Stainless steel round bars 1.4028 / 3H13

Our stainless steel round bars 1.4028 / 3H13 are solid, precision bars made from a martensitic stainless steel grade commonly supplied for engineering and wear-resistant components. This grade is often referenced by the European number 1.4028 and by some suppliers as 3H13. In this category you will find round bars suitable for machining, heat treatment and a wide range of industrial and workshop uses.

What is 1.4028 / 3H13?

1.4028 / 3H13 is a martensitic stainless steel. In plain terms, that means it contains chromium to give it basic corrosion resistance and enough carbon to be heat-treated to higher hardness. Martensitic stainless steels combine better strength and wear resistance than plain carbon steels, while offering moderate resistance to corrosion — not as high as austenitic stainless grades (e.g. 304/316), but adequate for many engineering uses.

Key properties of these steel bars

• Heat-treatable: the grade can be hardened and tempered to increase strength and wear resistance.
• Moderate corrosion resistance: better than carbon steel but lower than austenitic stainless steels; suitable for many dry or mildly corrosive environments.
• Good machinability (when annealed): easiest to machine in the soft/annealed condition, then heat-treat if higher hardness is needed.
• Wear and abrasion resistance: useful where surface hardness is important (shafts, blades, wear parts).

Common uses and industries

Stainless steel round bars 1.4028 / 3H13 are used across multiple sectors. Typical applications include:

• General engineering components: shafts, pins, bolts and fasteners.
• Tooling and wear parts: small blades, cutters, punches and dies where hardness is required.
• Automotive and transport: components subject to wear and mechanical load.
• Valves, pump parts and mechanical seals in non-aggressive media.
• Small workshops and hobbyist projects that need a hardenable stainless bar for turning or milling.
• Cutlery and knife-making in cases where the balance between hardness and corrosion resistance is acceptable.
• Construction and light engineering applications; for offshore or highly chloride environments select a more corrosion‑resistant grade or apply protective coatings.

Designation and naming

We use the European designation 1.4028 and the trade name 3H13 in this category. These bars belong to the martensitic family of stainless steels. Different manufacturers or regions may use alternative names or similar grades — always check the supplier’s technical data sheet for exact chemical composition and mechanical data if you require a specific equivalence to AISI/ASTM or other national systems.

Working with 1.4028 / 3H13 round bars

• Machining: machine in the annealed condition for best tool life; feeds and speeds depend on bar diameter and tooling.
• Heat treatment: quenching and tempering will raise hardness and toughness — follow a certified heat-treatment cycle suitable for the chosen final properties.
• Welding: welding martensitic stainless steels requires care (preheat/post-heat) to avoid cracking; consult welding procedures and, when necessary, use filler metals recommended for martensitic grades.
• Surface finish: bars are commonly available hot-rolled or turned bright; additional machining or polishing can be supplied on request.
• Storage and use: avoid prolonged exposure to heavily chlorinated environments without corrosion protection; passivation and protective coatings can improve service life.

Available formats and purchasing

Our stainless steel round bars are offered in a range of diameters and lengths and can be supplied in typical merchant bar formats or cut to length. We can also provide additional services such as straightening, additional machining or custom cutting — contact us with your dimensions or drawings for a quote.

Who should choose 1.4028 / 3H13?

If you need a stainless material that can be heat-treated to deliver hardness and wear resistance, while offering better corrosion performance than plain carbon steel, stainless steel round bars 1.4028 / 3H13 are a practical, cost-effective choice. They are suitable for engineers, fabricators, machine shops, and hobbyists working on applications from small garage projects to industrial mechanical parts. For highly corrosive or offshore environments, consider consulting our technical team to select the most appropriate stainless grade.

If you need exact chemical composition, mechanical properties, heat-treatment recommendations or assistance selecting the right diameter and finish, please get in touch — we will provide the technical data sheet and help you choose the best option for your project.