Global Steel Supply & Processing
Fine-grain pressure vessel carbon steel plate in the 380–515 MPa tensile class. Source Grade 55 for approved welded-vessel designs with clear plate dimensions, required delivery state and heat-based test records.
Order the 380–515 MPa tensile class with its own 205 MPa minimum yield requirement. Confirm nominal thickness, delivery condition and the vessel-project testing schedule before quotation.
| Purchase item | What to specify for your order |
|---|---|
| Material grade | ASTM A516/A516M Grade 55; specify ASME SA-516/SA-516M Grade 55 explicitly if project documentation requires ASME material designation. |
| Thickness (mm) | Provide nominal thickness and tolerance. Example RFQ thicknesses: 8, 12, 20, 32, 45 and 60 mm. Actual thickness availability is quoted per mill. |
| Width × length (mm) | Provide finished dimensions, allowable tolerance, rolling direction when relevant, and whether you need full-size plate or separately heat-marked cut blanks. |
| Delivery condition | As-rolled, normalized, or specified project route as permitted by the applicable material standard and order requirements. |
| Inspection / testing | Tension tests, chemical analysis, optional Charpy V-notch, ultrasonic testing, simulated PWHT tests or HIC by agreed scope. |
| Traceability | Heat number, plate identification, producing steelworks, test results, MTC and any project inspection release. |
| Commercial terms | Quantity (MT), destination, delivery window, packing and Incoterm. |
A516 does not set a single universal mill stock range. ASTM A516/A516M-25 states that allowable maximum plate thickness depends on meeting the chemical and mechanical requirements; supply range is verified for the selected steelworks and route.
Send thicknesses, width × length, total tonnage and required inspection conditions in one RFQ.
Grade 55 has a minimum yield of 205 MPa and a 380–515 MPa tensile range in the ASTM SI system. Confirm elongation at the specified gauge length, plate identity and testing records.
| Property | Grade 55 reference | Procurement note |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum yield strength | 205 MPa | ASTM SI specification. |
| Tensile strength | 380–515 MPa | Grade-specific ASTM tensile requirement. |
| Elongation in 50 mm (2 in.) | 27% minimum | Apply A20/A20M thickness and specimen rules. |
| Elongation in 200 mm (8 in.) | 23% minimum | Not interchangeable with 50 mm gauge results. |
| Steelmaking | Killed, fine-grain practice | Verify heat analysis and certificate. |
Grade 55 is the 55–75 ksi class within ASTM A516 (380–515 MPa in its SI designation). An ASME pressure-vessel project may call for SA-516 Grade 55: verify the material code edition and certificate wording before purchasing.
All four grades belong to ASTM A516, but their design strength classes are different. Match the exact grade on the approved equipment drawing and bill of materials.
| ASTM A516 grade | Minimum yield (SI) | Tensile strength (SI) | Purchase note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 55 — this page | 205 MPa | 380–515 MPa | 55 ksi tensile class; choose where the design specifies Grade 55. |
| Grade 60 | 220 MPa | 415–550 MPa | Distinct 60 ksi strength class and certificate acceptance. |
| Grade 65 | 240 MPa | 450–585 MPa | Separate intermediate-strength designation. |
| Grade 70 | 260 MPa | 485–620 MPa | Higher tensile class; not a default replacement. |
Verify the Grade 55 carbon ceiling for the actual plate thickness. Review C/Mn adjustments, heat analysis, weldability limits and supplementary chemistry restrictions before accepting the MTC.
| Element | Control for A516 Gr.55 orders |
|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | Heat-analysis C max: ≤0.18% (t ≤12.5 mm), ≤0.20% (12.5–50 mm), ≤0.22% (50–100 mm), ≤0.24% (100–200 mm), ≤0.26% (t >200 mm). |
| Manganese (Mn) | Base Mn heat-analysis range: 0.60–0.90%. A specified lower-carbon/higher-manganese allowance may apply under ASTM A516, up to 1.50% Mn maximum by heat analysis when the standard conditions are satisfied. |
| Silicon (Si) | Heat analysis 0.15–0.40%. |
| Phosphorus (P) | ≤0.025% reference maximum; projects may specify a tighter limit. |
| Sulfur (S) | ≤0.025% reference maximum; lower-sulfur or sour-service requirements are quoted separately. |
| Carbon equivalent (CEV) | Specify a project maximum or supplementary requirement when weldability control is required. |
For pressure-containing equipment, the material certificate should identify the heat number and corresponding chemistry. Grade 55 sets five thickness-dependent heat-analysis carbon ceilings, from 0.18% through 0.26%. The base manganese range is 0.60–0.90%, silicon is 0.15–0.40%, and P/S are capped at 0.025% each. Check any permitted carbon/manganese adjustment on the material certificate. Confirm the ordered edition, permitted composition adjustments and any agreed supplementary conditions.
Plate thickness and notch-toughness requirements influence whether the material is supplied as-rolled or normalized.
Plates 40 mm and under are normally supplied as-rolled, subject to the applicable standard and project testing conditions. Normalized plate can be ordered.
A516 plates above 40 mm fall under the standard normalizing requirement. Specify any additional heat-treatment and certification conditions in the purchase order.
For plates 40 mm and under ordered with notch-toughness testing, the normalizing provisions and purchaser exceptions need to be checked with the material specification.
For Grade 55 plate in pressure-containing equipment, document any additional impact testing from the vessel code and MDMT assessment. State temperature, specimen direction, minimum energy and sampling in the requisition.
Specify Grade 55 for welded shells, heads, tanks or process equipment when the approved material list calls for this strength level. Coordinate plate thickness, forming tolerance, impact testing and delivery condition with the fabricator.
Plate prepared for forming, welding and approved vessel fabrication procedures.
Material for qualifying pressure equipment and tank projects where specified by the design.
Shell courses, formed heads and welded assemblies.
Material where the project permits the specified Grade 55 route.
Oil & gas, chemical plant and mechanical equipment fabrications.
Full-size plate supply and project-cut blanks with retained heat identity.
For Grade 55, align the mill test certificate and ordered as-rolled or normalized condition with forming, welding and any post-weld heat treatment. Preserve plate/heat numbers during cut-to-size work and assembly.
Use project-approved welding and heat-treatment procedures; material selection alone does not certify a completed vessel.
Coordinate specifications, supplier documentation, plate dimensions and logistics through one commercial contact.
Actual annual production across the wider company steel business; not presented as A516-specific output.
Company-wide routine inventory across steel categories. Grade 55 availability, heat numbers and normalized-plate options are verified against the order, separate from the overall steel inventory.
Company-wide operating area supporting manufacturing, material handling and logistics.
Organization-wide workforce supporting production, processing, service and shipment coordination.
Plate manufacturing, normalization, inspection and certification need to match the purchase specification. BAOSTEEL METAL coordinates the supplier route and documentation against the requested application.
Send the Grade 55 plate schedule with finished dimensions, requested MTC wording, normalizing route and testing scope. Stock and mill rolling lead times are assessed against those conditions.
Confirm heat numbers, plate sizes, remaining quantities, available certificates and the required as-rolled or normalized condition.
Coordinate production for required dimensions, normalization and specific testing with the nominated mill.
Arrange approved cutting and retain traceability records where the buyer needs blanks or an assembly plate list.
For complex vessel orders, attach the material list and technical purchase conditions.
A Grade 55 release review matches heat and plate marks to the MTC: chemical composition, 205 MPa yield minimum, tensile range, elongation, heat treatment and any special testing specified by the buyer.
Image position for real quality-control or plate-marking evidence. Use original or authorized photographs.
Grade 55 orders may require additional UT, impact, HIC or simulated PWHT testing. Define the method, specimen criteria and acceptance level before production, because base ASTM grade properties do not cover all project extras.
Where ordered, define the examination method, acceptance level, plate coverage and report requirement (for example, the agreed ASTM UT route).
Hydrogen-induced cracking tests, product route and acceptance criteria are project-specific and must be quoted separately. A standard Gr.55 MTC is not an HIC approval.
Request simulated fabrication heat cycles and mechanical testing when required by the vessel design or procurement specification.
Estimate theoretical plate weight from nominal dimensions to help prepare the RFQ; actual invoice weight follows commercial and measured tolerances.
Formula: thickness × width × length × plate quantity × 7.85 × 10⁻⁹ = metric tonnes (dimensions in mm; nominal density 7,850 kg/m³). Excludes cutting loss and commercial tolerances.
Use nominal dimensions only for preliminary weight estimation; check weighing and tolerances at dispatch.
Processing is coordinated where it improves project preparation, while preserving the material identity required by the purchaser.
Thickness, geometry, edge quality and subsequent welding control determine the processing route. We can review cut-list feasibility with the specified mill condition and tolerance requirements.
Match the shipment to receiving-site handling requirements, identification rules and the agreed Incoterm.
For plate lots, review lifting, securing, surface condition, shipping marks and certificate attachments before dispatch. The shipment record should retain heat-to-plate traceability.
Select the governing material specification first. Similar application does not make two grades interchangeable.
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If your project has a vessel code, MDMT, PWHT or sour-service requirement, specify it before comparing plate prices.
It is a fine-grain, killed carbon steel plate used in welded pressure-containing equipment where the material requisition calls for ASTM A516 Grade 55. Design-code conditions and inspection documents govern acceptance.
The ASTM SI Grade 55 values are minimum yield 205 MPa and tensile strength 380–515 MPa. Base elongation values are 27% (50 mm gauge) and 23% (200 mm gauge), subject to A20/A20M requirements.
ASTM A516/A516M-25 specifies normalization for plates over 40 mm. Plates at or below 40 mm are usually as-rolled, but ordered notch-toughness tests normally trigger normalization unless the purchaser specifies otherwise.
The Grade 55 designation alone does not establish a particular low-temperature Charpy test result. State test temperature, energy, specimen orientation, sampling and acceptance rules in the material order.
State the ASME/ASTM certification wording and code edition in the RFQ. We will check whether the proposed producing mill, material documents and delivery route support the specified order.
A516 Grade 55 base specification does not itself establish HIC-tested or sour-service qualification. Include the applicable project testing method, acceptance limits and required mill route for a qualified quote.
Include the UT method, acceptance level, witness points and third-party requirements in the purchase order. Specific availability is confirmed for the source and plate thickness.
Send grade and edition, thickness × width × length, tonnage, heat treatment, test/inspection scope, project code, destination port and target delivery schedule.
Send your required grade, dimensions, quantity and destination. Our team will review the inquiry.
