EN 10088-2 X39Cr13 1.4031 Stainless Steel Plate

EN 10088-2 X39Cr13 1.4031 stainless steel plate is a martensitic flat product supplied to EN 10088-2, the European standard for stainless steel sheet, plate and strip for general purposes. X39Cr13 contains 0.36 – 0.42 % carbon, 12.5 – 14.5 % chromium and up to 1.00 % manganese. It is the next step up in carbon from 1.4028 and reaches 47 – 53 HRC as hardened and tempered thin strip. EN 10088-2 lists it only as strip: cold rolled strip up to 8 mm and hot rolled strip up to 13.5 mm in the annealed condition (+A), and cold rolled strip up to 3 mm hardened and tempered (+QT). Sheet and plate are cut from this strip, so the standard covers thicknesses up to 13.5 mm; no hot rolled plate (product form P) is listed for this grade.

SHH STEEL works as a steel sourcing partner with long-term relationships with Chinese stainless mills that roll 13 % chromium martensitic cold and hot rolled strip in the annealed and hardened conditions. For large tonnages, the buyer can contract directly with a suitable mill, with SHH STEEL assisting for a modest service fee and handling follow-up and documents. For small orders we consolidate demand, so that 1 – 5 t lots are placed against genuine mill production instead of stock of unknown origin. Each shipment can be released after third-party inspection by TUV, ABS, BV, DNV, CCS or an agency the buyer nominates, and payment by TT or LC is accepted. The rest of this page covers the technical side of EN 10088-2 1.4031 and the steps we take so that the sheet that arrives is the sheet that was ordered.

The table below lists the concerns buyers raise most often when sourcing EN 10088-2 X39Cr13 sheet and plate from China, and how SHH STEEL deals with each of them.

1.4031 is most often cross-referenced to ASTM A240 Type 420 sheet and plate (UNS S42000) and to JIS SUS420J2. Type 420 sets only a carbon minimum of 0.15 %, and SUS420J2 has 0.26 – 0.40 % carbon, so both include material with much less carbon than 1.4031. The Chinese grade 40Cr13 is closer in carbon.

A Type 420 or SUS420J2 certificate does not prove a carbon level of 0.36 % or more, so it will not necessarily reach the hardness of 1.4031. SHH STEEL checks the actual carbon before accepting such material against a 1.4031 requirement.

1.4031 does not appear in EN 10028-7:2016, whose martensitic grades are 1.4313 and 1.4418.

Edition note: the values on this page are taken from EN 10088-2:2014. A revised edition (EN 10088-2:2024) has since been published. If your contract names the newer edition, SHH STEEL checks the order against that text before production, and any difference is raised at the quotation stage rather than after rolling.

The 1.4031 chemical composition below is the cast (heat) analysis from EN 10088-2:2014 Table 4. Values are percentages by mass; a single figure is a maximum.

Compared with 1.4028, 1.4031 has more carbon, a lower manganese limit (1.00 % instead of 1.50 %) and a chromium range shifted up by 0.5 %. SHH STEEL checks carbon and chromium on every certificate as part of the 1.4031 chemical composition review.

Product analysis tolerances (EN 10088-2 Table 5)

A product analysis is a check made on the delivered sheet. It is not mandatory under EN 10088-2; it is carried out when agreed at the time of enquiry and order, and SHH STEEL can arrange it through a partner laboratory. The permissible tolerances on the cast limits are:

Where several product analyses are made on one cast, individual results may exceed the maximum or fall below the minimum, but not both for the same element. If a product analysis is required, it should be stated in the order together with the Table 5 tolerances.

The 1.4031 mechanical properties below are the room-temperature values from EN 10088-2:2014 Table 10 for martensitic steels in the heat-treated condition. The values depend on the heat-treatment condition as well as on the product form.

For product forms C and H in the annealed condition, hardness is normally determined, and the tensile test is used in referee testing. EN 10088-2 lists no hot rolled plate (P) for 1.4031, so there are no plate values.

No impact energy or elevated-temperature values are given for this grade. Any extra requirement must be agreed in the order; SHH STEEL can arrange the tests, witnessed by a third-party inspector when required.

EN 10088-2 Table A.4 gives the following guideline temperatures for 1.4031:

The hardening range for 1.4031, 1 000 – 1 100 °C, is higher than for 1.4021 and 1.4028 (950 – 1 050 °C) because more carbides must be dissolved. Slow cooling after hot forming is required to avoid cracking.

EN 10088-2 lists only low-temperature tempering at 200 – 350 °C for this grade, which keeps high hardness for cutting and wear duty. The Annex A temperatures are guidelines; actual settings are chosen by the mill or the buyer’s heat treater, and we check that the delivery condition is stated on each certificate.

The values below are approximate reference figures for X39Cr13 at room temperature, estimated from the EN 10088-1 values for the neighbouring grades 1.4028 and 1.4034, because 1.4031 itself is not included in the EN 10088-1 physical property table we checked. They are suitable for design estimates and weight calculation; where a figure is critical, use EN 10088-1 itself.

The steel is magnetic in both the annealed and the hardened condition, which allows magnetic clamping during grinding.

1.4031 has the moderate corrosion resistance of 13 % chromium martensitic steels. Its slightly higher chromium range helps offset the higher carbon, but corrosion resistance still depends strongly on condition: it is best when the steel is hardened, with carbides dissolved, and ground or polished. EN 10088-2 gives no corrosion data, and we have not quoted test figures here because they vary with condition and finish.

Where corrosion resistance is more important than hardness, a lower-carbon grade such as EN 10088-2 1.4000 plate or an austenitic grade should be considered.

Suitability for food contact should be confirmed for the specific part, condition and finish.

1.4031 is not intended for welding. With about 0.4 % carbon, the weld and heat-affected zone become very hard and brittle, and cracking is likely.

• Avoid welding where possible; use mechanical joining or a weldable grade instead.
• If a repair weld is unavoidable, use a qualified procedure with preheat and post-weld heat treatment set by the procedure or filler supplier.
• Low-hydrogen processes and dry consumables are essential.
• EN 10088-2 does not specify welding procedures; these are general industry practices.

These points reflect industry practice for 13 % chromium martensitic stainless steels rather than requirements of EN 10088-2, which does not specify welding procedures. In the SHH STEEL workshop, blanks and slit strips are cut with clean, burr-free edges so that seam, spot and tube welding run without edge preparation problems.

Annealed 1.4031 strip can be blanked and bent with generous radii; parts are then hardened and tempered. Hardened strip is only cut, ground and polished.

Thermal cutting creates a hard, crack-prone edge, so laser cutting or blanking is best done in the annealed condition, with an allowance for grinding. Machining and grinding are easiest before hardening.

We run our own workshop next to the warehouse, so 1.4031 martensitic sheet and X39Cr13 plate cut from strip can be delivered as cut blanks or slit strip instead of raw mill sizes. Details are on our steel cutting services and bending and forming services pages.

EN 10088-2 lists 1.4031 only as strip. The table below shows the product forms and thickness limits; sheet and plate are cut from this strip.

Material thicker than 13.5 mm is outside EN 10088-2 for this grade. If heavier sizes are needed, the requirements must be agreed separately, or a grade listed as plate, such as 1.4028, considered.

SHH STEEL can supply 1.4031 hot rolled strip and cold rolled strip as coils, slit strip or cut sheet to your drawing.

Surface finish is ordered by the process route symbols of EN 10088-2 Table 6; trade names from ASTM and JIS are shown for reference. Not every route is available for every grade, and the mill confirms which ones it can supply.

Knife and blade blanks are hardened and then ground and polished, so the mill finish mainly needs to be clean, flat and free from deep defects.

There is no exact 1.4031 equivalent in the ASTM or JIS systems; the Chinese 40Cr13 is closest.

Cross-reference tables often list Type 420 against 1.4021, 1.4028 and 1.4031 alike; see also AISI 420 stainless steel plate. The carbon level should therefore be agreed when 420 is named.

1.4031 vs 1.4028, 1.4021 and 1.4034

Compared with EN 10088-2 1.4028 plate, 1.4031 is harder after hardening (47 – 53 HRC against 45 – 51 HRC for thin +QT strip) but has no plate form in EN 10088-2. Compared with EN 10088-2 1.4021 plate, it is much harder but less tough. X46Cr13 (1.4034) goes further, to 49 – 55 HRC, with the same strip-only product forms. Compared with EN 10088-2 1.4006 plate or ASTM A240 Type 410 sheet and plate, 1.4031 is a cutting and wear grade, not a structural one.

1.4031 martensitic sheet and strip are commonly used where hardness and edge retention matter:

• Kitchen and professional knife blades
• Industrial cutting blades and scissors
• Surgical and dental instruments
• Wear parts and slides
• Measuring tools
• Springs from hardened strip

1.4031 martensitic plate cut from strip is not a pressure-equipment grade under EN 10028-7 and is not normally used for welded structures.

Knife makers usually order annealed strip, blank the parts and harden them themselves; hardened strip up to 3 mm suits parts that cannot be heat treated after blanking. SHH STEEL can advise on the right condition.

For 1.4031 the main risks are mixed carbon levels, ordering sizes outside the standard, and cutting in the wrong condition.

None of these steps is complicated, but they need to be agreed at the start. When you send an enquiry, tell us which of these points matters most to you, and the order will be built around it.

Every 1.4031 order is supported by documents and checks that make the material traceable to the heat:

• Cast analysis with carbon and chromium checked
• 1.4031 hardness test for +A strip (HRB/HBW) and +QT strip (HRC/HV)
• Tensile test in referee cases
• Flatness and surface inspection
• Additional checks through our third-party testing service: PMI, dimensional, flatness and surface inspection

If the order does not name an inspection document, EN 10088-2 requires only a test report 2.2. Because this is rarely enough for blade and tooling or export work, SHH STEEL supplies an EN 10204 3.1 inspection certificate as standard and a 3.2 certificate when an independent inspector (TUV, ABS, BV, DNV, CCS or an agency you nominate) witnesses testing and countersigns the document.

Ordering example and lead time

Following the pattern of the example in EN 10088-2, a typical order line would read: 2 t hot rolled strip, 6 mm × 1 250 mm × 2 500 mm sheets, EN 10088-2, steel X39Cr13 (1.4031), heat-treatment condition +A, process route 1D, inspection certificate 3.1 to EN 10204. Mill production lead time is generally 30 – 40 days from order confirmation, depending on the rolling schedule, the size and the tests requested; 1.4031 is rolled less often than 1.4021 or 1.4028, so campaign timing should be confirmed at enquiry. Consolidated small lots follow the same mill schedule, and we send progress updates at rolling, testing and packing.

• Mill relationships: long-term cooperation with Chinese stainless mills helps us secure competitive pricing and steadier delivery for 1.4031 and related martensitic and ferritic grades.
• Direct mill contracts: for larger tonnages you can contract directly with a suitable mill, for a modest service fee, while we handle follow-up and documents.
• Order consolidation: 1 – 5 t lots are combined so they can be placed against genuine mill production.
• Own workshop: slitting, cut-to-length, laser cutting, bending and protective film before shipment.
• Inspection and certificates: third-party inspection by TUV, ABS, BV, DNV, CCS or your nominated agency, with EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 certificates.
• Flexible payment: TT, LC or a combination of both.
• Port logistics: coil and sheet are packed seaworthy with heat-number labels and shipped through our worldwide shipping service, together with other grades if needed.

As a 1.4031 plate supplier SHH STEEL also stocks and sources the wider range of stainless steel sheets and plates, so mixed orders of different stainless grades can travel in one container with one set of paperwork.

EN 10088-2 X39Cr13 1.4031 is the 0.4 % carbon, 13 % chromium martensitic steel for knives, blades and instruments. In EN 10088-2 it is listed as annealed strip up to 13.5 mm and as hardened thin strip, not as hot rolled plate. Choosing it is the easy part. Getting genuine material that matches the certificate, in the gauge and finish your parts need and on a predictable schedule, is where a sourcing partner earns its place, and that is the work SHH STEEL does every day through long-term mill cooperation, consolidation and its own workshop.

The next step is simple. Send SHH STEEL your drawing, or an enquiry with the quantity, thickness, width, finish and delivery destination, and we will judge whether a direct mill contract or consolidation with processing fits your order better, and quote accordingly. Send your sizes and quantities for a quotation.