Bar
Round, flat, square and hexagonal, black or rough-turned, cut to length.
EN 1.4109 · Data sheet and forging practice
X70CrMo15 Forgings High-carbon Cr-Mo martensitic stainless steel of the 440A class, forged to drawing as bar, ring, disc, sleeve and valve seat
We melt 1.4109 on site and forge it on the same works, so the certificate traces the part back to its heat number rather than to a purchased billet. Minimum order is 10 kg.
Grade record1.4109
- EN name
- X70CrMo15
- EN number
- 1.4109
- Standard
- EN 10088-3, listed in EN 10088-1
- Type
- Martensitic stainless, high-carbon special grade
- Nearest AISI
- 440A / UNS S44002 (approximate)
- Density
- 7.7 g/cm³
- Annealed
- max. 280 HB
- Forging
- 1038 to 1204 °C, stop above 927 °C
- Supply
- Bar, hollow bar, ring, disc, sleeve, valve seat
X70CrMo15 is the EN name for material number 1.4109, a hardenable chromium-molybdenum stainless steel with roughly 0.60 to 0.75 % carbon, 14.0 to 16.0 % chromium and 0.40 to 0.80 % molybdenum. It is chosen where a part has to hold an edge or resist wear in mildly corrosive service: knives and centrifugal cutting tools, piston rings, bushings, bearing components and hardened valve seats. Its pitting resistance equivalent is only about 17, so it is not a substitute for duplex or austenitic grades in seawater or sour service.
01
Grade identification
| EN designation | X70CrMo15 |
|---|---|
| EN material number | 1.4109 |
| Standard | EN 10088-3 for bars, rods, wire, sections and bright products; listed in EN 10088-1; family covered by ISO 683-17 |
| Classification | Martensitic stainless steel, special grade |
| Nearest US grade | AISI 440A, UNS S44002 (chromium band differs, see section 03) |
| Density | 7.7 g/cm³, quoted as 7.75 g/cm³ in some mill data, about 480 lb/ft³ |
| Usual delivery condition | Soft annealed, max. 280 HB |
| Magnetic | Ferromagnetic in every condition |
| Mill trade names | REMANIT 4109, BGH 4109, CHRONIMO 1.4109, SINOXX 4109 |
| Common wrought size range | About 1.00 to 350 mm in rolled and drawn bar; heavier cross-sections available as open-die forgings |
02
Chemical composition
| Element | X70CrMo15 / 1.4109 | AISI 440A / UNS S44002 |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon, C | 0.60 to 0.75 | 0.60 to 0.75 |
| Chromium, Cr | 14.0 to 16.0 | 16.0 to 18.0 |
| Molybdenum, Mo | 0.40 to 0.80 | max. 0.75 |
| Manganese, Mn | max. 1.00 | max. 1.00 |
| Silicon, Si | max. 0.70 | max. 1.00 |
| Phosphorus, P | max. 0.040 | max. 0.040 |
| Sulphur, S | max. 0.015 | max. 0.030 |
| Iron, Fe | Balance, about 80.7 to 85 | Balance |
Ordering point
Reference works do not agree on the silicon and sulphur ceilings for 1.4109, and the chromium band is genuinely different from 440A. State the standard and its revision on the enquiry and on the purchase order. Every heat ships with an EN 10204 3.1 certificate carrying the actual ladle analysis.
03
Equivalent and comparable grades
The 440A comparison is the one buyers ask about most often, and it is the one that needs care. The carbon band matches, the chromium band does not.
| Country or system | Designation | Standard | Closeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe, EN | X70CrMo15, 1.4109 | EN 10088-1, EN 10088-3 | Base grade |
| United States | 440A, UNS S44002 | ASTM A276, ASTM F899, AMS-QQ-S-763 | Nearest grade, Cr 16 to 18 % against 14 to 16 % |
| Japan | SUS 440A | JIS G 4303, G 4304, G 4305 | Listed equivalent |
| France | Z 70 CD 14 | NF A 35-586 | Listed equivalent |
| Germany, older usage | X 65 CrMo 14 | DIN reference works | Described as comparable |
Where the finished part needs more hardness and wear resistance than 1.4109 can give, the next steps in the same family are X90CrMoV18 (1.4112, 440B type) and X105CrMo17 (1.4125, 440C type), both of which we also forge. Machinability and toughness fall as carbon rises, so the choice is usually settled by how the part is finished rather than by hardness alone.
04
Mechanical and physical properties
Annealed condition
| Property | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness | max. 280 HB, about 250 HB typical | – |
| Tensile strength | about 770 MPa | about 110 ksi |
| Yield strength, 0.2 % proof | about 420 MPa | about 61 ksi |
| Elongation at break | about 19 % | about 19 % |
| Young's modulus | about 200 GPa | about 28 x 10&sup6; psi |
| Shear modulus | about 76 GPa | about 11 x 10&sup6; psi |
| Shear strength | about 480 MPa | about 70 ksi |
| Fatigue strength | about 270 MPa | about 39 ksi |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.28 | 0.28 |
Hardened and low-tempered 440-class steels are characterised by hardness above 55 HRC. Because the 440A type carries less carbon than 440B and 440C, it gives up some peak hardness in return for easier machining, which is why it appears in knife blades and piston rings rather than in the hardest bearing races.
Physical and thermal data
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 7.7 g/cm³, about 480 lb/ft³ |
| Melting onset, solidus | about 1400 °C, 2540 °F |
| Melting completion, liquidus | about 1440 °C, 2620 °F |
| Thermal conductivity | about 30 W/m·K |
| Specific heat capacity | about 480 J/kg·K |
| Thermal expansion | about 10 µm/m·K |
| Electrical conductivity | about 2.7 % IACS |
| Pitting resistance equivalent, PREN | about 17 |
| Service ceiling, corrosion | about 390 °C, 730 °F |
| Service ceiling, mechanical | about 820 °C, 1500 °F |
05
Forging, heat treatment, machining
Hot working
Preheat to about 760 °C, then raise slowly into the working range of 1038 to 1204 °C. Nothing should be worked below about 927 °C. After forging the piece is cooled slowly and fully annealed before any machining. High-carbon martensitic stainless steel is crack-sensitive, so our shop controls the heating rate into the furnace, holds the stop temperature, and books the part straight into an annealing cycle rather than letting it stand.
Heat treatment schedule
| Operation | Temperature | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Full annealing | 850 to 900 °C | Slow furnace cool to about 600 °C, then air cool |
| Sub-critical annealing | 735 to 785 °C | Slow furnace cool |
| Hardening | 1010 to 1065 °C | Air or oil quench, oil for heavy sections |
| Tempering | 150 to 370 °C | High hardness retained |
| Range to avoid | 425 to 565 °C | Corrosion resistance and impact resistance both drop |
| High tempering | 590 to 675 °C | Impact resistance gained, hardness lost |
Fourteen furnaces are available on site, from 3,500 mm high-temperature car-bottom chambers up to 8,000 mm units and two 15 m well furnaces for vertical quenching, so annealing and hardening are scheduled in-house rather than subcontracted.
Machining and welding
Machine the steel annealed. Once hardened it is very difficult to cut and in some sections impractical. Carbide or ceramic tooling with chip breakers is the usual choice. Welding is not recommended, since the steel air hardens: where a weld cannot be avoided, preheat to about 250 to 260 °C and apply a post-weld treatment with slow furnace cooling. Grade 420 filler gives a hard deposit, 309 or 310 filler a softer and more ductile one.
06
Forged shapes we supply in 1.4109
Hollow bar and sleeves
Bushings, cylinders, casings and shells, trepanned or bored from solid forged blanks.
Seamless rolled rings
From OD 50 mm by the upset-and-punch route, rolled above that on the 1 m and 3 m mills.
Discs and blocks
Upset discs, die and mould blocks, gauge-block stock, proof-machined where inspection requires it.
Shafts and pins
Stepped shafts, spindles and pivot pins as near-net preforms or finish-turned.
Valve components
Valve seats, seat rings, stems, nozzles and pump parts in hardened and tempered condition.
| Delivery condition | As-forged, forged and annealed, or hardened and tempered to an agreed hardness |
|---|---|
| Certification | EN 10204 3.1 with ladle analysis and mechanical results; 3.2 third-party on request |
| Testing | Ultrasonic inspection to an agreed acceptance class, hardness survey, PMI, dimensional report |
| Minimum order | 10 kg, no minimum piece count |
| Lead time | 20 to 60 days depending on section and heat treatment |
| Approvals held | CCS, BV, DNV, LR, NK |
| Pricing | Quoted per drawing. Forged weight, grade and heat-treated condition set the price, so there is no list price for this grade. |
07
Where 1.4109 is used
Reference sources describe 1.4109 as a hardenable steel for cutting tools, naming industrial butchers knives and centrifugal knives, and for piston rings. In its wider 440A-class role it is found in cutlery and blade stock, bearings and races, gauge blocks, moulds and dies, bushings and sleeves, surgical and dental instruments, measuring instruments, and hardened valve seats and seat rings.
The limits matter as much as the uses. With a PREN near 17 and a corrosion service ceiling around 390 °C, this steel belongs in mildly corrosive duty where hardness and wear resistance set the design. For seawater, chloride-bearing process streams or sour service, look instead at A182-F51 duplex, A182-F55 super duplex or 904L.
08
The works behind the order
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. has operated at No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province since 1997. Most forging suppliers in China buy billet; this plant melts its own steel. Stainless grades such as 1.4109 run through the electric arc furnace, a ladle furnace and vacuum oxygen decarburisation before they reach the press, which means the chemistry can be aimed at the forging it will become.
| Established | 1997 |
|---|---|
| People | 460, including 9 senior engineers, 32 intermediate engineers and 140 technicians |
| Melting | EF, LF, VOD, IF, VIM, VAR and ESR routes, 60 t maximum heat |
| Forging | 6,300 t open-die press, 6 m radial-axial ring mill, 30 t maximum single piece |
| Heat treatment | 14 furnaces, including two 15 m well furnaces for vertical quenching |
| Machining | Vertical lathes to 5,000 mm swing, horizontal lathes to 14,000 mm, CNC deep-hole drilling to 1,600 mm x 10,000 mm |
| Export markets | North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific |
09
Questions buyers ask
What is X70CrMo15 steel?
X70CrMo15, EN material number 1.4109, is a high-carbon chromium-molybdenum martensitic stainless steel listed in EN 10088-3, with about 0.60 to 0.75 % C, 14.0 to 16.0 % Cr and 0.40 to 0.80 % Mo. It hardens to high hardness and offers moderate corrosion resistance. Reference works describe it as a hardenable steel for cutting tools, including industrial butchers knives and centrifugal knives, and for piston rings.
Is X70CrMo15 the same as AISI 440A?
Close, but not identical. Both specify 0.60 to 0.75 % carbon, but EN 10088-3 gives 1.4109 a chromium range of 14.0 to 16.0 % while AISI 440A, UNS S44002, specifies 16.0 to 18.0 %. Molybdenum is a defined 0.40 to 0.80 % for 1.4109 against max. 0.75 % for 440A. Treat 440A as the nearest grade rather than a drop-in substitute, and name the governing standard on the order.
What hardness can X70CrMo15 reach?
Soft annealed material is supplied at max. 280 HB, around 250 HB typical. After hardening and low tempering, high-carbon martensitic stainless steels of the 440 family are characterised by hardness above 55 HRC. The 440A type carries less carbon than 440B and 440C, so it machines more easily but does not reach their peak hardness.
What is the forging temperature for X70CrMo15?
Preheat to about 760 °C, then raise slowly into the hot working range of 1038 to 1204 °C. Do not work the material below about 927 °C. Cool slowly after forging and fully anneal before machining.
How is X70CrMo15 heat treated?
Full anneal at 850 to 900 °C with slow furnace cooling to about 600 °C, then air cool. Sub-critical anneal at 735 to 785 °C with slow furnace cooling. Harden from 1010 to 1065 °C with an air or oil quench, oil for heavy sections. Temper at 150 to 370 °C, and avoid the 425 to 565 °C range, where corrosion resistance and impact resistance both fall.
Can X70CrMo15 be welded?
Not recommended, because the steel air hardens. Where a weld cannot be avoided, preheat to about 250 to 260 °C and apply a post-weld treatment with slow furnace cooling to prevent cracking. Grade 420 filler gives a hard weld, 309 or 310 filler a softer and more ductile deposit.
What are the equivalent grades of 1.4109?
AISI 440A and UNS S44002 in the United States as the nearest grade, SUS 440A to JIS G 4303 in Japan, Z 70 CD 14 to NF A 35-586 in France, and X 65 CrMo 14, which reference works describe as comparable. Mill trade names include REMANIT 4109, BGH 4109, CHRONIMO 1.4109 and SINOXX 4109.
How do I order X70CrMo15 forgings?
Email sales@steelforgepieces.com or call +86 189 2135 9659. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. is at No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China. Send the grade and standard, the shape and finished sizes, machining allowance, delivery condition, quantity, testing and certification needs, and the destination port. Minimum order is 10 kg and normal lead time is 20 to 60 days.
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Standards referenced
- EN 10088-1, Stainless steels, Part 1: List of stainless steels
- EN 10088-3, Technical delivery conditions for semi-finished products, bars, rods, wire, sections and bright products
- ISO 683-17, Heat-treatable steels, alloy steels and free-cutting steels, ball and roller bearing steels
- JIS G 4303, G 4304, G 4305, stainless steel bars, plate and sheet, for SUS 440A
- ASTM A276 and ASTM F899 for the 440A class; NF A 35-586 for Z 70 CD 14
- EN 10204, Types of inspection documents, for 3.1 and 3.2 certification
Values on this page are typical reference data for design guidance and are not guaranteed properties. Contract properties are those written on the order and confirmed on the inspection certificate. Page prepared by the metallurgical department, last reviewed 10 October 2026.
Cite this page: Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. (2026). X70CrMo15 (EN 1.4109) open-die forgings: composition, heat treatment and product forms. Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China. https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/X70CrMo15.html
Quotation for X70CrMo15 forgings
Send a drawing or the finished dimensions. You get price, forged weight and a delivery date back, normally within one working day.
CompanyJiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd.
Melting works and open-die forge, since 1997
Melting works and open-die forge, since 1997
PlantNo.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China