# Stainless Steel 440C

> The hardest standard stainless: 58–60 HRC for wear parts that cannot rust.

- Category: Stainless Steels → martensitic
- HTML page: https://fabvector.com/materials/stainless-steel-440c (Portuguese: https://fabvector.com/pt/materials/stainless-steel-440c)
- Price index: $$$ (1–5, 6061-T6 = $)

## Mechanical properties (typical values, not certified minimums)

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile strength | — (specified by hardness) |
| Yield strength | — (specified by hardness) |
| Hardness | 58–60 HRC (hardened) |
| Density | 7.80 g/cm³ |
| Machinability | ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5) |
| Corrosion resistance | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |

## When to choose it

The combination nothing else standard offers: bearing-class hardness (58–60 HRC) with stainless chemistry. Machine annealed with allowances, harden, then grind or lap precision features.

## When to look elsewhere

Hardened 440C is grind/EDM territory and brittle under impact — avoid shock loads and post-hardening machining. For better corrosion resistance at lower hardness, 420 or 17-4 PH are cheaper to process.

## Typical applications

- Precision bearing races and balls
- Valve seats and nozzles
- High-hardness wear bushings
- Premium knife blades

## Compatible surface finishes

- [As-Machined](https://fabvector.com/md/finishes/as-machined)
- [Passivation](https://fabvector.com/md/finishes/passivation)
- [Electropolishing](https://fabvector.com/md/finishes/electropolishing)
- [Bead Blasting](https://fabvector.com/md/finishes/bead-blasting)
- [Brushed Finish](https://fabvector.com/md/finishes/brushed-finish)
- [Polishing](https://fabvector.com/md/finishes/polishing)
- [Vibratory Tumbling](https://fabvector.com/md/finishes/vibratory-tumbling)
- [Laser Marking](https://fabvector.com/md/finishes/laser-marking)
- [PTFE Coating (Teflon)](https://fabvector.com/md/finishes/ptfe-coating)

Industries: aerospace, medical-devices, industrial-automation · Instant quote: https://fabvector.com/quote