Introduction
SUS410 is the most widely used martensitic stainless steel, commonly referred to in China as "stainless iron" (不锈铁). Unlike austenitic grades such as SUS304 and SUS316, SUS410 has a body-centered cubic (BCC) structure, is magnetic, and can be hardened by heat treatment — similar to carbon and low-alloy steels.
With approximately 12% chromium, SUS410 offers moderate corrosion resistance suitable for mild atmospheric, chemical, and non-saline environments. Its key advantages are high hardness, good strength, and cost-effectiveness due to low alloy content. It is widely used in fasteners, structural components, steam turbines, jet engines, and gas turbines.
Grade Equivalents Across Standards
| Standard | Designation |
|---|---|
| JIS G4303 (Japan) | SUS410 |
| ASTM A276 (USA) | 410 (S41000) |
| GB/T 1220 (China) | 12Cr13 (formerly 1Cr13) |
| DIN (Germany) | X10Cr13 |
SUS410 and ASTM 410 are largely interchangeable in practice, though they originate from different standards. This page uses JIS G4303 as the primary reference.
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Chemical Composition: SUS410 and Related Martensitic Grades
Reference standard: JIS G4303
| Grade | Standard | C (%) | Si (%) | Mn (%) | P (%) | S (%) | Ni (%) | Cr (%) | Mo (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUS410 | JIS G4303 | ≤ 0.15 | ≤ 1.00 | ≤ 1.00 | ≤ 0.040 | ≤ 0.03 | (≤ 0.60) | 11.5–13.5 | — |
| SUS416 | JIS G4303 | ≤ 0.15 | ≤ 1.00 | ≤ 1.25 | ≤ 0.060 | ≥ 0.15 | (≤ 0.60) | 12.0–14.0 | (≤ 0.60) |
| SUS420F | JIS G4303 | 0.26–0.40 | ≤ 1.00 | ≤ 1.25 | ≤ 0.060 | ≥ 0.15 | (≤ 0.60) | 12.0–14.0 | (≤ 0.60) |
| SUS431 | JIS G4303 | ≤ 0.20 | ≤ 1.00 | ≤ 1.25 | ≤ 0.040 | ≤ 0.03 | 1.25–2.50 | 15.0–17.0 | — |
| SUS440C | JIS G4303 | 0.95–1.20 | ≤ 1.00 | ≤ 1.00 | ≤ 0.040 | ≤ 0.03 | (≤ 0.60) | 16.0–18.0 | (≤ 0.75) |
| 12Cr13 (1Cr13) | GB/T 1220 | 0.08–0.15 | ≤ 1.00 | ≤ 1.00 | ≤ 0.040 | ≤ 0.03 | (≤ 0.60) | 11.5–13.5 | — |
| 410 | ASTM A276 | 0.08–0.15 | ≤ 1.00 | ≤ 1.00 | ≤ 0.040 | ≤ 0.03 | — | 11.5–13.5 | — |
Values in parentheses indicate optional or maximum permitted additions.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Heat-treatable — excellent response to quenching and tempering, enabling significant improvements in hardness and strength
- Moderate corrosion resistance — suitable for mild atmospheric, chemical, and non-saline environments; performance improves after passivation
- High hardness and wear resistance — after heat treatment, superior to most other stainless grades
- Good high-temperature performance — maintains mechanical properties at moderate elevated temperatures
- Good machinability and cold heading — tool- and die-friendly, suitable for fastener production
- Cost-effective — low alloy content keeps material costs competitive
Disadvantages
- Limited corrosion resistance — susceptible to pitting and stress corrosion cracking in aggressive or chloride-rich environments
- Poor weldability — requires pre-heat and post-weld treatment, increasing manufacturing cost and complexity
- Low-temperature brittleness — toughness and impact resistance decrease significantly at low temperatures
- Lower oxidation resistance — inferior to austenitic grades at high temperatures
- Limited formability — more difficult to form into complex shapes compared to austenitic steels
- Magnetic — restricts use in medical and magnetic-sensitive sensor applications
Mechanical Properties
Mechanical Properties (Annealed Condition, JIS G4303)
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile Strength σb | ≥ 440 MPa |
| Yield Strength σ0.2 (Q&T) | ≥ 205 MPa |
| Elongation δ5 | ≥ 20% |
| Reduction of Area ψ | ≥ 55% |
| Impact Value | ≥ 98 J/cm² |
| Hardness | ≤ 200 HB |
Physical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 7.9 g/cm³ (0.29 lb/in³) |
| Melting Point | 1480–1530 °C (2700–2790 °F) |
| Magnetic Permeability | 700–1000 |
| Specific Heat Capacity (20°C) | 460 J/(kg·K) |
| Electrical Resistivity (20°C) | 0.57 μΩ·m |
| Elastic Modulus | 200 GPa |
| Young’s Modulus | 190–210 GPa |
| Thermal Diffusivity (20–100°C) | 6.7 mm²/s |
| Thermal Conductivity (100°C) | 24.9 W/(m·K) |
| Thermal Conductivity (500°C) | 28.7 W/(m·K) |
| Thermal Expansion (0–315°C) | 11.4 × 10⁻⁶ /K |
| Thermal Expansion (0–538°C) | 11.6 × 10⁻⁶ /K |
Heat Treatment
Annealing
- Process (Sub-critical) Annealing: 650–760°C (1200–1400°F), air cool. Hardness: 86–92 HRB. Heating to the upper end of this range achieves maximum softness.
- Full Annealing: Soak at 830–885°C (1525–1625°F); furnace cool to 790°C (1455°F) at 15–25°C/h; continue to 595°C (1100°F); air cool to room temperature. Hardness: 75–85 HRB.
- Isothermal Annealing: Heat to 830–885°C (1525–1625°F); hold at 705°C (1300°F) for 6 hours. Hardness: 85 HRB.
Hardening
Austenitize at 925–1010°C (1700–1850°F) for 30–90 minutes. Quench in air or oil. For sections thicker than 6.4 mm (0.25 in.), oil quenching is recommended. A tempering bath at 150–400°C (300–750°F) may substitute for oil quenching.
Tempering
- Low-temperature tempering (205–370°C / 400–700°F): Tensile strength 1105–1515 MPa, hardness 38–47 HRC.
- High-temperature tempering (565–605°C / 1050–1125°F): Tensile strength 760–965 MPa, hardness 25–31 HRC.
- Avoid tempering in the 370–565°C (700–1050°F) range — this produces unstable impact properties and reduced corrosion and stress-corrosion resistance.
Maximum Service Temperature
- Intermittent service: 815°C (1500°F)
- Continuous service: 705°C (1300°F)
Applications of SUS410 Stainless Steel
SUS410 is used wherever moderate corrosion resistance, high hardness, and cost-efficiency are required together:
- Fasteners — bolts, nuts, screws, and studs for general structural applications
- Turbine components — steam turbine blades, jet engine parts, gas turbine components
- Cutlery & blades — knives, scissors, and cutting tools (after hardening)
- Pump and valve components — shafts, seats, and trim in mildly corrosive media
- Structural parts — brackets, frames, and hardware in non-marine environments
- Automotive — exhaust components and structural brackets
Browse our stainless steel fastener collections: Stainless Steel Helical Inserts, Castle Nuts (DIN 935) – A2, and Dome Nuts (DIN 1587) – A2.
Standards reference: JIS G4303 | JIS G4304 | JIS G4305 | ASTM A276/A276M | GB/T 1220
Content authorized for publication by FULLERKREG.