Material · Stainless Steels
Stainless Steel 420
The cutlery stainless: hardens to ~50 HRC while keeping useful corrosion resistance.
Price index: $$$
Material properties
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile strength | — (specified by hardness; ~655 MPa annealed) |
| Yield strength | — (annealed ~345 MPa) |
| Hardness | ~50 HRC (hardened) |
| Density | 7.74 g/cm³ |
Choose it when
Choose 420 when a part needs a hardened cutting edge or wear surface plus moderate corrosion resistance — mold cores, blades, valve internals. Machine annealed, then harden and grind.
Look elsewhere when
Corrosion resistance trails 304 — not for marine or chemical service. If you need higher hardness and wear life, step up to 440C; if you need weldability, martensitic grades are the wrong family.
Compatible finishes
As-Machined
The baseline finish: straight off the machine, fastest and cheapest.
Passivation
Chemical hygiene for stainless: strips embedded iron so the steel can be as stainless as advertised.
Electropolishing
Reverse plating that brightens, deburrs and passivates stainless in one step.
Bead Blasting
The uniform matte look: erases tool marks, hides fingerprints, preps perfect anodizing.
Brushed Finish
The appliance-grade look: directional satin grain on panels, bezels and show faces.
Polishing
Progressive abrasives down to mirror: the finish for optics, molds and show surfaces.
Vibratory Tumbling
Batch deburring by the bowl-full: every edge broken, every burr gone, at volume prices.
Laser Marking
Permanent identification with zero dimensional change: serials, logos and codes burned in, not stuck on.
PTFE Coating (Teflon)
The slippery armor: fluoropolymer for low friction, non-stick release and chemical inertness.
Typical applications
- Industrial knives and blades
- Plastic injection mold cores
- Valve seats and trim
- Surgical and dental instruments
Compared with similar grades
| Property | Stainless Steel 420 | Stainless Steel 303 | Stainless Steel 304 | Stainless Steel 316L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | — (specified by hardness; ~655 MPa annealed) | ~620 MPa (cold drawn) | 515 MPa | 485 MPa |
| Yield strength | — (annealed ~345 MPa) | ~415 MPa (cold drawn) | 205 MPa | 170 MPa |
| Hardness | ~50 HRC (hardened) | ≤228 HB | ≤201 HB | ≤217 HB |
| Density | 7.74 g/cm³ | 8.00 g/cm³ | 8.00 g/cm³ | 7.98 g/cm³ |
| Price index | $$$ | $$$ | $$$ | $$$ |
| Machinability | 2/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
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