Steel plate

 Steel Plate or structural steel is simply steel sheet material that can be custom cut and welded to develop a more elaborate product. Steel plate is made by compressing multiple steel layers together into one; forming a plate of steel.

Steel Plate is commonly used to strengthen foundations and uphold mass units of weight like bridges. Alternatively, it provides a base for the construction of larger materials and non-workable parts.

Applications for Steel Plate are based acutely on the specifics of the project. This simply means that certain grades are more appropriate to particular tasks than others.

The Benefits of Steel Plate

Steel Plate is both corrosion and abrasion-resistant. It is manufactured to a much broader range of thicknesses than ordinary steel sheets. Plate steel is primarily used in applications where a super-structural framework and indestructible durability are required.

Not only is it produced for structural purposes, but it can also be implemented for general repairs too. In addition to great reinforcement purposes, Steel Plate is able to withstand immense stress from the harshest natural environments, mainly, the ocean.

It serves as a considerable advantage to the world of heavy machinery. Its durability allows for machining and wearable elements to last much longer.

Although it’s mostly used for reinforcement and bracing purposes, Plate Steel has proved to have a substantial degree of versatility.

Availability & Standards of steel plates

Shorter lead times allow for receipt of steel plate products faster.

Type/Material	Main grade	Thickness
Carbon steel plate	Q235A/B/C/D ,Q275A/B/C/D , A283Gr.C/Gr.D ,ASTMA36,A573Gr.58/Gr.65/Gr.70,SS400,SM400A/B/C,S235JR/J0/J2,S275JR/J0/J2,S275N/NL ,S275M/ML,250,250L0,250L15	5-130mm
Low alloy steel plate	Q345A/B/C/D/E , Q390A/B/C/D/E, Q420A/B/C/D/E, Q460C/D/E,Q500C/D/E,Q550C/D/E, Q620C/D/E,Q690C/D/E,Q890D/E, Q960D/E , XGCFQ500D/E ,A572Gr.50/Gr.60,SS490 ,SM490A/B/C ,S355JR/J0/J2/K2 ,S355J2G3,S355N/NL,S420N/NL,S460N/NL,S355M/ML,S420M/ML,S460M/ML,S500Q/QL/QL1,S550Q/QL/QL1,S620Q/QL/QL1,S690Q/QL/QL1,S355G8+N,350,350L0,350L15	Grade 345:5-130mm Grade 390-690:6-80mm Grade 890-960:6-50mm
General strength ship plate High-strength ship board Ultra-high-strength ship board	A/B/D/E, A32/D32/E32/F32, A36/D36/E36/F36, A40/D40/E40/F40, A131A/B/D/E/AH32/DH32/EH32/AH36/DH36/EH36/AH40/DH40/EH40 NVA420/D420/E420, NVA460/D460/E460, NVA500/D500/E500, NVA550/D550/E550	General strength and high strength: 5-80mm Ultra-high strength: 5-115mm (certification stage)
Marine pot capacity board	NV360/410/460/490/510 , LR360/360FG, LR410/410FG, LR460FG/490FG/510FG	5-60mm
Bridge plates	Q235qC/D/E , Q345qC/D/E, Q370qC/D/E, Q420qC/D/E , Q460qC/D/E , Q500qD/E , Q550qD/E , Q620qD/E , Q690qD/E , A709-50T-1/50T-2/50T-3/50F-1/50F-2/50F-3,  A 709-50W-A/B/C-F1/F2/F3 -T1/T2/T3	Grade 235-420:5-100mm Grade 460-690:6-80mm
Boiler vessel plate	Q245R, Q345R, Q370R, 15CrMoR, 12Cr1MoVR, 13MnNiMoR, 12Cr2Mo1R, 14Cr1MoR, 18MnMoNbR, 16MnDR, 09MnNiDR, 15MnNiDR, 07MnCrMoVR, 07MnNiMoVDR, 12MnNiVR, XG610E, 12MnNiVR-SR, Q245R(HIC), Q345R(HIC), Q245R(R-HIC), Q345R(R-HIC) , XGCF62, 16MnDR (HIC) , 16MnDR (R-HIC) P235GH, P265GH, P295GH, P355GH, 16Mo3,  P275NH/NL1/NL2, P355N/NH/NL1/NL2, P460NH/NL1/NL2, P355M/ML1/ML2, P420M/ML1/ML2, P460M/ML1/ML2, P355Q/QH/QL1/QL2, P460Q/QH/QL1/QL2, P500Q/QH/QL1/QL2, P690Q/QH/QL1/QL2, 10CrMo9-10, 11MnNi5-3, 13CrMo4-5, 13CrMoSi5-5, 13MnNi6-3, 18MnMo4-5, 20MnMoNi4-5, (S)A204Gr.A/Gr.B/Gr.C,  (S)A285Gr.A/Gr.B/Gr.C,  (S)A299Gr.A/Gr.B, A302Gr.A/Gr.B/Gr.C/Gr.D, 387Gr.2/Gr.11/Gr.12/Gr.22, ASTMA455,  (S)A515Gr.60/65/70,  (S)A516Gr.55/60/65/70 , (S)A516Gr.60(HIC), (S)A516Gr.60(R-HIC), (S)A517Gr.B/Gr.H, (S)A533Gr.A/Gr.B/Gr.C, (S)A537Cl.1/Cl.2/Cl.3, ASTMA612, (S)A662Gr.A/Gr.B/Gr.C, (S)A737Gr.B/Gr.C, A738Gr.A/Gr.B/Gr.C, (S)A841Gr.A/Gr.B/Gr.C/Gr.D, SB410/450/480, SB450M/480M, SEV245/295/345, SBV1A/1B, SBV2/3, SGV410/450/480, SPV235/315/355/410, SPV450/490, SQV1A/1B/2A/2B/3A/3B	Grade 235-420:5-100mm Grade 460-690:6-80mm
High rise building plate	Q235GJB/C/D/E , Q345GJB/C/D/E, Q390GJC/D/E, Q420GJC/D/E, SN400A/B/C, SN490B/C	5-100mm
Pipeline Steel Plate	Pipeline steel plates are used to fabricate large diameter welded pipes which transportation oil and natural gas, also known as pipe steel plates. Now more and more world’s people focus on protecting our environment, new clean energy natural gas is widely used through pipelines. These pipeline steel plates own ability to resist high pressure, atmospheric corrosion and lower temperature surroundings. API 5L---A25/A/BR/BM/X42R/X42M/X46M/X52M/X56M/X60M/X65M/X70M/X80M GB/T 21237--- L245/L290/L320/L360/L390/L415/L450/L485/L555 GB/T 14164--- S245/S290/S320/S360/S390/S415/S450/S485/S555	5-40mm
Weather-resistant steel plate	Weather Resistant Steel Plates are used in applications that last longer and are exposed to the atmosphere for the long term. Applications that have to have plates in the open often use these Corrosion Resistant Steel Plates in combination with pipes, fittings, and flanges. The material can vary in composition but all the weathering steel types have low carbon, less than 0.3% by weight. This low carbon allows for the ductility and toughness of the Weather Resistant Steels Sheet. The name comes from the ability of the material to withstand weathering or atmospheric conditions over time. The specialty of the Corten Weather Resistant Steels is that it forms an oxide layer on the surface. This oxide layer cannot oxidize any further, so it acts as a barrier between the steels inside the layer and the oxidizing agents to the outside of the plates. Q295 GNHA/B/C/D/E Q355 GNHA/B/C/D/E Q235 NHA/B/C/D/E Q295 NHA/B/C/D/E Q355 NHA/B/C/D/E Q415 NHA/B/C/D/E Q460 NHA/B/C/D/E Q500 NHA/B/C/D/E Q550 NHA/B/C/D/E Q400 NQR1 Q450 NQR1 Q500 NQR1 Q550 NQR1 S235 J0 W/J2W S355 J 0WP S355 J2WP S355 J 0W/J2W/K2W ASTM A242 A588 Gr.A/ Gr.B/ Gr.C/ Gr.K SMA 400AW/BW/CW SMA 490AW/BW/CW SMA 570W	Grade 295-355:5-100mm Grade 415-550:6-60mm
Wear-resistant steel plate	Wear-resistant steel plate, also called abrasion-resistant or AR plate, is made from steel billets and comes in many grades. Alloys like carbon, manganese, nickel, chrome, and boron are added in different proportions. The grades, therefore, have different mechanical and chemical properties that will produce different results in an end product. Wear-resistant steel is tougher and harder than conventional steel plate and can last up to 4 times longer than conventional high-strength steel. NM360 , NM400, NM450, NM500	6-60mm
Mould plate, excellent steel plate	Mould steel plate: P20, SM45, SM48, SM50, SM53, SM55, 2311 Excellent steel plate: 45, 50	6-120mm

Cold rolled sheet and steel strip

A wide selection for a variety of uses; our cold rolled coil, strip and sheet products are available in both heat-and corrosion resistant forms. In addition, their standard and special surface finishes provide a unique level of customization.

Why the Cold roll coil, Strip and Sheet

• Great width selection in coils, strips and sheets
• Excellent dimensional accuracy
• Available in austenitic, ferritic, duplex and martensitic grades, with a wide variety of special surfaces

Our wide selection of cold rolled coil, strip and sheet products are available for a variety of uses. These products come in heat and corrosion resistant forms. Their lightweight yet strong, durable and fully recyclable materials ensure versatility in application.

Availability & Standards of steel plates

These products come in the following stainless-steel types: austenitic, ferritic, duplex and martensitic. Lightweight yet strong, the cold rolled coil, strip and sheet products are fully recyclable and are versatile in application.

Type/Material	Main grade	Thickness
Cold rolled steel sheet	Cold rolled steel sheets offer a variety of outstanding properties, including easy formability and a smooth, clean surface, and are used in automobiles, appliances, furniture, and many other everyday items. Domestic: Q195, Q215A/B, Q235A/B/C/D, Q275A/B/C/D Overseas: SPCC (for general use), SPCD (for stamping), SPCE (for deep drawing), SPCF (for non-aging deep drawing), SPCG (for non-aging super deep drawing)	Thickness: 0.25-2.00 Main equipment: 1550mm tandem cold rolling mill
Cold rolled high quality thin steel plate	08, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 08Al
Non-oriented electrical steel sheet	Non-oriented electrical steel (NO) is widely used as a motor core material since, economically, it meets requirements for high-efficiency, high-power motors 35W400, 35W440, 50W470, 50W530, 50W600, 50W700, 50W800, 50W1000, 50W1300, 65W600, 65W700, 65W800, 65W1000, 65W1300, 65W1600
Alloy structural steel sheet	40B, 45B, 50B, 15Cr, 20Cr, 30Cr, 35Cr, 40Cr, 50Cr, 12CrMo, 15CrMo, 20CrMo, 30CrMo, 35CrMo, 12Cr1MoV, 12CrMoV, 20CrNi, 40CrNi, 20CrMnTi, 30CrMnSi, 12Mn2A, 16Mn2A, 45Mn2A, 50BA, 15CrMo 38CrA, 20CrMnSiA, 25CrMnSiA, 30CrMnSiA, 35rMnSiA
Thin steel sheet for automobile	CR140BH, CR180BH, CR220BH, CR260BH, CR300BH, CR260/450DP, CR300/500DP, CR340/590DP, CR420/780DP, CR180IF, CR220IF, CR260IF
Hot-rolled steel strip	Hot-rolled steel strip is characterized by high product quality and is a true all-rounder. It is as versatile as its many applications. Q195-Q345, 08, 08F, 08Al, 10-60, 65Mn, 60Si2MnA, 50CrVA, 50CrNiMoVA, T7-T10A, Cr06, Q355NHL	Thickness: 1.2-5.0 mm Major equipment: Hot-rolled strip finishing mill
Cold-rolled steel strip	Cold-rolled strip is scale-free hot rolled steel that has been further processed through cold rolling, annealing, slitting, and edging to achieve extremely precise dimensional tolerances and customized properties including microstructure, chemistry, surface finish, and tempers. 50A, 50CrNiMoVA, 65Mn, 60Si2MnA, 50CrVA, T7-T10A, 40Mn, 15-65, 20CrMo, 30CrMo, 08, 08F, 08Al, Q195-Q235, Q345B, SPHC, SPCC, 20MnSi, 16Mn, 19Mn	Thickness: 0.15 ~ 3.0 mm Main equipment: cold rolled strip steel six-high reversible rolling mill

Specific uses and applications of steel plate

Steel Plate is both corrosion and abrasion-resistant. It is manufactured to a much broader range of thicknesses than ordinary steel sheets. Plate steel is primarily used in applications where a super-structural framework and indestructible durability are required.

Not only is it produced for structural purposes, but it can also be implemented for general repairs too. In addition to great reinforcement purposes, Steel Plate is able to withstand the immense stress from the harshest natural environments, mainly, the ocean.

It serves as a considerable advantage in the world of heavy machinery. Its durability allows for machining and wearable elements to last much longer.

Although it’s mostly used for reinforcement and bracing purposes, Plate Steel has proved to have a substantial degree of versatility.

What are the uses of steel plates?

Steel plates can be manufactured by large steel factories or smaller, more specialized plants. Steel plates are one of the many types of steel that can be produced, other types include steel bars, sheets, slabs, rolls, and more. Steel plates are often used for structural and construction applications, pressure vessels, marine and offshore equipment, and military applications. The grade, elements and parameters of a steel plate are also important in how it is used.

Construction

The construction industry requires many types of steel in all sizes. Steel plates can be found in buildings, bridges and on construction vehicles.

Pressure Vessel Plate

Pressure vessel plate is a type of steel plate used for storage containers. These storage containers can be boilers, gas tanks, or any unit that stores compressed gas or fluid. They can be manufactured to hold contents at outdoor temperatures or hold contents are more extreme temperatures. Depending on the purpose, these steel plates can be course-grain or fine-grain.

Marine

Steel plates are also used extensively in the shipbuilding industry. The plates are used for ships and barges or oil rigs and other offshore equipment. They may be manufactured structural parts or they may be implemented as repair pieces. Sometimes extremely durable steel plates are needed, especially in the construction of large offshore facilities.

Military

Military steel plates are used in tanks, jeeps, trucks and ground vehicles, as well as helicopters, jets and other aircraft. The Navy uses this steel for shipbuilding and naval repair.

Uses for stainless steel plates and sheets

There are many reasons why stainless steel plates are used for a wide variety of applications and products. One main reason is because of its high resistance to oxidation and corrosion. It is also resistant to abrasion and is easy to clean.

Stainless steel plates (and stainless steel, in general) are also easy to form, has a clean and attractive appearance, and are relatively light yet very durable. These are also pretty malleable without compromising on strength, making it ideal for use with a lot of things.

Stainless steel is used by a huge number of industries and by many businesses due to this versatility, strength and corrosion resistance. The usage of these plates often depends on the plate grade. With so many plate grades available, you can be sure that this particular metal does see itself being used for a huge number of applications.

The different grades used to classify stainless steel plates consist of numbers and numbers with the letters H and L in the combinations. Which industry uses this particular metal and for what purpose depends on the steel plate grade. Stainless steel that comes with letters in their grade means something and this dictates where these can be used.

The H and L used in stainless steel grades often refer to whether it has low or high carbon content. L is for stainless steel plates with low carbon and H is for those with high carbon. When a plate grade does not carry any of these two letters, these are then called straight grades. Straight grade stainless steel is known to carry at least .08% carbon in them, but there is no strict requirement stating that these metals need to have a minimum amount of carbon in them.

To further help you understand the uses of these different stainless steel grades, here are some of the more commonly produced stainless steel plate grades and where these are utilized:

304 – This comes in three variations – 304, 304H and 304L. Part of the 300 series, this particular plate grade is often used in the food and beverage industry. This is due to the fact that this particular grade has the ability to keep contamination probabilities very low. This metal contains around 18% chromium and around 8% nickel.

316 – Also part of the 300 series, this particular grade contains between 16% to 18% chromium and approximately 11% to 14% nickel. This is often used for environmental and marine applications due to its resistance to corrosion brought about by salty water.

410 – This is heat treatable steel and can be used for the manufacture of surgical instruments, as well as strainers used in the food industry.

Uses for stainless steel sheets

Similar to stainless steel plate, the sheet metal has high tensile strength, durability and delivers an exceptional finish.

Stainless steel is thus ideal for food production and storage as it does not affect the flavor of the food and the corrosion resistance is an important factor when it comes into contact with acidic foods. Stainless steel is easily cleaned which keeps germs at bay, in turn maintaining the integrity of any sterile environment, including that of the medical industry.

Stainless steel sheets, also commonly known as Cold Rolled Products, can be molded into shapes for making cookware, such as grills, sinks, pots and cookers. Stainless steel sheet is popular as a finish for refrigerators, freezers, countertops and dishwashers.

The sheet metal is available in flat pieces or coiled strips and is also useful when making license plates for cars and even the base of light bulbs.

Comparisons of steel plate grades

The reality is there are many nuances associated with steel plate and failure to understand them will result in many problems throughout its use in a project. The information in this eBook is meant to clear up many misconceptions.

Carbon steel plate is manufactured for a variety of applications based on its carbon content. Low carbon steel plate, depending on its thickness offers characteristics such as maximum cold forming capability, readability and improved machining. Medium carbon steel plates (.40 - .50) that are silicon killed offers better strength capabilities but have limited machining and welding properties.

Other types of steel plate offer benefits for structure and construction applications, resistance to abrasion, and the ability to withstand high temperatures and pressures. Additionally, steel plate coils are available in low carbon, pickled and oiled, and black steel coils used for the precision roller leveling. It may also be used for cutting standard and custom lengths up to 480”.

Steel plate standards

Structural steel shape properties, such as composition and strength are regulated by agreement between parties who choose to accept international standards. These international standards are created by formally recognized regulating boards, often times comprised of worldwide, volunteer members within respective industries.

It is customary for American made steel plate manufacturers to choose to have their hot rolled plates recognized by several of these governing bodies, such as ASTM International, ANSI, AISC, AISI, ASCE, ASME, and the AWS along with their European Union standards counterparts.

Abbreviation	Full description
ASTM International	American Society for Testing and Materials
ANSI	American National Standards Institute
AISC	American Institute of Steel Construction
AISI	American Iron & Steel Institute
ASCE	American Society of Civil Engineers
ASME	American Society of Mechanical Engineers
AWS	American Welding Society

What is carbon steel?

Iron and carbon are the most abundant materials present in steel. Pure iron is not particularly strong or hard on its own, so it is the addition of carbon that helps give steel its great strength.

The crude iron used to produce steel has a relatively high amount of carbon. Its carbon composition can be as high as 2.1%, which is the greatest amount of carbon a material can contain and still be considered steel.

However, iron can be processed further to reduce carbon. This manipulation of carbon alters several material properties, including:

Strength: The load a material can bear, measured by yield point and tensile strength. Yield point is the point at which a material deforms, but does not break, and tensile strength is the amount of stress needed to actually break a material.

Ductility: The amount a material can be stretched without becoming brittle. Ductility is measured by elongation, which is the percent the length of a material increases before it breaks.

Hardness: The wear resistance of material and machinability of material. This is usually measured on the Rockwell hardness scale or Brinell Hardness scale.

The carbon present in steel is typically reduced so that it fits into three main categories of carbon steel: low (or mild), medium and high carbon steel. Each of these categories contain different levels of carbon, show in the chart below.

Type of carbon steel	Carbon composition
Low carbon/mild	0.05-0.25%
Medium carbon	0.26-0.60%
High carbon	0.61-1.50%

Carbon steel plate almost include all the common standards of steel plate/sheet.

1. ASTM A36 plates – The most common standards of carbon steel plate
2. ASTM A283 Grade A, B, C – Also most common material in carbon structural.
3. ASTM A516 – For boiler, vessel steel plate.
4. ASTM A537 – For heat treated carbon steel plate in fusion welded pressure vessels and structural steel plates.
5. ASTM A573 – A kind of structural steel plate with carbon-manganese-silicon.
6. ASTM A572 – ASTM A572 plate mechanical strength is higher than A36. Where with lower weight.
7. ASTM A737 – For boiler, pressure vessels steel plate of low alloy steel.

and etc..

So carbon steel plates have a widely coverage for different types of steel plates in different industries.

What is low carbon steel?

Also known as mild steel, low carbon steel has low strength relative to steel with higher carbon levels. Low carbon steel is the most ductile – or machinable – type of carbon steel as well.

Chemical alloys can also be added to low carbon steel to enhance desired properties without increasing the material’s weight. For example, if low carbon steel requires greater hardness for its desired application, manganese can be added to increase hardness without adding weight. Low carbon steel that contains additional alloys is typically referred to as high strength, low alloy (HSLA) steel.

Some of the most common low carbon steel plate grades, all stocked by us, include ASTM A36, A572 Grades 42 & 50 and A830-1020. Each of these grades have moderate strength, high ductility and lighter weight due to the low carbon content and addition of other alloys. These properties make low carbon steel ideal for use in structural applications like building construction, bridges and transmission towers, where materials must be able to withstand high stress while also being easy to form into structural shapes.

What is medium carbon steel?

Medium carbon steel provides a balance between low and high carbon steel, offering greater strength and hardness than low carbon steel while still remaining more ductile than high carbon steel. Medium carbon steel also typically contains other alloys, such as manganese, that also contribute to its properties.

In applications where greater toughness and hardness are required, medium carbon steel plate can receive heat treatments – such as quenching and tempering – that enhance these properties without compromising its machinability.

Quenching and tempering is a two-step heat treatment process. In the quenching step of this process, steel is heated to a temperature between 1,500-and 1,650-degrees Fahrenheit, then rapidly cooled with water. In the tempering step, the steel is then re-heated to a below-critical temperature – between 300 and 700 degrees – and air-cooled. This process alters the crystal grain structure of steel to enhance hardness and other mechanical properties.

Two common medium carbon steel plate grades that stocks are ASTM A516 Grade 70 and A830-1045. The moderate carbon composition and additional alloys give these grades – and other medium carbon grades – a balance of strength, hardness, ductility and wear resistance. These properties make medium carbon steel ideal for use in applications where materials must withstand strong forces without breaking or wearing out, such as machine parts – including gears, axles and bolts – pressure vessel tanks and automotive parts and components.

Structural steel plate

Structural steel plate used in construction must meet certain criteria such as high strength, formability, ability to withstand subzero temperatures and weldability.

ASTM A283: This grade is the standard specification for low and intermediate tensile strength carbon steel plates. It covers four grades of carbon steel plates for general applications, such as manufacturing storage tanks and low pressure, temperature controlled vessels. It is formed through melt processing by either open-hearth, electric furnace, or basicoxygen.

ASTM A36: This steel is produced using a minimum yield of 36,000 psi. It has all the qualities used in structural projects requiring weldments, bolting and riveting fabrications. You will find this grade of carbon steel used most often in the construction of buildings, bridges and oil rigs.

ABS Grade A, Grade B, Grade ADH36, Grade DH36, and Grade EH36: This steel is used almost exclusively in shipbuilding, especially in the construction of ships, barges, and marine equipment. It has a tensile strength of 58 to 71 ksi, and a minimum yield of 34 ksi.

Abrasion resistant steel plate

Developed according to a specific carbon-manganese specification, this steel plate is designed to withstand wear resistance many times better than ordinary steel plate.

AR360: This plate offers minimum Brinell rating of 360 and a tensile strength of 177,000 psi, ranking the material medium for hardness and strength. Uses for this steel include the manufacture of heavy construction equipment.

AR400: This steel provides a high degree of hardness and strength because of its quenched and tempered chrome-moly, boron treatment. AR400 plate is resistant to corrosion from atmospheric conditions and protects well against impact abrasion. Uses for this plate include material handling equipment for mining.

AR500: This grade of steel is fabricated through heat treatment to achieve through-hardening as well as improved welding and forming capabilities. With a tensile strength of 247 ksi and a minimum yield of 187 ksi, it provides extraordinary protection from wear, including rub wear, slide wear, and heavy wear. It is also able to withstand high impact stress, regardless of temperature.

Hot-rolled steel sheets and coils manufacturing processes