PowderRange 17-4 AR – Stainless Steel 17-4 AR Powdered Metal
Premium Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steel Powder for Additive Manufacturing & 3D Printing
Overview of PowderRange 17-4 AR Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steel
PowderRange 17-4 AR is a martensitic precipitation/age-hardening stainless steel powder engineered for aerospace and high-performance applications requiring superior mechanical properties. This aerospace-grade material offers high strength and hardness combined with excellent corrosion resistance up to 600°F (316°C). The “AR” designation indicates argon-refined composition optimized specifically for additive manufacturing, delivering consistent properties comparable to cast and wrought 17-4 material.
PowderRange 17-4 AR features excellent fabricating characteristics and can be age-hardened using a single-step, low-temperature treatment, providing flexibility to achieve specific strength and toughness combinations tailored to your application. Due to this balanced combination of performance and ease of use in additive manufacturing, PowderRange 17-4 AR has been proven across a wide variety of applications including rapid tooling, functional components in aerospace, petrochemical, food processing, and medical industries, plus precision prototyping.
Key Characteristics
- High strength and hardness
- Excellent corrosion resistance
- Superior ductility & toughness
- Single-step age hardening
- Aerospace-grade quality
Industries Served
- Aerospace & Defense
- Petrochemical Processing
- Food Processing
- Medical Device Manufacturing
- Rapid Tooling & Prototyping
Processing Methods
- Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF)
- Stress Relief Options
- Solution Annealing
- Age Hardening (H900)
- HIP Processing Available
Chemical Composition & ASTM Specifications
PowderRange 17-4 AR meets ASTM F3056 specifications and is equivalent to UNS S17400, AMS5643, ASME SA564, ASTM A564/A564M, ASTM A705, DIN 1.4548, and AISI 630. The refined chemical composition ensures complete martensitic transformation during heat treatment and superior mechanical properties.
| Element | Specification (%) | Element | Specification (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron (Fe) | Balance | Chromium (Cr) | 15.00–17.50 |
| Copper (Cu) | 3.00–5.00 | Nickel (Ni) | 3.00–5.00 |
| Manganese (Mn) | Max 1.00 | Silicon (Si) | Max 1.00 |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | Max 0.50 | Columbium + Tantalum (Cb+Ta) | 0.15–0.45 |
| Cobalt (Co) | 0.40 | Oxygen (O) | Max 0.10 |
| Carbon (C) | Max 0.07 | Aluminum (Al) | Max 0.05 |
| Phosphorus (P) | Max 0.040 | Nitrogen (N) | Max 0.030 |
| Sulfur (S) | Max 0.030 | Tin (Sn) | Max 0.02 |
Powder Properties & Technical Specifications
Powder Grade & Specifications
PowderRange 17-4 AR is produced to exacting aerospace specifications optimized for laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing. The vacuum induction melted and argon gas atomized process ensures consistent particle morphology, size distribution, and chemical homogeneity essential for reliable 3D printing and superior mechanical properties.
| Property | Specification |
|---|---|
| Part Number | PowderRange 174AR F |
| Application | Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) |
| Maximum Particle Size | Max 1 wt% > 53 µm |
| Minimum Particle Size | Max 10 vol% < 15 µm |
| Particle Size Distribution | D10, D50, D90 percentiles reported |
| Atomization | Vacuum Induction Melted, Argon Gas Atomized |
| Apparent Density | Measured per ASTM B2124 and reported |
| Hall Flow Rate | Measured per ASTM B2135 or ASTM B964 and reported |
Mechanical Properties & Heat Treatment Options
PowderRange 17-4 AR offers exceptional mechanical properties that can be tailored through carefully controlled heat treatment processes. The superior martensitic microstructure achieved through complete transformation delivers properties comparable to wrought 17-4 material, with excellent combinations of strength, toughness, and ductility.
| Condition | Orientation | Yield Strength (MPa) | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Elongation (%) | Hardness (HRB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As-Built | X & Y | 758 | 1136 | 15 | 35 |
| Sol | X & Y | 1209 | 1342 | 17 | 42 |
| HIP/Sol | X & Y | 1207 | 1338 | 18 | 42 |
| ASTM Spec (H900) | 1170 min yield / 1310 min tensile | 10 min | 40 min | ||
Heat Treatment Procedures
- Stress Relief: 1250°F (677°C) for 1 hour per inch of thickness (minimum 2 hours, maximum 4 hours)
- Homogenization: 2000°F (1093°C) for 1 hour followed by air cool to minimize anisotropy (optional if performing HIP)
- Solution Anneal: 1900°F (1038°C) per ASTM A564/A564M for 0.5 hours, cool to below 90°F for complete martensitic transformation
- Age Hardening (H900): 900°F (482°C) for 1 hour and air cool per ASTM A564/A564M
- Hot Isostatic Pressing: 14.5 ksi (100 MPa) minimum at 2087°F (1141°C) for 240 minutes in argon
Corrosion Resistance Performance
PowderRange 17-4 AR exhibits good corrosion resistance up to 600°F (316°C), making it suitable for aerospace, petrochemical, and industrial applications. The material provides reliable protection against a range of corrosive environments while maintaining exceptional mechanical properties.
Excellent
Good
Good
Moderate
Moderate
Restricted
Markets & Applications for PowderRange 17-4 AR
Primary Markets
- Aerospace & Defense
- Petrochemical Processing
- Food Processing Industry
- Medical Device Manufacturing
- Rapid Tooling Applications
Typical End-Use Applications
- Surgical Instruments & Tools
- Valves & Fittings
- Pumps & Impellers
- Manifolds
- Industrial & Chemical Equipment
- Production Tooling
Additive Manufacturing Process Guidance
Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) Parameters
PowderRange 17-4 AR is compatible with all commercially available L-PBF equipment. To achieve mean as-built density >99.9%, the following parameters are recommended:
- Layer Thickness: 20 to 60 µm
- Specific Energy: ≥ 50 J/mm³
- Post-Processing: Machining, grinding, polishing readily performed in solution-treated or aged conditions
Machinability Characteristics
PowderRange 17-4 AR is readily machined in both solution-treated and various age-hardened conditions. In the solution-treated condition, it machines similarly to stainless steel types 302 and 304. When using carbide tools, surface speeds can be increased 2-3 times over standard speeds, and feeds can be increased 50-100%.
Quality Certifications
PowderRange 17-4 AR powder testing fulfills Nadcap Materials Testing and ISO/IEC 17025 Chemical certification requirements per relevant ASTM procedures (B214, B2124, B2135, B964, B822).
Ready to Specify PowderRange 17-4 AR?
Contact Michlin Metals to discuss your aerospace, petrochemical, or high-performance manufacturing requirements. Our materials experts will help you leverage the superior properties of PowderRange 17-4 AR for your precision additive manufacturing applications.
© 2026 Michlin Metals. All rights reserved. | Stainless Steel Powdered Metals & Additive Manufacturing Division
Please contact us to request a quote. We specialize in hard to find material.
We work closely with many manufacturers in the aerospace & defense industry. We work with NADCAP approved heat treaters and testing laboratories. We can supply DFARS compliant material.