301 vs 420C / X46Cr13: 40% composition overlap. Significantly different materials serving different application areas.
301 vs 420C / X46Cr13
Side-by-side chemical composition and mechanical property comparison.
Overview
301
1.4310
Austenitic stainless steel with the highest work-hardening rate of all 300-series grades. Lower Cr and Ni (17/7 vs 18/9 for 304) makes it metastable — cold working induces martensite transformation for extreme strength (UTS >1300 MPa in full-hard temper). THE stainless spring steel. Used for stainless springs, washers, clips, structural components requiring high strength + corrosion resistance, and railway car bodies.
420C / X46Cr13
1.4034
High-carbon martensitic stainless steel. Higher hardness than 410 (up to 56 HRC). The standard knife steel for European cutlery. Used for kitchen knives, pocket knives, surgical scalpels, machine blades, roller bearings, and valve components. Not weldable.
| 301 | 420C / X46Cr13 | |
|---|---|---|
| Material Number | 1.4310 | 1.4034 |
| Category | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Standard | EN 10088-2 | EN 10088-3 |
Chemical composition (wt%)
| Element | 301 | 420C / X46Cr13 | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 0.05–0.15% | 0.43–0.5% | No overlap |
| Si | 0–2% | 0–1% | OK |
| Mn | 0–2% | 0–1% | OK |
| P | 0–0.045% | 0–0.04% | OK |
Mechanical properties
| Property | 301 | 420C / X46Cr13 | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| tensile_strength | 520–720 | — | MPa |
| yield_strength | ≥ 205 | — | MPa |
| elongation | ≥ 45 | — | % |
Compatibility Assessment
301 and 420C / X46Cr13 have significantly different compositions (40% overlap). These materials are not interchangeable and serve different application areas.
Automated assessment based on composition analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 301 the same as 420C / X46Cr13?
301 and 420C / X46Cr13 have a 40% composition overlap. They are generally not directly interchangeable.
Can I replace 301 with 420C / X46Cr13?
Generally not recommended. The compositions differ significantly (40% overlap). These materials have different alloying concepts and are intended for different applications.
What is the difference between 301 and 420C / X46Cr13?
The main differences are in the following elements: C, Cr. 301 is a Stainless Steel grade, while 420C / X46Cr13 is a Stainless Steel grade.
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Data provided for reference only. Always verify against the applicable specification for critical applications.
All data is for reference only. Equivalents indicate similarity, not identity. Always verify against the applicable specification for safety-critical applications. materialref.com accepts no liability for decisions based on this data.