Stainless Steel 410 / 410S

General Characteristics

Stainless Steel Stainless steel 410/410S is a martensitic, chromium-hardened alloy that offers an excellent combination of hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. When properly heat-treated, this alloy can achieve high hardness while still maintaining good corrosion resistance.
Additionally, the 410S version (with reduced carbon content) is easier to machine and weld, making it suitable for applications that do not require intense heat treatments.

Corrosion resistance

410/410S stainless steel provides good resistance to atmospheric corrosion, potable water, and mildly aggressive chemical environments. This performance is due to the natural formation of a protective chromium oxide film on the surface. However, when in contact with chlorides or highly acidic media, thorough surface cleaning after use is essential.
To ensure optimal corrosion protection in industrial applications:

Surfaces should be ground or polished to remove any oxide or decarburization;

A treatment with 10–20% nitric acid, followed by a complete rinse with water, is recommended.

Physical Properties:

• Melting point: 1495°C
• Density: 7.65 g/cm³
• Specific gravity: 7.65
• Elastic modulus: 200 GPa

Mechanical Properties:

Welding

Weldability of 410/410S is not extensively specified in datasheets, but it is well known that this steel requires special attention to preheating and post-weld heat treatment to avoid cracking. Welding is possible using standard methods (such as TIG or MIG), but procedures must be tailored to specific applications.

Heat Treatment

For annealing: Heat to 815–842°C, hold for one hour per inch of thickness, then cool slowly in the furnace.
For hardening and achieving maximum hardness:
Slow heating to 982°C, followed by rapid cooling in oil or air (for thin sections);
If retained austenite is suspected, sub-zero cooling at -73°C can be performed;
The resulting martensitic structure is brittle, therefore stress relieving at 204–260°C is recommended to restore reasonable ductility.