15-5PH Stainless Steel

Typical Applications

Shafts

Gears

Aircraft Structural parts

Fittings

Fasteners

Valve parts

AMS 5659 Suppliers & Stockholders

Dynamic Metals is a specialist supplier and stockholder of 15-5 PH stainless steel, supplying aerospace and motorsport industries with certified material to AMS 5659 and AMS 5862 since 1997. No minimum order quantities.

15-5 PH is a martensitic precipitation hardening stainless steel offering excellent corrosion resistance, high strength, and good toughness. Conforming to AMS 5659 and AMS 5862, it is widely used in aerospace and power generation applications where both strength and corrosion resistance are essential.

In aerospace, 15-5 PH is regularly specified for engine parts, structural components, and landing gear. In power generation, it finds application in gas turbine components, valves, and shafts — industries where material reliability under sustained loading is non-negotiable.

The alloy machines, welds, and forms readily, making it practical for complex component geometries. Mechanical properties are developed through a two-stage heat treatment: solution annealing at 1010-1150°C followed by precipitation hardening at around 480°C. This produces a material with tensile strength ranging from 931 MPa in H1150 condition through to 1310 MPa in H900, allowing engineers to select the right balance of strength and toughness for their application.

15-5 PH can be produced via consumable electrode melting (ESR) or Vacuum Arc Remelting (VAR), offering very good transverse properties and consistent performance across section sizes.

Related Products

Key Features and Benefits

Produced exclusively via ESR or VAR remelting — delivering superior transverse mechanical properties versus conventionally melted grades

Better transverse toughness than 17-4 PH at equivalent strength conditions — the primary reason engineers specify 15-5 PH for multi-directionally loaded components

Tensile strength 931 MPa (H1150) to 1310 MPa (H900) — engineer selectable through ageing temperature alone

Copper addition (2.50-4.50%) combined with niobium stabilisation gives consistent heat treatment response across section sizes

Machines, welds and forms readily — more fabrication-friendly than higher strength PH grades at comparable strength levels

Technical specification

Related Specifications

AMS 5659
UNS S15500
W.Nr 1.4545
AMS 5862

Specific Gravity

7.8 g/cm3

Chemical Composition (WT %)

 
Min  
Max  
C  
-  
0.07  
Si  
-  
1.00  
Mn  
-  
1.00  
P  
-  
0.030  
S  
-  
0.015  
Cr  
14.00  
15.50  
Mo  
-  
0.50  
Ni  
3.50  
5.50  
Cb  
5 x %  
0.45  
Cu  
2.50  
4.50  
Fe  
Bal  
-  

Typical Mechanical Properties in the Annealed Condition

 
 
 
 
H900  
H925  
H1025  
H1075  
H1100  
H1150  
0.2% Proof Stress  
MPA  
Min  
-  
1172  
1069  
1000  
862  
793  
724  
Tensile Strength  
MPA  
Min  
-  
1310  
1172  
1069  
1000  
965  
931  
Elongation  
%  
Min  
L  
10  
10  
12  
13  
14  
16  
Elongation  
%  
Max  
T  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
Reduction of area  
%  
Min  
L  
35  
38  
45  
45  
45  
50  
Reduction of area  
%  
Max  
T  
20  
25  
32  
33  
34  
35  
Hardness  
HB  
Min  
-  
388  
375  
331  
311  
302  
277  

Applications

  • Aircraft structural components requiring reliable properties in both longitudinal and transverse directions
  • Landing gear elements where through-section consistency under impact loading is critical
  • Gas turbine shafts, gears and valve components in power generation
  • Aerospace fasteners and fittings requiring corrosion resistance alongside high strength
  • Pump shafts and impellers in chemical processing environments
  • Motorsport drivetrain components requiring good fatigue resistance with corrosion resistance

Performance Characteristics

  • Tensile strength 931 MPa (H1150) to 1310 MPa (H900) — six discrete conditions available
  • 0.2% proof stress from 724 MPa (H1150) to 1172 MPa (H925)
  • Longitudinal elongation minimum 10% in H925, improving to 16% in H1150
  • Transverse elongation minimum 6% (H925) to 11% (H1150) — measurably better than 17-4 PH
  • Hardness 277 HB (H1150) to 388 HB (H900)
  • Consistent properties maintained through large section sizes due to ESR/VAR production

Corrosion and Environment

  • Chromium content (14.00-15.50%) forms stable passive oxide layer resistant to atmospheric and mild chemical corrosion
  • Performs reliably in aerospace environments including humidity, salt atmosphere and mild chemical exposure
  • Corrosion resistance maintained across all heat treatment conditions H900 through H1150
  • Suitable for power generation environments including steam and mild process media
  • Superior corrosion resistance to standard martensitic stainless grades due to higher chromium and copper additions
  • Does not require additional surface coating for most aerospace structural applications

Melting and Material Quality

  • Produced exclusively by Electroslag Remelting (ESR) or Vacuum Arc Remelting (VAR) — not available as air melt
  • Remelting process eliminates sulphide inclusions that reduce transverse ductility and toughness
  • Superior transverse reduction of area (20-35% depending on condition) compared to conventionally melted grades
  • Consistent chemistry and inclusion content throughout the full bar cross-section
  • Full material certification traceable to original remelt heat
  • Complies with AMS 5659 (bar) and AMS 5862 (plate and sheet) chemistry and property requirements

Available Forms

  • Bar — AMS 5659
  • Plate and sheet — AMS 5862
  • Available in solution annealed condition ready for customer age hardening
  • No minimum order quantities on stock items
  • Suitable for prototype development through to production requirements

Machining and Processing

  • Machine in solution annealed condition before age hardening to final properties
  • Better machinability than higher-strength PH grades — copper addition aids chip formation
  • Age harden after machining — solution anneal at 1010-1150°C, precipitation harden at approximately 480°C
  • Weldable using standard TIG and MIG processes with appropriate filler selection
  • Post-weld re-solution treat and age for joints requiring full mechanical properties
  • Niobium addition stabilises microstructure during welding — reduces sensitisation risk

Advantages of 15-5 PH

  • Only PH stainless grade produced exclusively by remelting — transverse properties are a genuine engineered advantage not just a manufacturing preference
  • Six discrete heat treatment conditions (H900-H1150) give engineers precise control over strength/toughness balance
  • More consistent through-section properties than 17-4 PH — particularly valuable for larger diameter bar and thick plate
  • Combines good fabricability (weldable, machinable) with strength levels that compete with alloy steels
  • Corrosion resistance eliminates need for protective coating in most aerospace structural applications
  • Widely approved by major aerospace OEMs — reducing qualification burden for new programmes

Why Choose Dynamic Metals?

  • Specialist supplier of 15-5 PH since 1997
  • AS9100 certified — full quality management system in place
  • Complete material certification with traceability to original ESR/VAR remelt heat
  • No minimum order quantities on stock items
  • Materials engineering team available to advise on condition selection and heat treatment
  • Prompt delivery on standard stock sizes

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