JIS SUS410 Stainless Steel: A Practical Guide to Properties, Uses & More

If you need a stainless steel that’s strong, hard, and budget-friendly—like for cutlery, automotive parts, or fasteners—JIS SUS410 stainless steel is a reliable choice. As a martensitic stainless steel, it gets its toughness from heat treatment, making it ideal for applications where hardness matters more than extreme corrosion resistance. This guide covers everything you need to know to use it effectively.

1. Material Properties of JIS SUS410 Stainless Steel

JIS SUS410 stainless steel stands out for its high strength and hardness, thanks to its unique material properties. Let’s break down what makes it special:

Alloy Composition

Unlike austenitic steels (like SUS304), it has higher carbon content and lower nickel—key for its martensitic structure. Here’s the breakdown:

Mechanical & Physical Properties

Its martensitic structure gives it exceptional hardness—perfect for wear-resistant parts. Here’s how it performs (after heat treatment):

A cutlery maker in Japan uses SUS410 for kitchen knives. After heat treatment, its hardness (≥200 HB) keeps blades sharp 2x longer than regular carbon steel knives.

2. Applications of JIS SUS410 Stainless Steel

Thanks to its hardness, strength, and affordability, JIS SUS410 stainless steel is used in everyday and industrial parts. Here are its top applications:

• Cutlery and Kitchenware: Knives, forks, and spatulas. It resists mild rust from water and food, and its hardness keeps edges sharp. A kitchenware brand in South Korea uses it for budget-friendly knife sets—popular for home use.
• Automotive Components: Valve stems, gears, and exhaust parts. A car manufacturer in China uses SUS410 for valve stems—its high yield strength (≥450 MPa) withstands engine pressure.
• Surgical Instruments: Basic tools like forceps or scalpels (not for long-term body contact). A medical supply firm in India uses it for disposable surgical scissors—easy to sterilize and cost-effective.
• Hardware and Fasteners: Bolts, nuts, and screws for indoor or mild outdoor use. A construction company uses SUS410 fasteners for indoor furniture—no rust from household humidity.
• Industrial Equipment: Wear plates, conveyor rollers, and pump shafts. A factory in Germany uses SUS410 for conveyor rollers—its hardness resists wear from heavy materials.
• Decorative Items: Mildly decorative parts like door handles or railings. A furniture brand uses SUS410 for chair legs—its magnetic property lets it attach to magnetic floor protectors.

3. Manufacturing Processes for JIS SUS410 Stainless Steel

JIS SUS410 stainless steel requires specific processes to unlock its hardness—especially heat treatment. Here are the key manufacturing processes:

1. Hot Rolling: Heated to 1100–1200°C and rolled into bars, plates, or sheets. Used for large parts like automotive gears. A steel mill in China uses hot rolling for SUS410 bar stock—ensures uniform carbon distribution.
2. Cold Rolling: Done at room temperature to make thin sheets (e.g., cutlery blanks). Improves surface smoothness—critical for kitchenware.
3. Annealing: Heated to 800–900°C and cooled slowly. Softens the steel for machining (before final heat treatment). A machine shop anneals SUS410 before drilling fasteners—prevents cracking.
4. Pickling: Treated with nitric acid to remove scale (from rolling). Enhances the chromium oxide layer—boosts mild corrosion resistance. A cutlery maker pickles SUS410 knife blanks—removes rough spots before sharpening.
5. Heat Treatment: The most critical step! Heated to 950–1050°C (hardening), quenched in oil, then tempered at 150–300°C. This creates martensite for high hardness. A tool maker heat-treats SUS410 surgical scissors—ensures they stay sharp and rigid.
6. Machining: Drilled, milled, or turned with high-speed steel (HSS) tools. Use coolant to avoid overheating (high carbon can cause brittleness). A fastener factory machines SUS410 bolts—achieves precise thread sizes.

4. Corrosion Resistance of JIS SUS410 Stainless Steel

JIS SUS410 stainless steel has mild corrosion resistance—good for dry or indoor environments, but not harsh conditions. Here’s what you need to know:

• Mild Atmospheric Resistance: Resists rust in dry air or indoor humidity. A furniture brand uses SUS410 for door handles—no rust after 3 years of indoor use.
• Limited Pitting Resistance: Avoid saltwater or chlorinated water (e.g., pools). A test showed SUS410 rusts in seawater within 1 month—use SUS316 for marine parts instead.
• Intergranular Corrosion: Low risk if heat-treated properly (tempering prevents carbide buildup). A factory uses SUS410 for pump shafts—no intergranular corrosion after 2 years of use.
• Stress Corrosion Cracking: Prone to cracking in high humidity + stress (e.g., bent parts). Avoid using it for permanently bent components (e.g., curved railings).
• Surface Treatment for Better Resistance: Passivation (nitric acid treatment) thickens the chromium layer. A surgical tool maker passivates SUS410 forceps—extends their rust-free life by 1 year.

Pro tip: Clean SUS410 parts regularly with soap and water—this prevents dirt buildup that can cause rust.

5. Welding JIS SUS410 Stainless Steel

JIS SUS410 stainless steel has moderate weldability—it needs care to avoid brittleness. Here’s how to do it right:

• Welding Processes: TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) is best—low heat input prevents excess martensite formation. MIG works for thick parts, but use lower heat. A automotive welder uses TIG for SUS410 valve stems—creates strong, crack-free welds.
• Welding Rods: Use martensitic fillers like AWS ER410NiMo. Avoid austenitic fillers (e.g., ER308)—they don’t match SUS410’s hardness. A fabricator once used ER308—welds were too soft and bent under load.
• Preheating: Heat parts to 150–250°C before welding. This reduces stress and prevents cracking. A hardware maker preheats SUS410 bolts before welding to brackets—no cracks in the weld.
• Post-Weld Heat Treatment: Temper at 150–300°C after welding. This softens brittle martensite and restores ductility. A factory tempers SUS410 welded conveyor frames—avoids cracking during use.
• Welding Safety: Wear heat-resistant gloves and a helmet—SUS410 produces sparks during welding, and its high carbon can cause splatter.
• Welding Inspection: Check for cracks with dye penetrant testing. A quality team tests SUS410 welds—catches small cracks before parts fail.

6. Standards and Specifications for JIS SUS410 Stainless Steel

To ensure quality, JIS SUS410 stainless steel follows strict global standards. Here’s what you need to know:

• JIS G4303: The Japanese Industrial Standard for cold-rolled stainless steel (covers SUS410’s carbon and chromium content).
• ASTM A240: The U.S. standard (ASTM A240 Type 410 is equivalent)—you can use them interchangeably.
• EN 10088: The European standard (EN 10088-2 X12Cr13 is the equivalent grade).
• ISO Standards: ISO 15510 specifies its chemical composition (max 0.15% carbon) and mechanical properties.
• Material Certification: Ask for a Mill Test Certificate (MTC) to verify chromium content (11.5–13.5%). A cutlery client requires MTCs—ensures parts resist mild rust.
• Quality Control: Manufacturers test for hardness (after heat treatment) and corrosion resistance (salt spray tests). A supplier rejects batches with hardness below 200 HB—they won’t be wear-resistant.

7. Comparison with Other Materials

How does JIS SUS410 stainless steel stack up against other common materials? Here’s a clear breakdown:

For hard, wear-resistant parts on a budget (cutlery, fasteners, basic automotive components), SUS410 is the best choice—it beats carbon steel in corrosion resistance and austenitic steels in affordability.

Yigu Technology’s Perspective on JIS SUS410 Stainless Steel

At Yigu Technology, JIS SUS410 is our go-to for clients needing hard, cost-effective parts—like cutlery makers or automotive suppliers. Its martensitic structure delivers the hardness they need, while its low cost fits budget constraints. We help clients optimize heat treatment (hardening + tempering) to unlock maximum strength, and advise on welding best practices to avoid brittleness. While it’s not for harsh marine or chemical environments, SUS410 solves the “hardness-on-a-budget” problem for 60% of our small-part clients.

FAQ About JIS SUS410 Stainless Steel

1. Is JIS SUS410 rust-proof?
   No— it has mild corrosion resistance. It resists rust in dry indoor air but will rust in seawater, chlorinated water, or heavy humidity. Clean it regularly and use passivation for better protection.
2. Can JIS SUS410 be bent into shapes?
   Yes, but only slightly. Its low elongation (≥15%) means it can handle simple bends (e.g., a small curve in a knife handle) but will crack if bent sharply. Anneal it first for more flexibility.
3. Why is JIS SUS410 magnetic?
   Because it’s a martensitic stainless steel—its crystal structure (martensite) is magnetic. This is a key difference from non-magnetic austenitic steels like SUS304, making it easy to identify with a magnet.