The uses and material characteristics of medium-thick plates
Medium and heavy plates are mainly used in construction engineering, mechanical manufacturing, container manufacturing, shipbuilding, bridge construction, etc. They can also be used to manufacture various containers, furnace shells, furnace plates, bridges, and automotive static steel plates, low alloy steel plates, shipbuilding plates, boiler plates, pressure vessel plates, and welded components, etc. They have the characteristics of impact resistance, corrosion resistance, high plasticity, strong toughness, cold bending performance, and welding performance.
(1) Bridge steel plates: Steel plates used for large railway bridges, which are required to withstand dynamic loads, impacts, vibrations, and corrosion, such as Q235q and Q345q.
(2) Shipbuilding steel plates: Steel plates used for manufacturing the hulls of ocean and inland river vessels, which need to have high strength, good plasticity, toughness, cold-bending performance, weldability, and corrosion resistance. Examples include A32, D32, A36, and D36.
Boiler steel plates (boiler plates): Used for manufacturing various boilers and important accessories. As boiler steel plates operate under medium temperature (below 350°C) and high pressure conditions, they must withstand high pressure, as well as impacts, fatigue loads, and water and gas corrosion. They also need to have certain strength and good welding and cold-bending performance, such as Q245R.
(3) Steel plates for pressure vessels: Mainly used for manufacturing pressure vessels for petroleum and chemical gas separation and gas storage and transportation, as well as other similar equipment. Generally, the working pressure is from atmospheric pressure to 320 kg/cm² or even up to 630 kg/cm², and the working temperature is within the range of -20 to 450°C. The steel plates for pressure vessels must have certain strength, good plasticity and toughness, as well as good cold bending and welding properties, such as Q245R, Q345R, 14Cr1MoR, 15CrMoR, etc.
(4) Steel for vehicle frames: Used for manufacturing vehicle frames (longitudinal beams, cross beams), with low alloy hot-rolled steel plates of thickness 2.5 - 12.0 mm. Due to the complex shape of vehicle frames, in addition to requiring high strength and good cold bending performance, good stamping performance is also required.
Characteristics of medium-thick plate materials
First, the impact and vibration resistance performance is extremely good. Therefore, by incorporating medium-thick plates in buildings and bridges, the vibration resistance will be significantly enhanced, greatly improving the safety.
Secondly, because the thickness is much thinner than that of ordinary steel plates, the corrosion resistance of medium-thick steel plates is not as outstanding. They are rarely used in industries such as petrochemicals.
Thirdly, it has excellent load-bearing capacity and outstanding performance. In bridges, car frame steel plates, and buildings, there are strict requirements for the load-bearing capacity of steel. If these requirements are not met, accidents are likely to occur. Therefore, when choosing steel, very strict criteria are applied.
