---
title: "1.4109 (X70CrMo15) Forgings: Bars, Rings, Discs, Valve Parts"
description: "1.4109 / X70CrMo15 forgings from Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal: EN 10088-3 chemistry, hardening to 55-60 HRC, forging practice, 440A comparison, EN 10204 3.1."
canonical: "https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/1.4109.html"
grade: "1.4109 / X70CrMo15 / X65CrMo14 / nearest AISI 440A / UNS S44002 / SUS440A"
manufacturer: "Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd."
address: "No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China"
telephone: "+86 189 2135 9659"
email: "sales@steelforgepieces.com"
founded: 1997
language: "en"
date_modified: "2026-09-22"
---

# 1.4109 (X70CrMo15) forgings

Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal forges 1.4109 (X70CrMo15) into bars, seamless rolled rings,
discs, sleeves, valve seat rings and instrument blanks. The grade is specified in
EN 10088-3 at 0.60 to 0.75 % carbon, 14.0 to 16.0 % chromium and 0.40 to 0.80 %
molybdenum, is delivered annealed at 280 HB maximum, and hardens to 55 to 60 HRC.
Steel is melted, forged, heat treated, machined and tested on one site, and shipped
with EN 10204 3.1 certification.

| Key figure | Value |
|---|---|
| EN number | 1.4109 |
| EN name | X70CrMo15 |
| Old DIN name | X65CrMo14 |
| Nearest UNS / AISI | S44002 / 440A |
| Steel group | High carbon martensitic stainless |
| Carbon | 0.60 to 0.75 % |
| Chromium | 14.0 to 16.0 %, with 0.40 to 0.80 % Mo |
| Hardness, hardened | 55 to 60 HRC |
| Hardness, as delivered | 280 HB maximum, annealed |

## Designations and standards

1.4109 and X70CrMo15 are the number and the name of the same steel in EN 10088-3,
the European delivery standard for stainless bars, rods, sections and semi-finished
products. The grade also appears in EN 10088-1 and is one of the steels listed in
ISO 7153-1 for surgical and dental instruments. Older German drawings carry the
name X65CrMo14, which refers to the same material.

No standard outside Europe combines the same chromium band with a required molybdenum
addition, so the designations below are near equivalents. Use them to find material.
Check the certificate against the standard your drawing names before you accept any
of them.

| Standard or region | Designation | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| EN 10088-3, EN 10088-1 | X70CrMo15, 1.4109 | The grade itself |
| DIN, superseded | X65CrMo14 | Former German name for the same steel |
| ASTM, AISI, SAE | 440A, UNS S44002 | Near equivalent, chromium 16.0 to 18.0 % |
| JIS | SUS440A | Near equivalent, follows the 440A chemistry |
| GB, China | 7Cr17MoV, 68Cr17 | Near equivalent, chromium 16.0 to 18.0 % |
| AFNOR, France | Z70CD15 | Near equivalent, also cited as Z70CD14 |
| GOST, Russia | 65Kh13 | Distant, chromium 12.0 to 14.0 % and no molybdenum |
| ISO 7153-1 | X70CrMo15, reference letter p | Listed martensitic steel for surgical instruments |
| ASTM F899 | Covers UNS S44002 | Wrought stainless for surgical instruments |

Product standards frequently quoted alongside this grade for bar and forgings are
ASTM A276, ASTM A473 and ASTM A580 in the 440A designation.

## Chemical composition

Carbon at 0.60 to 0.75 % is far above the level at which chromium carbides form. A
large fraction of the chromium therefore sits in carbide instead of in solution. Those
carbides give the abrasion resistance and the edge holding. They also hold the
corrosion resistance down to a moderate level, and they make melt quality a larger
factor here than it is in a low carbon stainless.

| Element | Minimum | Maximum | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon, C | 0.60 | 0.75 | Sets attainable hardness and carbide volume |
| Silicon, Si | - | 0.70 | Deoxidation residual |
| Manganese, Mn | - | 1.00 | Deoxidation, sulphur control |
| Phosphorus, P | - | 0.040 | Impurity, kept low for toughness |
| Sulphur, S | - | 0.030 | Impurity, restricted further on request |
| Chromium, Cr | 14.0 | 16.0 | Passive film, and carbide former |
| Molybdenum, Mo | 0.40 | 0.80 | Pitting resistance, tempering resistance |
| Iron, Fe | - | - | Balance |

Sulphur is frequently ordered at 0.015 % maximum for instrument and bearing work.
State the restriction on the enquiry so the melt is aimed at it, since it cannot be
corrected after the heat is cast.

## 1.4109 against AISI 440A

Most stockholders treat these two as one steel. On general wear parts the substitution
usually passes without trouble. On a controlled drawing it does not. The carbon bands
are identical, the chromium bands touch at a single point, and molybdenum is a
requirement in one standard and a permitted residual in the other.

| Element | 1.4109, EN 10088-3 | 440A, UNS S44002 | Consequence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon | 0.60 to 0.75 | 0.60 to 0.75 | Same attainable hardness |
| Chromium | 14.0 to 16.0 | 16.0 to 18.0 | Overlap only at the 16.0 boundary |
| Molybdenum | 0.40 to 0.80, required | 0.75 maximum, optional | 1.4109 always carries Mo, 440A may not |
| Silicon | 0.70 max | 1.00 max | Tighter in the EN grade |
| PREN, Cr + 3.3Mo | 15.3 to 18.6 | 16.0 to 20.5 | 440A is more corrosion resistant at its upper limits |

A heat aimed at the middle of 1.4109, around 15.0 % chromium, fails a 440A certificate
on chromium. A heat aimed at the middle of 440A, around 17.0 % chromium, fails a
1.4109 certificate. Name the standard the part is designed to on your enquiry.

## Mechanical properties

EN 10088-3 specifies this grade in the annealed condition only, as a hardness ceiling
and a tensile ceiling. There is no specified proof strength, elongation or impact
value, because the standard treats 1.4109 as a steel the buyer hardens. Service
properties are produced by the hardening cycle, and the delivery condition says
nothing about them.

| Property | Requirement, annealed (+A) | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness | 280 HB maximum | Thickness or diameter up to 100 mm |
| Tensile strength, Rm | 900 MPa maximum | Thickness or diameter up to 100 mm |
| Proof strength, elongation, impact | Not specified | Grade is supplied for subsequent hardening |

### Hardened condition

The hardened figure for this grade is set by ISO 7153-1, which lists X70CrMo15 among
the martensitic steels for surgical instruments.

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Rockwell hardness | 55 to 60 HRC |
| Vickers hardness | 610 to 720 HV |
| Steel type in that standard | Martensitic |

### Tempering response

No published tempering curve exists for 1.4109 on its own. The table below is
manufacturer data for AISI 440A, which carries the same carbon band and is the closest
grade with a full curve. Take the shape of the curve from it and treat the absolute
figures as indicative. 1.4109 runs one to two points of hardness above 440A on the
same cycle. It holds about 2 % less chromium, so less carbon is locked into carbide
and more of it stays in solution to form martensite.

| Condition | Hardness | Rp0.2, MPa | Rm, MPa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annealed | 94 HRB | 427 | 717 |
| Tempered 204 degrees C | 54 HRC | 1579 | 2022 |
| Tempered 288 degrees C | 50 HRC | 1518 | 1879 |
| Tempered 316 degrees C | 53 HRC | 1531 | 1883 |
| Tempered 427 degrees C | 53 HRC | 1610 | 1881 |
| Tempered 482 degrees C | 52 HRC | 1466 | 1858 |
| Tempered 538 degrees C | 41 HRC | 1013 | 1224 |
| Tempered 649 degrees C | 31 HRC | 727 | 933 |

Elongation in the annealed row of that data set is 20 %. Hardness holds almost flat to
about 480 degrees C and then falls away sharply, so 538 degrees C and above are of no
use for a wear or cutting part. The 288 degrees C row sits below its neighbours in the
source. That is measurement scatter, not a real dip. The rows from 427 degrees C upward
sit inside the embrittlement band, so they record what the steel does at those
temperatures and are not a tempering recommendation. Acceptance on this grade is
normally on hardness. The grade is ferromagnetic in every condition.

## Physical properties

| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 7.7 | g/cm3 |
| Modulus of elasticity | 200 | GPa |
| Shear modulus | 76 | GPa |
| Poisson ratio | 0.28 | dimensionless |
| Thermal conductivity | 30 | W/(m K) |
| Specific heat capacity | 480 | J/(kg K) |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion | 10 | 10-6 / K |
| Electrical conductivity | 2.7 | % IACS |
| Electrical resistivity, calculated | 0.64 | microhm metre |
| Melting range | 1400 to 1440 | degrees C |
| Maximum service temperature, corrosion | about 390 | degrees C |
| PREN, Cr + 3.3Mo | 17 at mid range | dimensionless |

Values apply to the annealed condition and are typical figures for the grade, not
guaranteed properties.

## Heat treatment

| Operation | Temperature | Cooling | Result and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft annealing, +A | 850 to 880 degrees C | Furnace, then air below 600 degrees C | Delivery condition, 280 HB maximum. Machine the part here |
| Stress relief before hardening | 600 to 650 degrees C | Furnace | Optional after heavy rough machining, to limit distortion |
| Hardening, austenitising | 1000 to 1050 degrees C | Oil, pressurised gas or still air | Higher end dissolves more carbide and raises hardness, at the cost of grain size and retained austenite |
| Sub-zero treatment | minus 70 to minus 80 degrees C | Warm to room temperature | Optional, transforms retained austenite before tempering |
| Tempering, first choice | 150 to 250 degrees C | Air | 55 to 60 HRC. Temper immediately after the quench |
| Tempering, avoid | 400 to 580 degrees C | Not applicable | Embrittlement and loss of corrosion resistance |
| Post-weld treatment, if welded | 732 to 760 degrees C, six hours | Furnace, slow | Preheat to 260 degrees C. Welding is not recommended |

Austenitising at the low end of the window leaves more chromium carbide undissolved.
That keeps the grain fine and the toughness reasonable, but it leaves less chromium in
solution, so both hardness and corrosion resistance drop slightly. Austenitising at the
high end dissolves more carbide and raises both, until retained austenite starts to
cost hardness instead. Instrument and bearing work normally takes the upper half of
the range with a sub-zero step after the quench. Heavy wear parts are safer in the
lower half with a longer soak.

## Forging practice

| Stage | Temperature | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Preheat | 750 to 800 degrees C | Soak to equalise. Thermal conductivity is low, so charging cold into a hot furnace cracks heavy sections |
| Forging heat | 1050 to 1150 degrees C | Soak by section thickness. Do not exceed 1150 degrees C |
| Finish temperature | above 900 degrees C | Stop and reheat instead of finishing cold |
| Cooling from the press | to below 600 degrees C slowly | Ash, insulated box or furnace. The grade air hardens |
| Post-forge anneal | 850 to 880 degrees C | Mandatory, directly after forging |

In a high carbon martensitic stainless steel the primary carbides form during
solidification, in a coarse network. Nothing in later heat treatment removes that
network. Only hot deformation breaks it up, and the degree of break-up follows the
forging reduction. A ring rolled from a forged and punched preform has its carbides
broken and its grain flow following the circumference. A ring parted off a rolled bar
and bored out has neither. The difference turns up in service as a chipping edge on a
blade, early spalling on a bearing race, or a pit starting at a carbide interface on a
valve seat. Our certificates carry a forging ratio and a grain flow direction for that
reason.

Carbide size is set in the ingot. For instrument, bearing and edge applications this
grade is melted through the electric arc and ladle furnace route and remelted under
protective atmosphere electroslag where the specification calls for it. Vacuum arc
remelting is also available on site. At the same analysis, remelted material carries a
finer and more evenly distributed carbide population than air melted material.

## Corrosion resistance and service limits

The pitting resistance equivalent sits near 17 at mid range chemistry. Full corrosion
resistance exists only after hardening and tempering, when the maximum amount of
chromium is in solution. Annealed material has its chromium locked into carbide and
corrodes noticeably faster. Surface condition counts as well. A ground or polished
surface resists attack far better than an as-machined one, because pitting starts at
surface defects and at exposed carbides.

| Environment or condition | Suitability |
|---|---|
| Fresh water, steam, food contact, mild atmospheres | Suitable, hardened and tempered, fine surface finish |
| Sterilisation cycles, instrument use | Suitable. This is the duty the ISO 7153-1 listing covers |
| Chlorides, seawater, brines | Not suitable. Use duplex or super austenitic |
| Acids, including sulphuric and phosphoric | Not suitable |
| Continuous service temperature | Up to about 390 to 400 degrees C |
| Sour service to NACE MR0175 | Not suitable at this hardness |

## Machining and welding

Machine in the annealed condition. At 250 to 280 HB the grade cuts acceptably with
carbide tooling at moderate speed and a positive feed, and it produces long stringy
chips that need a chip breaker. After hardening, finishing is done by grinding.

Do not plan to weld this grade. The heat affected zone hardens as it cools in air and
cracks, and a post-weld treatment long enough to soften it also runs the part through
the embrittlement range.

## Product forms and sizes

| Form | Usual range in this grade | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Forged round bar | 50 to 500 mm diameter | Machined valve parts, instrument stock, shafts |
| Forged square and flat bar | 50 to 400 mm section | Blade and cutlery blanks, tooling |
| Seamless rolled rings | OD 200 to 1500 mm | Bearing races, seat rings, wear rings |
| Forged rings | OD 120 mm upward | Sizes and sections below the ring mill range |
| Forged discs and blocks | up to 900 mm diameter | Die blocks, gauge stock, cut-up blanks |
| Hollow bar, sleeves, bushings | OD 120 to 600 mm | Bushings, wear sleeves, nozzle bodies |
| Valve and pump parts | to drawing | Seat rings, stems, plugs, pivot pins |
| Single piece weight | 10 kg to about 1500 kg | Minimum order 10 kg, no minimum piece count |

Larger work in this grade is quoted against the plant envelope, which runs to a
6000 mm radial-axial ring mill, a 6300 tonne press and a 30 tonne maximum single
forging.

Standard delivery is annealed, 280 HB maximum, as forged with machining allowance or
rough machined. Proof machined surfaces are supplied where ultrasonic examination is
required. Hardened and tempered delivery to an agreed hardness, and finish machining
to drawing, are both available.

## Testing, certification and traceability

| Test | Method | Notes for this grade |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical analysis | Optical emission spectrometry, ASTM E415 | Melt and product analysis, both reported |
| Carbon and sulphur | Infrared combustion, ASTM E1019 | Carbon is the controlling element |
| Hardness | Brinell annealed, Rockwell C hardened | Primary acceptance test |
| Ultrasonic examination | ASTM A388 or EN 10228-3 | Carried out annealed, on a proof machined surface |
| Magnetic particle inspection | ASTM E709 | The grade is ferromagnetic in every condition |
| Grain size and microstructure | ASTM E112 | Carbide distribution assessed on request |
| Certification | EN 10204 3.1 as standard | EN 10204 3.2 witnessed on request |

The works holds CCS, BV, DNV, LR and NK classification society approvals.

## Frequently asked questions

**What is 1.4109 steel?**
1.4109 is the EN steel number for X70CrMo15, a high carbon martensitic stainless steel
specified in EN 10088-3. It contains 0.60 to 0.75 % carbon, 14.0 to 16.0 % chromium and
0.40 to 0.80 % molybdenum. Carbon and chromium combine as hard chromium carbides, so
the grade takes and holds a cutting edge while keeping basic corrosion resistance. It
is delivered annealed and reaches working hardness only after hardening and tempering.

**Is 1.4109 the same as AISI 440A?**
They are close but not interchangeable. Both carry 0.60 to 0.75 % carbon, but 1.4109 is
specified at 14.0 to 16.0 % chromium with 0.40 to 0.80 % molybdenum required, while
440A (UNS S44002) is 16.0 to 18.0 % chromium with molybdenum only permitted up to
0.75 % and not required. A heat that meets 1.4109 will normally fail a 440A chromium
check.

**What hardness does 1.4109 reach?**
55 to 60 HRC, which is the range ISO 7153-1 sets for X70CrMo15, equivalent to 610 to
720 HV. That is reached by hardening from 1000 to 1050 degrees C, quenching in oil or
gas, and tempering at 150 to 250 degrees C. Manufacturer data for the nearest grade,
AISI 440A, gives 54 HRC tempered at 204 degrees C, and 1.4109 runs one to two points
above that on the same cycle because it holds about 2 % less chromium. In the annealed
delivery condition EN 10088-3 allows 280 HB maximum and 900 MPa maximum tensile
strength for sections up to 100 mm.

**What is the heat treatment for 1.4109?**
Soft anneal at 850 to 880 degrees C with a slow furnace cool. Harden from 1000 to
1050 degrees C in oil, gas or still air, then temper immediately at 150 to 250 degrees C.
Deep freezing at minus 70 to minus 80 degrees C between quench and temper removes
retained austenite where dimensional stability matters.

**Which tempering temperatures must be avoided for 1.4109?**
400 to 580 degrees C. Tempering in that band embrittles the steel and lowers corrosion
resistance at the same time, because chromium leaves solid solution as carbide. If a
part has to be softer than about 50 HRC, choose a lower carbon grade instead.

**Can 1.4109 be forged, and at what temperature?**
Yes. Soak at 750 to 800 degrees C, raise to 1050 to 1150 degrees C, and finish forging
above 900 degrees C. Every forging goes from the press straight into an annealing
furnace, because the grade air hardens and an unannealed forging will crack as it cools
and cannot be machined.

**How corrosion resistant is 1.4109?**
Moderate, and only in the hardened and tempered condition. The pitting resistance
equivalent is about 17 at mid range chemistry, so the grade suits fresh water, food
contact, steam and mild atmospheres. It is not a choice for chlorides, seawater or
acids. Continuous service is limited to about 400 degrees C.

**Can 1.4109 be welded?**
This is not a welding grade. The carbon content makes the heat affected zone air harden
and crack. Where a weld cannot be avoided, preheat to 260 degrees C, hold at 732 to
760 degrees C for six hours after welding, then furnace cool slowly.

**Which product forms and sizes do you supply in 1.4109?**
Forged round, square and flat bar, forged discs and blocks, seamless rolled rings and
forged rings, hollow bar, sleeves, bushings, valve seat rings, stems, and blanks for
cutlery and instruments. The range quoted most often is bar from 50 to 500 mm diameter,
rings to 1500 mm outside diameter, discs to 900 mm diameter, and single pieces to about
1500 kg.

**Who manufactures these 1.4109 forgings, and where?**
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd., an integrated melting works and open-die forging
plant at No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China,
operating since 1997 with 460 staff. Steel is melted, refined, forged, heat treated,
machined and tested on one site, so the certificate traces a part back to its melt
number and not to a purchased billet. Enquiries go to sales@steelforgepieces.com or
+86 189 2135 9659.

**Why does the melting route matter for 1.4109?**
Carbide size controls how the part performs. High carbon martensitic stainless
steel forms coarse primary carbides as it solidifies, and coarse carbides mean a
chipping edge, short bearing life and pits that start at the carbide interface.
Electroslag remelting refines the as cast structure and the forging reduction that
follows breaks up what remains.

**What certification and testing comes with a 1.4109 order?**
An EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate as standard. EN 10204 3.2 witnessed by BV, DNV,
LR, SGS, TUV or your own inspector is available on request. In house testing covers
optical emission spectrometry, carbon and sulphur analysis, hardness, ultrasonic
examination, magnetic particle inspection and grain size.

**What is the minimum order quantity and lead time for 1.4109 forgings?**
Minimum order is 10 kg with no minimum piece count. Normal lead time is 20 to 60 days
from order confirmation. Standard melt route work in this grade sits at the lower end
of that range.

## Request a quotation

Send a drawing or a written specification with these six items:

1. Grade and governing standard, for example 1.4109 to EN 10088-3, or 440A to ASTM A276
2. Dimensions or a drawing, in PDF, DWG, DXF or STEP
3. Quantity and expected repeat volume
4. Delivery condition: annealed, proof machined, or hardened to an agreed HRC
5. Melt route and testing: standard, electroslag remelted, restricted sulphur, ultrasonic class
6. Certification and destination port

Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd.
No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China
Telephone, WhatsApp, WeChat: +86 189 2135 9659
Email: sales@steelforgepieces.com
Business hours: Monday to Saturday, 08:00 to 17:30, China Standard Time, UTC+8

## Related grades

- [X70CrMo15, the same grade by EN name](https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/X70CrMo15.html)
- [AISI 440A forgings](https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/AISI-440A.html)
- [UNS S44002 forgings](https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/UNS-S44002.html)
- [1.4125, X105CrMo17, higher carbon](https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/1.4125.html)
- [AISI 440C forgings](https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/AISI-440C.html)
- [1.4034, X46Cr13, lower carbon](https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/1.4034.html)
- [1.4057, X17CrNi16-2](https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/1.4057.html)
- [All stainless steel forging grades](https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/)

## Document reference

1.4109 (X70CrMo15) forgings. Data sheet published and maintained by Jiangyin Jiangnan
Metal Co., Ltd., Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China. Revision 2026-09-22.
https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Stainless-Steel/1.4109.html

Composition and annealed property limits are taken from EN 10088-3. Typical and
physical values are published figures for the grade and are not guaranteed properties.
Heat treatment and forging figures are works practice and are confirmed order by order.
Reproduction is permitted with attribution to Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. and a
link to this page.