1.4122 material equivalent

What is 1.4122 material grade?
1.4122 stainless steel is a martesitic stainless steel grade, which can be hardened with heat threatment. This grade is written as 1.4122 or X39CrMo17-1 according to EN norm. 1.4122 material is usually produced according to QT750 heat threatment condition.

 

What material is 1.4122 equivalent to?

EN 1.4122 stainless steel is equivalent to X39CrMo17-1 and can be a suitable alternative to AISI 420 or 1.4034. It is a martensitic stainless steel with good hardness and corrosion resistance, used for shafts, gears, valves, and surgical instruments.

 

Here are some equivalent materials and related grades:

X39CrMo17-1:This is the direct German/European material designation for EN 1.4122, indicating its chemical composition of approximately 0.39% carbon, 17% chromium, and 1% molybdenum.

AISI 420:While not an exact match, 1.4122 is often compared to the higher-end AISI 420 grades due to its martensitic properties and ability to be hardened to high levels.

1.4034 (X46Cr13):1.4122 is considered a great alternative to 1.4034 because it offers similar mechanical properties but with significantly better corrosion.

 

Chemical composition % of steel X39CrMo17-1 (1.4122): EN 10088-2-2005

Tighter carbon ranges may be agreed at the time of enquery and order Particular ranges of sulphur content may provide improvement of particular properties. For machinability a controlled sulphur content of 0.015 % to 0.030% is recommended and permitted. For weldability, a controlled sulphur content of 0.008 % to 0.030 % is recommended and permitted. For polishability, a controlled sulphur content of 0.015 % max is recommended. Elements not listed in this table shall not be intentionally added to the steel without the agreement of the purchaser except for finishing the cast.

C	Si	Mn	Ni	P	S	Cr	Mo
0.33 - 0.45	max 1	max 1.5	max 1	max 0.04	max 0.015	15.5 - 17.5	0.8 - 1.3

 

Operation at elevated temperatures of 1.4122, X39CrMo17-1 in +QT750 condition:

Properties		Temperatures
		100℃	150℃	200℃	250℃	300℃	350℃	400℃
Yield strength, Rp0,2 (MPa)		>540	>535	>530	>520	>510	>490	>470
Modulus of elasticity, E (GPa)		212	-	205	-	200	-	190
Linear expansion coefficient, α (* 10-6 K-1)		10.4	-	10.8	-	11.2	-	11.6

 

Heat Treatment: 1.4122 is a martensitic stainless steel, meaning its mechanical properties are significantly enhanced through heat treatment processes like quenching and tempering.

Corrosion Resistance: While it offers good corrosion resistance, 1.4122 is not ideal for seawater applications unless a cathodic protection system is in place.

Welding: The high hardness characteristics of these high-carbon stainless steels can make them difficult to weld.

 

1.4122 vs 420

1.4122 (X39CrMo17-1) is a higher grade of martensitic stainless steel with a more complex alloy composition. This alloying element, combined with the addition of molybdenum and a higher chromium content, provides superior mechanical properties and corrosion resistance compared to standard 420 stainless steel (AISI 420).
While both are martensitic, heat-treatable steels used for cutting tools and machine parts, 1.4122 offers greater toughness, improved wear resistance, and enhanced corrosion resistance, making it suitable for more demanding applications in machinery and marine engineering, such as pump and valve shafts.