As a chromium steel alloy, alloy SST-416 is non-galling as a free-machining stainless. Always magnetic it is easily machined with heat treating.

Alloy SST-416 is comparable to some carbon steels for speed and feed. During machining it has good chip breakage, and responds best to heating treating at 200 F. Cold drawn machining will produce the best results.

This stainless steel alloy, SST-416, should never be welded. It contains a higher percentage of sulfur which produces more porosity than other stainless steel alloys.

The best temperature for hot working of alloy SST-416 is 2100 F to 2250 F. Expect cracking should hot working be attempted at a temperature below 1700 F.

Considering the cracking can appear when this alloy is hot worked at temperatures below 1700 F, it should come as no surprise that cold working should be avoided. Some minor cold working can be done, but too much may result in cracking.

There are two options for annealing of alloy SST-416. The best temperature for air cooling is 1200 F to 1400 F. For the most material softness, furnace cooling can be done at the best temperature of 1500 F to 1650 F.

Tempering at the wrong temperature, 450 F to 1050 F, can result in reduced corrosion resistance. It can also reduce the impact strength of alloy SST-416.

An oil quench soak is what should be used for hardening of alloy SST-416. The best temperature for that hardening soak is 1700-1850 F.

Not only are nuts and bolts common applications that use alloy SST-416, but so are shafts and axles. It is also used for pinions, gears, screws and screw machine parts.

To learn more about the stainless steel alloy SST-416.