AMS 5862 15-5PH Sheet

15-5PH (UNS S15500, AMS 5862) is a martensitic precipitation hardening stainless steel. Its biggest difference from 17-4PH is not a significant increase in strength, but rather its superior toughness in the thickness direction. When 17-4PH is used for thick plates, its Z-axis (thickness direction) properties are prone to degradation, leading to lamellar tearing after welding or under tension. The steel sheet has a specially optimized composition to address this weakness.

This also reflects insights we have gained from industry feedback and current supply conditions in the Chinese market: if you are manufacturing thick-section structural components-or dealing with applications involving extensive welding and numerous weld seams-using steel sheet is a far safer choice than 17-4PH. It will not let you down in terms of through-thickness integrity.

The 15-5PH steel we supply adheres to the AMS 5862 standard; specifically engineered for aircraft engine components and airframe structural parts, it is produced under exceptionally rigorous manufacturing requirements. The Lork Group's supply chain quality control management applied to this material is classified as Level 3-the highest tier of oversight.

1. Standards Applicable to the Product 

We typically determine the final governing standards for the material based on your specific application requirements-for example:
AMS 5862 (Aerospace Material Specification - Standard for Sheet and Strip)
AMS 5659 (Standard for Aerospace Bars and Forgings)
ASTM A564 / A693 (Common Industrial Standards)

2. Supply Form and State

Prior to quoting sheet and plate materials, we typically consult with the client regarding the final product form and condition. Our standard inventory primarily consists of commonly used specifications; however, specialized dimensions-such as ultra-thin or ultra-thick gauges, as well as non-standard widths and lengths-generally require custom smelting.

Dimensions: Thickness, Width, and Length

Condition: Condition A (Annealed) or Aged Condition (e.g., H900, H1025)?

Melting Method: Conventional Electric Arc Furnace (AOD) or Vacuum Melting (VIM/VAR)? Aerospace applications typically mandate vacuum melting, whereas industrial applications generally utilize the conventional electric arc furnace method.

Condition Selection Recommendations:

• If cold forming or welding is required, select Condition A (Annealed).
• If the material is to be used directly as a structural component, you may select the Aged condition to eliminate an additional heat treatment step.

3. Price Reference

Based on our extensive procurement experience, the price of 15-5PH is slightly higher than that of 17-4PH. This is primarily due to stricter compositional controls and more demanding requirements for transverse toughness. Specific pricing is influenced by several factors:

Base Metal Costs: With a nickel content of approximately 4% and chromium at around 15%, price fluctuations are less volatile compared to nickel-based alloys.

Specifications and Quantity: Thin plates are more expensive than thick plates, and the unit price for small-batch orders (<100 kg) will be higher.

Quality Grade: Aerospace grade (AMS) materials are more expensive than industrial grade (ASTM) materials.

Condition Requirements: Aged conditions are more expensive than annealed conditions (due to the additional heat treatment step involved).

Insights and Recommendations:

Most importantly-drawing upon our experience with past aerospace clients and their rigorous standards regarding material quality and risk management-we offer this key takeaway: regardless of whether you ultimately choose to purchase from our company, we strongly advise you to conduct preliminary sampling trials before formally procuring aerospace-grade 15-5PH steel plates. These trials are essential for verifying that the material meets compliance standards across multiple critical aspects, including chemical composition, mechanical properties, and weldability. Only after completing this data collection and analysis phase should you proceed with the formal procurement process. This entire preparatory phase typically requires a timeframe of one to two years.

Conversely, if a supplier-without fully understanding your project's specific timeline or requirements-immediately asserts that purchasing their material is an "absolutely safe bet," we recommend that you disregard such an unprofessional vendor.

Furthermore, there is no such thing as "ordinary-priced" or "cheap" material in this category. While market rates for raw material ingots tend to be relatively uniform, the final cost-and the associated premium-is directly proportional to the scope and quality of the value-added services provided. These services encompass the entire supply chain: smelting and metallurgy, forging, heat treatment and tempering, advanced processing (milling, turning, and precision machining), delivery logistics, and after-sales support. We recommend partnering with a supplier capable of implementing comprehensive "supply chain quality control." (For further details, please refer to the "About Us" section of this website, or contact us directly to review client case studies and evaluate our capabilities.)

Precipitation Hardening Mechanism-Strength is "Bolstered" by Copper and Niobium; Particular Attention Should Be Paid to the Chemical Composition of These Two Elements.