The Common Material Forms and Specifications of SUS 420J1

SUS 420J1 stainless steel is supplied in a variety of standardized forms to cater to diverse manufacturing and engineering requirements. Understanding these available forms and their specifications is crucial for designers and procurement specialists to select the most suitable product for their specific application, ensuring optimal performance and cost-efficiency.
The most common forms include coil, sheet/plate, strip, and bar. Cold-rolled coil is a primary offering, prized for its suitability in continuous or automated production processes like stamping, blanking, and forming. It is characterized by its precise thickness tolerance, consistent mechanical properties, and a range of surface finishes, from matte to bright. Sheets and plates are typically cut from these coils and are ideal for fabricating larger components. Strip, a narrower and precision-rolled version of coil, is used for applications such as springs, clips, and precision blades. Finally, bars (both hot-rolled and cold-finished) are supplied in rounds, hexagons, or flats for machining into shafts, valves, and other mechanical components.
Key specifications for these forms are defined by several parameters. Thickness and width are the primary dimensional controls, with coils often supplied in thicknesses from 0.3mm up to several millimeters. The material condition is also specified, most commonly in the annealed state (designated as 'A') for subsequent forming and machining, or pre-hardened (quenched and tempered) for immediate use. Furthermore, surface finish specifications (e.g., No. 2B, No. 4, BA) allow for selection based on aesthetic and functional needs. This versatility in form and specification makes SUS 420J1 a adaptable material, capable of being tailored from the mill to meet the exact demands of industries from cutlery and medical devices to general engineering.