Stainless Steel Grades 420 and 430

Stainless steel is a specially produced material used in many environments, valued for its resistance to the corrosion that results from wear and exposure. This corrosion resistance is the main reason customers choose stainless steel so often. Because it does not rust, it delivers a range of advantages to its users. Beyond corrosion, it also offers a high degree of resistance to oxidation. It is used in many environments and industries, and it is available in a variety of grades suited to different applications, since stainless steel is produced specifically for the conditions in which it will be used.

Its rust resistance is the key reason it is used so widely and in so many forms across industries. Its relatively low cost is another reason companies choose it. With its attractive appearance, stainless steel also lends a clean, high-quality look to the spaces where it is installed, and its decorative appeal is one of the reasons it is chosen. These products are well known to users for the visual richness they bring and for the practical advantages they offer. Thanks to the special alloying elements used in their production, they are extremely durable. And one of the reasons for their low cost is that they are produced from recyclable material.

420 Stainless Steel

Heat treatment significantly increases the tensile strength of grade 420 stainless steel. Under normal conditions, its corrosion resistance is roughly average. Grade 420 belongs to the martensitic family. In the annealed condition it machines very well: the chips break easily and cleanly, and no discoloration occurs. After heat treatment, grade 420 stainless steel can reach very high surface hardness. This grade is widely used in the machinery industry and in food production.

430 Stainless Steel

Grade 430 stainless steel belongs to the ferritic family. It has a low carbon content and a chromium-based composition. Its weldability is rather limited. Because grade 430 contains no molybdenum or nickel, it is more economical than the 300-series grades. It provides an attractive surface finish wherever it is used. Since it contains no nickel, it is magnetic. Known by its chemical designation X6Cr17, this grade cannot be hardened by heat treatment and is often confused with grade 431. It is frequently used in applications that call for a bright, polished surface.