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410 composition of iron, 12% chromium, and up to 1.2% carbon. [2]They are
hardenable by heat treatment (specifically by quenching, or by quenching and
tempering). [3] The alloy composition, and the high cooling rate of quenching enable
the formation of martensite. Tempered martensite gives steel good hardness and
high toughness; used largely for medical tools (scalpels, razors and internal
clamps). [4] Untempered martensite is low in toughness and therefore brittl
In the annealed condition, they have tensile yield strengths of about 275 MPa and so they are usually
machined, cold formed, or cold worked in this condition. The strength obtained by heat treatment
depends on the carbon content of the alloy. Increasing the carbon content increases the strength and
hardness potential but decreases ductility and toughness. The higher carbon grades are capable of
being heat treated to hardnesses of 60 HRC.
Optimum corrosion resistance is attained in the heat-treated i.e. hardened and tempered condition.
Martensitic grades have been developed with nitrogen and nickel additions but with lower carbon levels
than the traditional grades. These steels have improved toughness, weldability and corrosion resistance
Examples of martensitic grades are (420S45) 1.4028, 431 (1.4057) as traditional carbon hardenable
grades and 248SV (1.4418) as one of the low carbon / nitrogen grades.
More details on these grades is available in the article Related martensitic and precipitation hardening
stainless steel grades.
A longer article on martensitic stainless steels can be downloaded here.