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440C Stainless Steel Flat Bar
440C stainless steel is a high-carbon, martensitic stainless steel renowned for its exceptional hardness, strength, and wear resistance. When formed into flat bar, it becomes 440C stainless steel flat bar, widely used in applications requiring extremely high hardness and wear resistance.
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Extreme Hardness: 440C stainless steel can reach a hardness of HRC 58-62 after heat treatment, which is its most significant advantage. This high hardness enables it to withstand intense wear and deformation.
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Excellent Wear Resistance: Its high carbon content results in a high concentration of hard carbides in its structure, which imparts its excellent wear resistance.
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Moderate Corrosion Resistance: Although classified as stainless steel, 440C's corrosion resistance is not as good as other stainless steels (such as 304 or 316) due to its high carbon content. It performs well in dry or mildly corrosive environments.
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Magnetism: 440C stainless steel is a martensitic stainless steel and, as such, exhibits strong magnetic properties.
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Machinability: In the annealed state, 440C stainless steel is fairly machinable, but once hardened by quenching, it becomes much more difficult to machine.
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Toolmaking: Often used to make high-quality blades, scissors, and scalpels. Its high hardness ensures a sharp edge and a long-lasting hold.
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Bearings: An ideal material for precision bearings due to its ability to withstand high loads and excellent wear resistance.
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Molds and Gages: Used in the manufacture of molds, gauges, and tools requiring high hardness and dimensional stability.
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Valve Components: Used in certain valve and pump components where high hardness is critical.
440 Stainless Steel Flat Bar Specifications
| A276/484 / DIN 1028 |
| 303 304 316 321 416 420 440 440C |
| 4mm to 500mm |
| 1mm to 500mm |
| 1mm to 500mm |
| Hot Rolled Annealed & Pickled (HRAP), Cold drawn, Forged |
| 3 to 6 Meters / 12 to 20 feet |
| Steel bars bundled by weaving bag or as per requirement. |
Equivalent Grades Of 440C SS Flat Bar
| American | ASTM | 440A | 440B | 440C | 440F |
| UNS | - | S44002 | S44003 | S44004 | S44020 |
| Japanese | JIS | SUS 440A | SUS 440B | SUS 440C | SUS 440F |
| German | DIN | 1.4109 | 1.4122 | 1.4125 | - |
| China | GB | 7Cr17 | 8Cr17 | 11Cr17 | Y11Cr17 |
Chemical Composition Of 440C SS Flat Bar
| 440A | 0.6-0.75 | ≤1.00 | ≤1.00 | ≤0.04 | ≤0.03 | 16.0-18.0 | ≤0.75 |
| 440B | 0.75-0.95 | ≤1.00 | ≤1.00 | ≤0.04 | ≤0.03 | 16.0-18.0 | ≤0.75 |
| 440C | 0.95-1.2 | ≤1.00 | ≤1.00 | ≤0.04 | ≤0.03 | 16.0-18.0 | ≤0.75 |
Hardness Comparison
| 440A | ≤255 | ≥54 |
| 440B | ≤255 | ≥56 |
| 440C | ≤269 | ≥58 |
| 440F | ≤269 | ≥58 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What makes 440C stainless steel unique?
440C is a high-carbon martensitic steel that offers the highest hardness of all stainless steels when heat-treated, making it ideal for cutting tools and wear-resistant parts.
Q2: Can 440C stainless steel flat bars be welded?
Welding is generally not recommended because of its high carbon content which leads to air hardening. If welding is necessary, extensive pre-heating and post-weld annealing are required.
Q3: Is 440C stainless steel rust-proof?
It offers moderate corrosion resistance. While it performs well in typical atmospheric conditions and fresh water, it is not as resistant as 300-series steels in saltwater or acidic environments.
Q4: What is the typical hardness achieved by 440C?
After proper quenching and tempering heat treatments, 440C can achieve a Rockwell hardness of HRC 58-62.
Q5: Is 440C stainless steel magnetic?
Yes, 440C is a martensitic stainless steel, which means it is strongly magnetic in all conditions.
Q6: What are the primary applications for 440C flat bars?
They are commonly used for high-end knife blades, surgical instruments, ball bearings, valve parts, and precision gauges.
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