Material description
1.4542 / 17-4 PH is a martensitic precipitation-hardening stainless steel with very high strength, good corrosion resistance, and excellent mechanical properties. The material combines high hardness with good toughness and is frequently used in aerospace, energy technology, mechanical engineering, and the chemical industry. Through precipitation hardening (PH = Precipitation Hardening), 1.4542 achieves significantly higher strength than conventional stainless steels.
Material designation
Standard / Designation
Material number: 1.4542
AISI: 630
UNS: S17400
EN short name: X5CrNiCuNb16-4
Material group: Precipitation-hardening stainless steelChemical composition, guideline values
Element / %
Chromium (Cr): 15.0–17.5
Nickel (Ni): 3.0–5.0
Copper (Cu): 3.0–5.0
Niobium (Nb): 0.15–0.45
Carbon (C): max. 0.07
Manganese (Mn): max. 1.0
Silicon (Si): max. 1.0
Iron (Fe): balance
Mechanical properties
Property / Value
Tensile strength: 930–1310 MPa
Yield strength: min. 725 MPa
Elongation at break: approx. 10–20%
Hardness: up to approx. 44 HRC
Density: 7.75 g/cm³
Melting point: approx. 1400–1440°C
Properties
Very high strength
Good corrosion resistance
Very good mechanical load-bearing capacity
Good wear resistance
Good heat treatability
Magnetic
Good weldability in solution-annealed condition
Typical applications
Aerospace industry
Turbine technology
Mechanical engineering
Shafts and pump components
Valves and fittings
Offshore technology
Chemical plants
Medical technology
Available forms
Stainless steel round bars
Sheets
Flat bars
Forged components
Tubes
Cut-to-size parts
Special dimensions
Heat treatment
Treatment / Temperature
Solution annealing: approx. 1020–1050°C
Hardening: 480–620°C
Quenching: air cooling
Corrosion resistance
1.4542 offers good corrosion resistance in many industrial atmospheres as well as against weak acids and chloride-containing media. Its corrosion resistance is higher than that of martensitic stainless steels and lower than that of highly alloyed austenitic stainless steels such as 1.4404.
Please note that the values stated are guideline values and may vary slightly depending on the manufacturing process and specific production batch. It is recommended to always check the exact specifications provided by the manufacturer.
