Stainless Steel Combines Hardness, Cold Formability

Carpenter Technology Corporation says its Trinamet martensitic, magnetic stainless steel has three characteristics crucial to the fastener industry: corrosion resistance, high heat-treated hardness and cold formability. The material is useful for a variety of fastener applications, including sheet metal screws, self-drilling construction fasteners and other items.

 

The material’s corrosion resistance in industrial environments is comparable to Type 304 and 17-4 stainless steels. In the fully heat-treated condition, the steel can achieve a hardness of 53 HRC. Along with its hardness and corrosion resistance, the material also can be readily cold formed, according to the company. It has a room temperature ultimate tensile strength of 90 to 100 ksi, and it work-hardens at a rate of 1.1 ksi per percent reduction. Thus, the material could be a potential substitute for 17-4, an alloy that is hard and corrosion-resistant but difficult to cold form. The material is available in wire from 0.060" (1.524 mm) to 1" (25.4 mm) coil.