to tempering
The +QT650 condition is the one written into EN 10088-3, and it is what most orders call for. Tempering low, at 200 to 300 °C, takes the same steel to roughly 1300 to 1400 MPa at about 40 HRC, with much lower ductility. ASTM A582 recognises three delivery conditions for bar by hardness alone.
| Condition | Description | Hardness HBW |
|---|---|---|
| A | Annealed | 262 max. |
| T | Intermediate temper | 248 to 302 |
| H | Hard temper | 293 to 352 |
ASTM A473, the forging specification, sets annealed martensitic forgings in grades 403, 410, 416 and 416Se at 275 MPa yield minimum, 485 MPa tensile minimum, 20 % elongation, 45 % reduction of area and 223 HBW maximum, and requires Type 416 to reach 35 HRC minimum in a response-to-heat-treatment test hardened from 955 °C and air cooled.
Properties at elevated temperature
EN 10088-3 lists 0.2 % proof strength at elevated temperature for eight martensitic grades. 1.4005 is not one of them, so there are no specified values to certify against. Deutsche Edelstahlwerke states that in the QT650 condition the elevated-temperature strengths are close to those of 1.4006, whose specified minima are given below as a guide only.
| Temperature | 100 °C | 150 °C | 200 °C | 250 °C | 300 °C | 350 °C | 400 °C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rp0.2 min. | 420 | 410 | 400 | 385 | 365 | 355 | 305 |
Values in MPa. Continuous service between 425 and 525 °C is avoided because of embrittlement in that range.
Physical properties of 1.4005
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 7.70 g/cm³ |
| Melting range | 1480 to 1530 °C |
| Modulus of elasticity | 215 GPa at 20 °C; 205 at 200 °C; 200 at 300 °C; 190 at 400 °C |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.235 at 20 °C |
| Thermal conductivity at 20 °C | 30 W/(m·K) |
| Specific heat capacity at 20 °C | 460 J/(kg·K) |
| Electrical resistivity at 20 °C | 0.60 Ω·mm²/m |
| Mean thermal expansion from 20 °C | 10.5 to 100 °C; 11.0 to 200 °C; 11.5 to 300 °C; 12.0 to 400 °C; 12.2 to 600 °C; 12.7 to 800 °C, all ×10−6/K |
| Magnetic behaviour | Ferromagnetic in every condition; relative permeability up to about 750 |
1.4005 heat treatment
Four operations cover the grade: hot forming, annealing, hardening and tempering. The temperatures below are those published by Deutsche Edelstahlwerke for 1.4005 and are the ones we work to unless the order specifies otherwise.
| Operation | Temperature | Cooling | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-heat before forging | to about 800 °C, slowly | not applicable | Brings the section up evenly before the fast heat |
| Soak for forging | 1150 to 1180 °C | not applicable | Puts the steel in the working range without liquating sulphides |
| Forging range | 1180 down to 1000 °C | Furnace or dry ash, slowly | Shapes the part; slow cooling prevents quench cracks |
| Annealing (+A) | 745 to 825 °C | Slowly, in the furnace | Softens to 220 HBW maximum for machining |
| Hardening | 950 to 1000 °C | Air or oil | Forms martensite |
| Tempering for +QT650 | 680 to 780 °C | Air | Sets 650 to 850 MPa with 450 MPa proof strength |
Two temperature bands are avoided. Tempering between 400 and 580 °C lowers impact resistance sharply, and processing or service between 425 and 525 °C has the same effect. A part that has to run warm is tempered above the band.
Forging 1.4005
Mill datasheets rate the forgeability of 1.4005 as poor and hammer and die forging as seldom used. The rating is accurate, and it decides what shape of order makes sense in this grade.
The sulphur is present as manganese sulphide stringers. Heated too high, or held too long, those sulphides soften at the grain boundaries and the piece tears under the press. This is hot shortness, and it is the reason the soak is held at 1150 to 1180 °C rather than the 1200 °C and above that plain 13 % chromium steel tolerates. Manganese is kept toward the upper part of its range for the same reason: it binds the sulphur as manganese sulphide, which is less damaging than iron sulphide.
The lower end of the range is tight as well. Finishing much below 1000 °C leaves the steel stiff and opens the stringers as surface tears along the flow lines. The working range is therefore about 180 °C wide, against 300 °C or more for the grades either side of it, and heavy reductions are planned around reheats rather than pushed through in one heat.
After forging the piece is cooled slowly in the furnace or in dry ash. Air cooling a 13 % chromium steel from forging heat produces untempered martensite and, in a heavy section, quench cracks. The part is then annealed at 745 to 825 °C with a furnace cool before machining, and hardened and tempered afterwards if the drawing calls for +QT650.
What we take on in this grade. Forged bar, hollow bar, discs, rings and machining blanks in 1.4005 are straightforward work: the deformation is simple, the flow lines run with the part, and the customer machines the detail. Thin webs, deep upsets and sharp fillets are not, and we will say so at enquiry rather than quote them.
Where the geometry is the reason for forging rather than the material, the usual answer is to change the grade. 1.4006 and 1.4021 forge normally and machine acceptably. 1.4104 gives better corrosion resistance at the same machinability. If the part is a screw-machine component, drawn bright bar is cheaper than a forging and the property table above shows why: the bright bar values are higher.
One further point on transverse properties. The sulphide stringers align with the grain flow, so ductility and toughness measured across the flow are lower than along it. EN 10088-3 specifies neither a transverse elongation nor any impact value for 1.4005. If the part is loaded across the grain, the forging sequence is arranged for it, and that has to be known before the ingot is cut.
Forged shapes and sizes in 1.4005
| Product family | 1.4005 parts | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Forged bars and blocks | Round, square, flat and hexagonal bar; blocks and machining blanks | Screw-machine parts, stems, shafts, studs |
| Hollow bars and sleeves | Bored hollow bar, sleeves, bushes, spacers | Bushings, housings, glands |
| Valve parts | Valve stems, seats, seat rings, bonnet parts, plugs | Water, steam and general industrial valves |
| Forged shafts | Pump shafts, motor shafts, spindles, stepped shafts | Pumps, motors, machine tools |
| Discs and blanks | Solid discs, covers, gear and coupling blanks | Machined components |
| Forged rings | Rings punched and expanded over a saddle mandrel | Seat rings, retaining rings, spacers |
The table below gives the limit of the equipment. For 1.4005 the useful sizes sit well inside it, because the grade is bought to be machined rather than to carry load, and because the forging window limits what can be worked in one heat.
| Product | Limit | Equipment |
|---|---|---|
| Seamless rolled rings | up to 6,000 mm outside diameter | 6 m ring rolling mill |
| Discs, blanks, blocks | up to Ø5,000 mm machined | Ø5,000 mm vertical turning lathe |
| Forged shafts | up to Ø1,600 × 14,000 mm turned | Horizontal lathe |
| Bored cylinders and hollow bar | up to Ø1,600 × 10,000 mm | CNC deep-hole drilling machine |
| Single-piece weight | up to 30,000 kg | 6,300 t press; 60 t maximum heat |
Machining and surface finishing
1.4005 has the highest machinability of any stainless steel, rated at about 85 % of a free-machining carbon steel. Cutting data depends on the delivery condition.
| Depth of cut / feed | Annealed, Rm 600 to 685 MPa | Quenched and tempered, Rm 750 to 950 MPa |
|---|---|---|
| 6 mm / 0.5 mm per rev | 160 | 200 |
| 3 mm / 0.4 mm per rev | 200 | 250 |
| 1 mm / 0.2 mm per rev | 300 | 350 |
The harder condition cuts faster. Annealed 1.4005 is soft and tends to smear, while tempered martensite shears cleanly and leaves a better finish. Where the drawing allows either sequence, hardening and tempering before finish machining often costs less overall than machining annealed material and heat treating afterwards, and it avoids the distortion that comes with treating a finished part.
We supply 1.4005 as forged with allowance, rough machined to your envelope, or finish machined to drawing. For close-tolerance work, rough machining before final heat treatment gives the best dimensional stability.
Passivation of 1.4005
The sulphide inclusions that make the grade machinable sit exposed on every machined face, thread and bore. A standard nitric acid bath sized for an austenitic grade strips them out and leaves microscopic pits that hold residual acid, which shows as a black, frosted or etched surface. The usual routes are nitric acid with sodium dichromate, nitric at higher concentration, an alkaline-acid-alkaline cycle, or citric acid, which is gentler on sulphides.
ASTM A967 does not recommend the copper sulphate test for martensitic 400-series steels or for grades below 16 % chromium, so a 1.4005 part will not be assessed the way a 304 part is. If passivation is part of the scope, name the method and the acceptance test on the enquiry, and keep 1.4005 parts out of mixed baskets: two alloys touching in solution start corrosion at the contact points.
Welding 1.4005
Welding this grade is discouraged, and autogenous welding in particular. The sulphur promotes hot cracking in the weld metal and the heat affected zone, and the martensitic structure hardens on cooling. Friction welding behaves better than the fusion processes.
Where a weld cannot be avoided, the practice published for the grade is as follows.
- Preheat to 200 to 300 °C and hold it through the joint.
- Use an austenitic filler where the weld does not have to be hard. Deutsche Edelstahlwerke names 1.4833; AWS 309 type consumables are the common equivalent. Where the weld must match, use low-hydrogen 410 type electrodes.
- Keep nitrogen and hydrogen out of the shielding gas.
- Temper at about 650 °C after welding to restore some ductility in the weld and the heat affected zone, or follow immediately with a full anneal or re-hardening cycle.
A welded joint in 1.4005 is a repair or a fabrication convenience. Where the assembly depends on welding, 1.4006 without the sulphur, or an austenitic grade, is a sounder starting point.
Corrosion resistance and service limits
1.4005 carries a nominal 13 % chromium, but the sulphide inclusions break the passive film wherever they meet the surface, and each exposed inclusion is a starting point for pitting. Deutsche Edelstahlwerke states that 1.4005 is probably the least resistant to corrosion of all the stainless steel grades.
- Acceptable in fresh water, dry air, steam and mild industrial atmospheres.
- Not suitable for chloride-bearing or marine service, and not for conditions that promote crevice or pitting corrosion.
- Resistance is best in the hardened and tempered condition, with a smooth ground or polished surface, correctly passivated. Rough, as-machined surfaces perform worst.
- Scaling resistance reaches about 675 °C in continuous service and about 760 °C intermittently, but the 425 to 525 °C embrittlement band sets the practical ceiling for loaded parts.
- EN ISO 3651-2, the intergranular corrosion test, does not apply to martensitic steels, so it cannot be ordered as an acceptance test on this grade.
For service more aggressive than that, 1.4005 is the wrong grade. 1.4104 keeps the machinability and adds molybdenum and chromium. 1.4006 and 1.4021 have no sulphur addition. 1.4542 (17-4 PH) is the usual step up for a machined part that has to hold strength and resist corrosion together.
1.4005 compared with 1.4006, 1.4021 and 1.4104
| Property | 1.4005 | 1.4006 | 1.4021 | 1.4104 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steel name | X12CrS13 | X12Cr13 | X20Cr13 | X14CrMoS17 |
| Common designation | AISI 416 | AISI 410 | AISI 420 | AISI 430F |
| Carbon | 0.06 to 0.15 | 0.08 to 0.15 | 0.16 to 0.25 | 0.10 to 0.17 |
| Sulphur | 0.15 to 0.35 | 0.030 max | 0.030 max | 0.15 to 0.35 |
| Chromium | 12.0 to 14.0 | 11.5 to 13.5 | 12.0 to 14.0 | 15.5 to 17.5 |
| Molybdenum | 0.60 max | not specified | not specified | 0.20 to 0.60 |
| Annealed hardness, HBW max. | 220 | 220 | 230 | 220 |
| Heat-treated condition | +QT650 | +QT650 | +QT700 or +QT800 | +QT650 |
| Rp0.2 min., MPa | 450 | 450 | 500 or 600 | 500 |
| Rm, MPa | 650 to 850 | 650 to 850 | 700 to 850 or 800 to 950 | 650 to 850 |
| Elongation min., % | 12 | 15 | 13 or 12 | 12 |
| Impact KV2 min. | not specified | 25 J | 25 J or 20 J | not specified |
| Machinability | Highest of the stainless steels | Moderate | Moderate to low | Comparable to 1.4005 |
| Corrosion resistance | Lowest | Moderate | Moderate | Better than 1.4005 |
| Weldability | Discouraged | With care | With care | Discouraged |
1.4104 mechanical values are for thicknesses up to 60 mm; above that the minimum elongation falls to 10 %.
Deutsche Edelstahlwerke names 1.4104 directly as the alternative where better corrosion resistance is needed at the same machinability. It is the substitution we suggest most often on this grade. Related datasheets on this site: 1.4057, 17-4 PH and 15-5 PH.
1.4005 equivalent grades
| System | Designation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EN number | 1.4005 | EN 10088-1 and EN 10088-3 |
| EN name | X12CrS13 | EN 10027-1 |
| AISI / ASTM type | 416 | Chemistry limits differ, see above |
| UNS | S41600 | S41623 is the selenium version, 416Se, and is a different grade |
| ASTM product standards | A582 bar, A473 forgings, A581 wire rod | A473 is the one that applies to forgings |
| BS | 416S21 | Withdrawn, still quoted on older drawings |
| JIS | SUS 416 | JIS G 4303 |
| AFNOR | Z11CF13 | |
| DIN 17440 | 1.4005 | Superseded by EN 10088 |
| SIS | 2380 | |
| GB (China) | Y12Cr13, S41617 | Formerly Y1Cr13; GB/T 1220 |
EN 10088-3 does not cover forgings. Its scope is semi-finished products, hot or cold formed bars, rods, wire, sections and bright products, and it states that it does not apply to components manufactured by further processing of those forms. It defines the grade, the chemistry and the property levels, and a forged part is certified against it in practice, but the product standard for a forging is ASTM A473 under the ASTM system, or EN 10250-4 for open-die stainless forgings under the EN system. Tell us which one the drawing calls for, because the test and acceptance requirements are not the same.
How a 1.4005 order runs through the works
Melting, forging, heat treatment, machining and testing are all on one site, so every piece traces back to its melt number.
-
Melting and ladle refining
Steel is melted in the electric arc furnace and refined in the ladle furnace. For 1.4005 the ladle work reverses normal practice: instead of removing sulphur it adds a controlled amount, aiming at the middle of the 0.15 to 0.35 % band, with manganese held high enough to bind it as manganese sulphide. Vacuum decarburisation is not used on this grade, because it would remove the element the grade depends on. Maximum heat size is 60 t.
-
Chemistry verified at the furnace
Cast analysis by optical emission spectrometry to ASTM E415 and infrared carbon and sulphur analysis to ASTM E1019. On this grade the sulphur reading decides whether the heat is released, and it is read on our own instrument rather than taken from a billet supplier's certificate.
-
Forging
Ingot is pre-heated to about 800 °C, taken to 1150 to 1180 °C and worked on the 6,300 t, 4,000 t or 2,000 t hydraulic press, finishing above 1000 °C. Rings are punched and expanded over a saddle mandrel or rolled on the 6 m, 3 m or 1 m mill. The piece is then cooled slowly in the furnace or in dry ash.
-
Annealing
745 to 825 °C with a slow furnace cool, in the on-site heat treatment shop, which holds 14 furnaces. Most 1.4005 ships in this condition, because the customer machines it.
-
Hardening and tempering, where ordered
950 to 1000 °C, air or oil quench, tempered at 680 to 780 °C for +QT650. Furnace charts are issued with the certificate.
-
Testing
Tensile testing to ISO 6892 and ASTM A370 on 600 kN and 300 kN machines, Brinell hardness, and metallography where the order calls for it. Impact testing is available on this grade as an agreed requirement, since the standard does not specify one.
-
Machining and non-destructive examination
Rough or finish machining as ordered, ultrasonic examination to EN 10228-3, the part of that standard written for ferritic and martensitic forgings, or to ASTM A388 where specified. Magnetic particle examination to ASTM E709 is available for surface examination, and it applies to this grade because the steel is ferromagnetic.
-
Certification
EN 10204 3.1 inspection certificate as standard. EN 10204 3.2 witnessed by BV, DNV, LR, SGS, TÜV or the customer's own inspector on request, with heat treatment charts, NDT reports and dimensional reports as supporting records.
Standards referenced
| Standard | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| EN 10088-3:2023 | Stainless steels, Part 3: technical delivery conditions for semi-finished products, bars, rods, wire, sections and bright products | Defines 1.4005, its chemistry and its property levels |
| EN 10088-1:2023 | Stainless steels, Part 1: list of stainless steels | Grade list and density values |
| EN 10027-1 and -2 | Designation systems for steels | The name X12CrS13 and the number 1.4005 |
| EN 10250-4 | Open die steel forgings for general engineering purposes, Part 4: stainless steels | EN product standard for open-die stainless forgings |
| ASTM A582/A582M | Free-machining stainless steel bars | Type 416 bar, conditions A, T and H |
| ASTM A473 | Stainless steel forgings | Type 416 forgings and response to heat treatment |
| EN 10204 | Metallic products, types of inspection documents | 3.1 as standard, 3.2 with a third-party witness |
| EN 10228-3 | Non-destructive testing of steel forgings, Part 3: ultrasonic testing of ferritic or martensitic steel forgings | Internal soundness |
| ASTM A967 | Chemical passivation treatments for stainless steel parts | Passivation method and acceptance test |
| ISO 6892-1 and ASTM A370 | Tensile testing of metallic materials | Mechanical test methods |
Enquiry checklist
We quote from a drawing or a written specification. A complete enquiry usually gets a price back within two working days.
| Item | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
| Specification and edition | EN 10088-3 1.4005, ASTM A582 or A473 Type 416, or both; the limits differ |
| Delivery condition | +A annealed, +QT650, or an ASTM condition A, T or H |
| Drawing or dimensions | Sets the forging route and the machining allowance |
| Machining state | As forged, rough machined, or finish machined to drawing |
| Quantity and repeat volume | Sets furnace batching and unit price |
| Any impact or transverse requirement | Neither is specified for this grade and both have to be agreed before forging |
| Surface treatment | Passivation method and acceptance test, if in scope |
| Inspection document | EN 10204 3.1, or 3.2 with the named inspection body |
| Destination | Port or delivery address for packing and shipping |
Minimum order is 10 kg with no minimum piece count. Lead time normally runs 20 to 60 days. 1.4005 needs no remelting step, so it sits at the lower end of that range unless third-party inspection has to be scheduled.
1.4005 questions and answers
What is 1.4005 steel?
1.4005, steel name X12CrS13, is a martensitic corrosion resistant steel of EN 10088-3 containing 12.0 to 14.0 % chromium, 0.06 to 0.15 % carbon and a deliberate 0.15 to 0.35 % sulphur addition. The sulphur forms manganese sulphide inclusions that break the chip during cutting, which gives the grade the highest machinability of any stainless steel. It is the free-machining version of 1.4006 and is known internationally as AISI 416 or UNS S41600.
Is 1.4005 the same as AISI 416?
They are treated as equivalent and for most parts they are interchangeable, but the written limits are not identical. EN 1.4005 sets a carbon minimum of 0.06 %, a sulphur maximum of 0.35 %, manganese up to 1.50 % and phosphorus up to 0.040 %. ASTM A582 Type 416 sets no carbon minimum, no sulphur maximum, manganese up to 1.25 % and phosphorus up to 0.060 %. A heat can be aimed to satisfy both at once, but that has to be decided before melting.
What is the chemical composition of 1.4005?
Per EN 10088-3:2023, cast analysis in per cent by mass: carbon 0.06 to 0.15, silicon 1.00 maximum, manganese 1.50 maximum, phosphorus 0.040 maximum, sulphur 0.15 to 0.35, chromium 12.0 to 14.0, molybdenum 0.60 maximum, balance iron. Nickel is not specified.
What are the mechanical properties of 1.4005?
Annealed (+A): hardness 220 HBW maximum and tensile strength 730 MPa maximum. Quenched and tempered (+QT650) up to 160 mm: 0.2 % proof strength 450 MPa minimum, tensile strength 650 to 850 MPa, elongation 12 % minimum longitudinal. Bright bar values are higher in small diameters, reaching 550 MPa proof strength and 700 to 1000 MPa tensile below 10 mm. EN 10088-3 specifies no impact energy for this grade.
Can 1.4005 be forged?
Yes, but its forgeability is rated poor and the working window is narrow. The soak is held at 1150 to 1180 °C rather than higher, because the manganese sulphides soften at the grain boundaries and the piece tears, and forging finishes above about 1000 °C before the stringers open as surface tears. The part is then cooled slowly in the furnace or dry ash and annealed at 745 to 825 °C. Simple forged shapes such as bar, hollow bar, discs, rings and blanks are routine work. Thin webs, deep upsets and sharp fillets are better done in 1.4006, 1.4021 or 1.4104.
What heat treatment does 1.4005 need?
Annealing at 745 to 825 °C with a slow furnace cool gives the +A condition at 220 HBW maximum. Hardening is from 950 to 1000 °C with an air or oil quench, and tempering at 680 to 780 °C gives the +QT650 condition. Tempering between 400 and 580 °C is avoided because impact resistance falls sharply, and processing or service between 425 and 525 °C is avoided for the same reason.
Is 1.4005 magnetic?
Yes. 1.4005 is ferromagnetic in every condition, annealed or hardened, with relative permeability up to about 750. That makes magnetic particle examination usable on it, and it rules the grade out where a non-magnetic part is required.
How corrosion resistant is 1.4005?
Less resistant than any other stainless grade. The 13 % chromium would give reasonable protection on its own, but every sulphide inclusion that reaches the surface breaks the passive film and starts a pit. It is acceptable in fresh water, dry air, steam and mild atmospheres, and unsuitable for chloride or marine service. Resistance is best in the hardened and tempered condition with a smooth, correctly passivated surface. Where corrosion matters and machinability still does, 1.4104 is the usual alternative.
Can 1.4005 be welded?
Welding is discouraged, and autogenous welding especially, because the sulphur promotes hot cracking. Friction welding behaves better than fusion processes. Where a weld is unavoidable, preheat to 200 to 300 °C, use an austenitic filler such as 1.4833 or an AWS 309 type where the weld need not be hard, keep nitrogen and hydrogen out of the shielding gas, and temper at about 650 °C afterwards or follow with a full anneal.
Which standard applies to a forged 1.4005 part?
EN 10088-3 defines the grade but its scope covers semi-finished products, bars, rods, wire, sections and bright products, and it states that it does not apply to components made by further processing of those forms. Under the ASTM system the forging specification is ASTM A473, which covers Type 416 and sets a response-to-heat-treatment requirement of 35 HRC minimum after hardening from 955 °C and air cooling. Under the EN system, EN 10250-4 covers open-die stainless forgings. State on the enquiry which one the drawing calls for.
How should 1.4005 parts be passivated?
Not the way an austenitic part is. A standard nitric bath strips the exposed sulphides and leaves pits that hold acid, which shows as a black or frosted surface. The usual routes are nitric acid with sodium dichromate, nitric at higher concentration, an alkaline-acid-alkaline cycle, or citric acid, which is gentler on sulphides. ASTM A967 does not recommend the copper sulphate test for martensitic 400-series grades, so the acceptance test has to be named separately.
Who supplies forged 1.4005 bar and blanks in China?
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. manufactures 1.4005 (X12CrS13 / AISI 416) forged bar, hollow bar, discs, rings, valve parts and machining blanks at No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China. The company was founded in 1997, melts its own steel, and forges, heat treats, machines and tests on one site, holding CCS, BV, DNV, LR and NK approvals. Contact sales@steelforgepieces.com or +86 189 2135 9659.
What certificate is supplied with 1.4005?
An EN 10204 3.1 inspection certificate as standard, traceable to the melt number, covering chemical analysis, mechanical test results and heat treatment records. EN 10204 3.2 witnessed by BV, DNV, LR, SGS, TÜV or the customer's own inspector is available on request, together with ultrasonic examination reports to EN 10228-3 or ASTM A388, magnetic particle reports, PMI records and dimensional reports.
What sizes, minimum order and lead time apply?
Minimum order is 10 kg with no minimum piece count. Lead time normally runs 20 to 60 days, and 1.4005 sits at the lower end because it needs no remelting step. The plant rolls rings to 6,000 mm outside diameter, machines discs to Ø5,000 mm, turns shafts to Ø1,600 × 14,000 mm and forges single pieces to 30,000 kg, although 1.4005 orders normally sit well inside those limits.
Glossary
- Free-machining steel
- Steel with a controlled addition of sulphur, and sometimes selenium or lead, that forms inclusions to break the chip during cutting. The addition improves tool life and surface finish and reduces ductility, toughness, weldability and corrosion resistance.
- Manganese sulphide inclusion
- The particle that does the work in a free-machining steel. Manganese binds the sulphur so it forms manganese sulphide rather than iron sulphide, which would melt at the grain boundaries during hot working.
- +A, annealed
- Heat treatment condition symbol of EN 10088-3. For 1.4005 it means heating to 745 to 825 °C with a slow furnace cool, giving 220 HBW maximum.
- +QT650
- Quenched and tempered to a minimum tensile strength of 650 MPa. The number in the symbol is the lower end of the tensile range, not a temperature.
- Rp0.2, Rm and A
- 0.2 % proof strength, tensile strength and elongation after fracture. A5 refers to a gauge length of five diameters.
- Cast analysis and product analysis
- Cast analysis is taken from the liquid steel during casting and is what the EN 10088-3 limits apply to. Product analysis is taken from the finished product and may deviate by the tolerances in Table 6 of the standard.
- Hot shortness
- Cracking during hot working caused by low-melting phases at the grain boundaries. In sulphur-bearing steels it sets the upper limit of the forging temperature.
- Passivation
- Chemical removal of free iron from a machined stainless surface so the chromium oxide film can reform. Free-machining grades need a modified cycle because the exposed sulphides are attacked by a standard bath.
- EN 10204 3.1 and 3.2
- A 3.1 inspection certificate is issued by the manufacturer's inspection department, independent of production. A 3.2 certificate is also validated by the purchaser's inspector or an inspection body named in the order.
Request a 1.4005 quotation
Send the drawing or the dimensions, the specification and edition, the delivery condition, the quantity and the certificate level. A complete enquiry usually gets a price, a weight and a lead time back within two working days.
Customer audits, pre-shipment inspection and third-party witness testing are welcome. Arrange visits by email in advance so an English-speaking engineer is available.
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd.
Open-die forging factory, established 1997No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town
Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province 214423
China
Telephone, WhatsApp and WeChat: +86 189 2135 9659
Email: sales@steelforgepieces.com
Monday to Saturday, 08:00 to 17:30 China Standard Time
Getting here
The works is in Zhouzhuang Town, in the east of Jiangyin City, on the south bank of the Yangtze between Shanghai and Nanjing. Wuxi Shuofang International Airport is 30 km away and the Shanghai airports are 160 km. The nearest export ports are Zhangjiagang and Shanghai.
Sources
- EN 10088-3:2023, Tables 5, 6, 11, 16 and 23, and clause 1 scope.
- Deutsche Edelstahlwerke material datasheet 1.4005 X12CrS13, revision 4005-1: heat treatment, forging, welding, machining data, physical properties and corrosion note.
- ASTM A582/A582M, free-machining stainless steel bars: Type 416 composition and conditions A, T and H.
- ASTM A473, stainless steel forgings: martensitic annealed properties and response to heat treatment.
- ASTM A967, chemical passivation treatments for stainless steel parts.
Values on this page are for reference. They do not replace the current edition of the applicable standard or the agreed purchase order, and should be confirmed against the governing specification before design use.