17-4 PH Stainless Steel Sheet, Coil and Plate - AMS 5604, UNS S17400
17-4 PH steel (AMS 5604) is a grade of martensitic, precipitation-hardening stainless steel with the additions of chromium, nickel, and copper. 17-4 PH stainless steel has a valuable combination of high strength, good corrosion resistance, and toughness in both base metals and welds. This material provides excellent corrosion resistance (comparable to grade 304) for many medical, chemical, paper, and food processing industries, and it withstands corrosive attacks better than most hardenable stainless steels. These properties give designers the ability to add reliability to their products while simplifying fabrication and often reducing their costs. High strength is maintained to approximately 600°F (316°C). 17-4 PH has good resistance to stress corrosion cracking at higher aging temperatures.
- Inventory & Specs
- Chemical Composition
- Physical Properties
- Mechanical Properties
- Datasheet
- Additional Info
- FAQs
Inventory Size Ranges for 17-4 PH
| Type | Thickness | AMS Standards | ASTM | UNS | Get a Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coil | 0.032" - 0.1425" | AMS 5604 | ASTM A 693, ASTM A 564, ASTM F 899 | UNS S17400 | Get a Quote |
| Sheet | 0.032" - 0.1425" | AMS 5604 | ASTM A 693, ASTM A 564, ASTM F 899 | UNS S17400 | Get a Quote |
| Plate | 0.1875" - 2.500" | AMS 5604 | ASTM A 693, ASTM A 564, ASTM F 899 | UNS S17400 | Get a Quote |
| Bar | 0.250" - 5.000" | AMS 5604 | ASTM A 693, ASTM A 564, ASTM F 899 | UNS S17400 | Get a Quote |
Advanced Inventory Size Ranges for 17-4 PH
| Type | Size Range | Specifications | Get a Quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build Platform | 0.50" - 5.00" | AMS 5604, ASTM A 693, ASTM A 564, ASTM F 899, UNS S17400 | Get a Quote |
| Feedstock | 1.37" - 5.90" | AMS 5643, ASTM A564, UNS S17400 | Get a Quote |
Characteristics of 17-4 PH
Also known as Alloy 630, type 17-4 PH is the most widely used of all precipitation-hardening steels. Compared to other PH alloys, it requires a simple heat treatment to produce a wide range of properties, including its high strength. Alloy 17-4 PH offers excellent corrosion resistance and toughness. It has a slightly higher ferrite content than other PH grades, making it a bit more magnetic. To improve formability, heat treatments may be used before cold working.
Working with 17-4 PH
To further increase in strength, the annealed material is precipitation hardened by heat treatments at 900°F (482°C). These precipitation hardening heat treatments increase ductility and toughness while they harden the material. Heat treatments above 1075°F (579°C) generally result in material softer than material in the annealed condition. The heat treatments are usually specified as shown in the preceding table. The precipitation hardening reaction can be driven past peak strength by heat treating at an excessively high temperature or by excessive time at the precipitation hardening temperature.
17-4 PH stainless steel is readily welded using conventional inert gas methods used for stainless grades. Preheating is not usually required. Post weld heat treating is needed to produce the various precipitation hardened heat treatment properties. When a number of welding passes are made, a substantial thermal cycling has been conducted on the material. More uniform mechanical properties can be obtained by solution annealing the material before conducting precipitation hardening heat treatments. The solution anneal has the effect of minimizing the effects of the thermal cycling.
Other industry standards we comply with:
- W.NR. 1.4542
- PWA-LCS
- S1000 / S-SPEC-1
- GE Aviation S-SPEC-35 AeDMS S-400
- RR SABRe Edition 2
- DFARS Compliant
Common Trade Names
- 17-4 (® AK Steel)
- ATI 17-4 (™ Allegheny Technologies)
- Type 630 stainless
Industry Applications for 17-4 PH
- Surgical instrumentation
- Fasteners
- Base plates
- Chemical processing equipment
- Oil and petroleum refining equipment
- Nuclear components and waste casks
- Food grade processing equipment
- Paper / pulp processing
- Aircraft and Aerospace materials
Chemical Composition
| Element | Min | Max | |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | Carbon | - | 0.07 |
| Mn | Manganese | - | 1.00 |
| P | Phosphorus | - | 0.04 |
| S | Sulfur | - | 0.03 |
| Si | Silicon | - | 1.00 |
| Cr | Chromium | 15.00 | 17.50 |
| Ni | Nickel | 3.00 | 5.00 |
| Cu | Copper | 3.00 | 5.00 |
| Nb/Ta | Columbium + Tantalum | 0.15 | 0.45 |
Physical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.2820 lb/in3 |
| Melting Range | 2560-2625°F (1404-1440°C) |
| Electrical Resistivity (Annealed Condition) | 98 microhm-cm |
| Temperature Range | Coefficients | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| °C | °F | μm/m·°C | in/in/°F·106 |
| 21-93 | 70-200 | 10.8 | 6.0 |
| 21-204 | 70-400 | 10.8 | 6.0 |
| 21-316 | 70-600 | 11.2 | 6.2 |
| 21-427 | 70-800 | 11.2 | 6.3 |
| Temperature Range | W/m·K | Btu/(hr/ft²/in/°F) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| °C | °F | ||
| 149 | 300 | 17.90 | 124 |
| 260 | 500 | 19.50 | 135 |
| 460 | 860 | 22.50 | 156 |
| 482 | 900 | 22.60 | 157 |
| Temperature Range | J/gg·K | Btu/lb/°F | |
|---|---|---|---|
| °C | °F | ||
| 0-100 | 32-212 | 460 | 0.11 |
Mechanical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
Ultimate Tensile Strength, ksi (MPa) | 160 (1103) |
.02% Yield Strength, ksi (MPa) | 145 (1000) |
Elongation, % in 2" (50mm) | 5.0 |
| Hardness Rockwell C | 35 |
Datasheet
Additional Info
A Brief History of 17‑4 PH Stainless Steel
17‑4 PH Stainless Steel—also known as Alloy 17‑4, UNS S17400, or Type 630—is a precipitation‑hardening martensitic stainless steel developed to deliver an exceptional combination of high strength, corrosion resistance, and fabricability. Introduced in the mid‑20th century, 17‑4 PH was engineered to bridge the performance gap between conventional stainless steels and high‑strength alloy steels.
By utilizing a copper‑based precipitation‑hardening mechanism, 17‑4 PH achieves significantly higher strength than austenitic grades while retaining useful corrosion resistance and dimensional stability—making it one of the most versatile stainless steels used in modern engineering applications.
How 17‑4 PH Was Developed
17‑4 PH was designed to solve a growing industrial challenge: the need for a stainless steel that could be easily machined and formed in the solution‑annealed condition, then strengthened through a simple heat‑treatment process without distortion. Metallurgists achieved this by balancing approximately 17% chromium and 4% nickel with copper and niobium additions, allowing for controlled precipitation during aging.
After solution annealing (Condition A), 17‑4 PH can be heat treated to a wide range of strength levels—most commonly H900, H1025, and H1150—by aging at specific temperatures. This heat‑treat response allows manufacturers to tailor tensile strength, hardness, and toughness to meet precise application requirements without sacrificing corrosion resistance.
Early Applications of 17‑4PH
As aerospace, defense, and industrial sectors demanded stronger materials that were also corrosion resistant, 17‑4 PH quickly gained widespread adoption. Its ability to achieve strength levels comparable to alloy steels—while maintaining stainless steel corrosion performance—made it ideal for early aircraft components, fasteners, valve parts, and structural hardware.
The alloy’s predictable heat‑treat behavior and excellent dimensional stability made it especially valuable in applications requiring tight tolerances and repeatable mechanical properties, accelerating its use in bar products for precision‑machined components.
How 17‑4 PH Is Used Today
Today, 17‑4 PH Stainless Steel remains one of the most widely specified precipitation‑hardening stainless alloys. Available in regular bar, heat‑treated bar, and precision ground bar, it is used across industries where strength, corrosion resistance, and machinability must coexist.
Common applications include:
- Aerospace: Structural fittings, landing gear components, shafts, fasteners
- Oil & Gas: Valve components, pump shafts, downhole tools
- Industrial manufacturing: Gears, pins, tooling components, wear‑resistant parts
- Medical & food processing: Corrosion‑resistant high‑strength mechanical components
Heat‑treated bar provides enhanced tensile strength and hardness for load‑bearing or wear‑critical applications, while precision ground bar offers tight dimensional tolerances and superior surface finish—ideal for high‑accuracy machining and reduced secondary processing.
17‑4 PH maintains excellent mechanical properties up to approximately 600°F (315°C), delivering long‑term reliability in demanding environments while outperforming many traditional stainless and carbon steels.
Your Trusted Supplier for 17‑4 PH Stainless Steel
United Performance Metals is a global specialty metals solutions provider offering 17‑4 PH stainless steel in coil, sheet, plate, and bar, including solution‑annealed bar, heat‑treated bar, and precision ground bar. With advanced FIRSTCUT+® processing services and deep expertise supporting aerospace, oil & gas, medical, and industrial manufacturing customers, UPM delivers 17‑4 PH products cut and finished to your exact specifications.
Our reliable supply chain solutions and technical material support ensure consistent quality, performance, and on‑time delivery for your most demanding applications.
Contact United Performance Metals today to learn how 17‑4 PH stainless steel bar can enhance the strength, precision, and reliability of your next design.
Product FAQs
The most common heat‑treat conditions include:
- H900 – maximum strength and hardness
- H1025 – balanced strength and toughness
- H1150 – improved ductility and impact resistance
Each condition is achieved by aging the material at a specific temperature after solution annealing.
Precision ground bar offers tight diameter tolerances and improved surface finish, making it ideal for:
- High‑precision machining
- Shafts and pins
- Components requiring minimal post‑processing
It helps reduce cycle time and improves part consistency.
17‑4PH is widely used in:
- Aerospace and defense
- Oil and gas equipment
- Industrial machinery
- Medical and food processing equipment
Its versatility makes it one of the most specified precipitation‑hardening stainless steels.