Home > Online Catalog

Home > Stainless Steel 420

View AMS Numbers  >

420 is a martensitic stainless steel with 12% Chromium, which gives the material good corrosive resistance. 420 can be heat treated to achieve greater hardness. Its best corrosion resistance is achieved when the metal is hardened and surface ground or polished. There are also variations of 420 that contain molybdenum (for better corrosion resistance), sulfur (for better machinability) or vanadium (for higher levels of hardness). There is also a higher carbon version of 420, 420C. This material is commonly used for cutlery, medical instruments, scissors and straight edges. 420 is almost never used in an annealed condition.

Component Elements Properties Percent
Carbon (minimum) .15%
Manganese (maximum) 1%
Phosphorus (maximum) .04%
Sulfur (maximum) .03%
Silicon (maximum) 1%
Chromium 12-14%

Physical Properties (Annealed)

Property Value
Property Value
Tensile Strength, maximum 100 ksi
Elongation in 2 inches (50.8 mm) or 4D, minimum
Nominal Thickness
Up to 0.030 inch (0.76 mm), excl 12%
0.030 inch (0.76 mm) and over  15%

Select AMS Number:

AMS Number Alloy Type UNS Cross Ref. Spec Misc./Shape
AMS 5621 420 Stainless Steel S42000  
AMS 5621 Bar 420 Stainless Steel S42000 QQ-S-763 Bar AMS 5621 Bar
AMS 5621 Forging 420 Stainless Steel S42000 QQ-S-763 Forging AMS 5621 Forging
AMS 5621 Wire 420 Stainless Steel S42000 QQ-S-763 Wire AMS 5621 Wire