420 Stainless Steel Coil – Ultra-Hard Martensitic Precision for Surgical Blades & Cutting Tools
Introduction
When a medical-device OEM needs 420 stainless steel coil that can be stamped, heat-treated and polished into 58 HRC scalpels, only a martensitic 420 stainless steel coil with precise carbon control and ultra-clean surface will pass FDA validation. Unlike austenitic grades, high carbon 420 stainless steel coil transforms into a hard, wear-resistant martensite after quench and temper, delivering the highest hardness of any stainless strip or 420 stainless steel strip in high-volume coil form—yet still corrosion-resistant enough for autoclave cycles. From Swiss cutlery blanks to industrial shear knives, engineers choose 420 stainless steel coil suppliers who can guarantee tight chemistry, slit-width tolerance ±0.02 mm and full quenched and tempered 420 stainless steel coil processing under one roof. This page gives you the complete 420 stainless steel coil data sheet, comparative tables and 420 stainless steel coil price intelligence you need—while positioning us, undisputedly, as the best 420 stainless steel coil distributor on the planet.
Product Overview & Core Advantages
Caption: Precision-slit 420 stainless steel coils in bright annealed and mirror polished finish- Maximum hardness 58 HRC – highest among stainless coils
- Martensitic structure – exceptional wear & edge retention
- Uniform 0.3 % carbon – consistent hardening response
- Available annealed or hardened and tempered – skip in-house HT
- Mirror polishability – Ra ≤0.05 µm for surgical reflections
- Thickness down to 0.03 mm – perfect for micro-blades
- Eco-friendly Cd-free, RoHS compliant – medical safe
- Mill-direct 420 stainless steel coil price – save 8–12 % vs traders
Our 420 stainless steel coil is vacuum-melted, hot-rolled, cold-rolled to final gauge then skin-passed to eliminate yield-point elongation. Whether you need 420 annealed coil for deep-drawn scalpel handles or pre-hardened 420 hardened and tempered strip for razor-edge slitters, one coil delivers uniform hardness across 25 km of strip—no soft spots, no warping.
Chemical Composition Table (wt %, ASTM A276)
| Grade | C | Cr | Mn | Si | P | S | Ni | Hardness Potential |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 420 | 0.30–0.40 | 12.0–14.0 | ≤1.0 | ≤1.0 | ≤0.040 | ≤0.030 | ≤0.75 | 54–58 HRC |
| 420J1 | 0.16–0.25 | 12.0–14.0 | ≤1.0 | ≤1.0 | ≤0.040 | ≤0.030 | ≤0.75 | 50–54 HRC |
| 420J2 | 0.26–0.35 | 12.0–14.0 | ≤1.0 | ≤1.0 | ≤0.040 | ≤0.030 | ≤0.75 | 52–56 HRC |
| 440A | 0.60–0.75 | 16.0–18.0 | ≤1.0 | ≤1.0 | ≤0.040 | ≤0.030 | ≤0.75 | 57–60 HRC |
Mechanical Properties Table
| Condition | Thickness mm | Hardness HV | Rm MPa | Rp0.2 MPa | A50 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annealed (A) | 0.1–3.0 | 200–250 | 650–850 | 350–450 | ≥15 |
| Cold-rolled (CR) | 0.1–1.5 | 300–380 | 950–1 200 | 700–900 | ≥5 |
| Hardened & Tempered 200 °C | 0.1–3.0 | 580–620 | 1 950–2 100 | 1 600–1 800 | ≥2 |
| Hardened & Tempered 380 °C | 0.1–3.0 | 480–520 | 1 700–1 850 | 1 300–1 500 | ≥4 |
Available Specifications Table
| Parameter | Range |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 0.03–6.00 mm |
| Width | 3–1 250 mm (slit) |
| Coil ID | 300 / 400 / 508 mm |
| Coil weight | 50 kg–10 000 kg |
| Surface | 2B, BA, No.4, mirror, bright annealed, polished 600–1 000 grit |
| Edge | slit, deburred, round, full-round |
| Tolerance | thickness ±0.003 mm, width ±0.02 mm |
| Standards | ASTM A666, AISI 420, DIN 1.4021, JIS SUS420J2, ISO 6931 |
420 vs 410 vs 420J2 vs 440A vs 440C Coil Comparison
| Grade | Carbon % | Max HRC | Wear Resistance | Corrosion | Relative Price Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 410 | 0.15 | 45 | Low | Moderate | 0.85 |
| 420 | 0.35 | 58 | High | Good | 1.00 |
| 420J2 | 0.32 | 56 | Medium-High | Good | 0.95 |
| 440A | 0.70 | 60 | Very High | Very Good | 1.40 |
| 440C | 1.10 | 62 | Excellent | Excellent | 2.10 |
Complete Heat Treatment Guide for 420 Stainless Steel Coil
Caption: Professional infographic 420 stainless steel coil data sheet + hardness vs tempering temperature curve- Preheat: 600 °C to equalize, especially for heavy gauge >1 mm.
- Austenitize: 980–1 050 °C (oil quench thin <0.1 mm; air blast ≥0.5 mm).
- Cryogenic (optional): –80 °C for 2 h to transform retained austenite, adds +1–2 HRC.
- Temper: 150 °C for 58 HRC razor blades; 250 °C for 55 HRC surgical scissors; 380 °C for 50 HRC springs needing toughness.
- Surface finish: after temper, polish to mirror to remove oxide and improve corrosion. Our in-house continuous hardening furnace processes 2 000 tons of quenched and tempered 420 stainless steel coil per month—lead time 7 days.
Major Applications
- Surgical and dental scalpels, lancets, trocars
- Professional kitchen knives, steak knives, cleavers
- Industrial shear blades, slitter knives, guillotine knives
- Doctor blades for gravure printing
- Plastic injection mold inserts, cavity slides
- Precision springs, shim washers, measuring rules
- Scissors, manicure tools, veterinary clippers
- Pump shafts, valve needles, food-mincer plates
Caption: Real-product collage – 420 coil turned into surgical scalpels, industrial slitter knives, high-end kitchen knives, and injection mold insertsWhy We Are the Best 420 Stainless Steel Coil Distributor
We operate the world’s largest martensitic 420 stainless steel coil stock centre—10 000+ tons in Shanghai, Rotterdam, Mumbai and Houston. Our captive hardening & tempering line runs 24/7, turning 420 annealed coil into 48–58 HRC precision strip at ±1 HRC tolerance. Slitting lines reach ±0.02 mm width, burr <5 % of thickness; oscillate winding up to 1 000 kg per coil for uninterrupted stamping. Every slit edge is ultrasonic-cleaned and coated with ECO VCI film. EN 10204 3.1/3.2 MTC, RoHS, REACH and FDA statements ship with every coil. Because we buy direct from TISCO, Aperam and Jindal Stainless, our 420 stainless steel coil price beats any competitor by 5–12 %—guaranteed.
Packaging & Quality Assurance Standards
- Export sea-worthy wooden cases with fumigation certificate
- Plastic reels for slit strip ≤300 kg to protect edges
- VCI paper + PE film wrapped, silica gel desiccant
- Steel straps radial & circumferential, plastic end caps
- Maximum net weight 3 000 kg per pallet to allow forklift handling
- Ultrasonic 100 % for gauge <0.3 mm; eddy-current for surface cracks
- Certificate includes: chemical analysis, mechanical & hardness test, surface roughness, coil weight, heat number traceability
FAQ Section
Q1: What is the maximum hardness of 420 coil?
A1: After oil quench and 150 °C temper, 420 stainless steel coil hardness reaches 58 HRC—highest among standard stainless strips.
Q2: Difference between 420 vs 420J2 vs 440C coil?
A2: 420 has 0.35 % C for 58 HRC; 420J2 stainless steel coil has 0.30 % C for 56 HRC; 440C with 1.10 % C hits 62 HRC but costs 2× and is harder to polish.
Q3: Is 420 coil food-safe and magnetic?
A3: Yes, it is ferromagnetic and FDA-approved for food contact when properly passivated; widely used for kitchen knives.
Q4: Best tempering temperature for blades vs springs?
A4: Blades: 180–200 °C for 56–58 HRC; springs: 350–380 °C for 50 HRC with higher toughness.
Q5: Can thin 0.05 mm 420 coil reach 58 HRC?
A5: Yes, our continuous furnace with nitrogen quench achieves full martensite even at 0.03 mm without distortion.
Q6: Minimum order quantity?
A6: 50 kg for slit coil ex-stock; 5 tons for custom hardened 420 hardened and tempered strip.
Q7: Lead time for hardened strip?
A7: 7–10 days for standard sizes; 15 days for non-standard width or special temper.
Q8: Do you supply 420J2 stainless steel coil?
A8: Absolutely, we stock both 420 and 420J2 stainless steel coil ex-mill, ready for immediate shipment.
Conclusion + Urgent Call-to-Action
Your competitors are already quoting their customers with our 420 stainless steel coil—don’t let them beat you on hardness, delivery and price. Click “Get Quote”, send us your specs, and receive a detailed 420 stainless steel coil data sheet, hardness profile and official 420 stainless steel coil price within 2 hours. Live chat, WhatsApp, WeChat, email or call: we are the best 420 stainless steel coil distributor on earth, ready to ship today!