MIM 17-4PH Aging: H900 vs H1025 Properties Compared

17-4PH is the most widely used precipitation-hardening stainless steel in MIM. The aging temperature after sintering determines the final balance of strength and ductility.

MIM 17-4PH — as-sintered vs aged conditions:
Condition Aging Temp Time UTS (MPa) Yield (MPa) Elongation (%) Hardness (HRC)
As-sintered (no age) N/A N/A 800-950 650-800 12-20 25-32
H900 480°C 1 hr 1100-1300 1000-1200 8-14 38-44
H925 495°C 1 hr 1050-1250 950-1150 10-16 36-42
H1025 550°C 4 hrs 950-1100 800-950 14-20 32-38
H1100 595°C 4 hrs 850-1000 700-850 16-22 28-34
H1150 620°C 4 hrs 800-950 650-800 18-24 26-32
When to choose each condition:
  • H900: Maximum strength and hardness. Best for wear-resistant applications, latch mechanisms, thin-wall structural parts where strength is critical. Trade-off: lowest ductility
  • H1025: Best all-around balance. 80% of the strength of H900 with 50-100% more ductility. Preferred for most automotive and industrial applications
  • H1150: Over-aged condition. Used when dimensional stability after aging is critical (minimal distortion) or when some ductility is needed for post-aging forming or assembly
Sintering + aging sequence: MIM 17-4PH is sintered at 1300-1350°C, then cooled. Aging is performed in a separate furnace step (air furnace or vacuum) at the specified temperature. The aging step does not cause the 14-17% sintering shrinkage — that happens during sintering. Aging only changes the mechanical properties of the already-dense part. Quick Q: What is the best aging condition for MIM 17-4PH?

For most applications, H900 provides the highest strength (1200+ MPa UTS) and is the default for structural and wear parts. For applications requiring impact toughness or post-aging machining, H1025 offers better ductility with modest strength reduction. Specify the aging condition on your part drawing — "17-4PH per AMS 5643, H900 condition" is standard.

ATMIK regularly processes 17-4PH in H900, H1025, and H1150 conditions with documented property data per lot.

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