Europe Steel Grading System
Steel is a key material in numerous industries throughout the world, ranging from energy generation and construction to automotive and consumer goods. This makes it imperative for professional engineers, technicians, fabricators and welders to know the grades of steel and how they reflect the different characteristics and properties of a material.
In the European Union, steel grades are classified according to the EN standard 10025. It is grouped into a single sub-classification, and can be further divided into four subcategories according to, mechanical properties, chemical composition, other important characteristics and heat treatment process.
The mechanical properties of steel are defined as the ability of a material to resist plastic deformation under a load, usually expressed as its tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation. A series of steels are assigned a grading number between 0 and 100 that indicates their mechanical properties. For example, steel grade S355 is assigned a mechanical property rating of 50, which reflects its tensile strength, yield strength and elongation.
The chemical composition of a steel is also part of the grading system. The percentages of the elements that make up steel are important for determining its properties. There are three elements that have an important role in determining the grade of a steel: carbon, manganese and phosphorus. A higher level of carbon in steel can make it harder, while a higher level of manganese will make it stronger. Phosphorus is an important element that helps stabilize a steel structure by preventing the growth of grain boundaries.
Heat treatment process defines the tempering and quenching of the steel to enhance its mechanical properties. This process defines how the steel is to be heated, cooled, tempered and quenched in order to change its structure. With this process, the strength, ductility and other properties of steel can be adjusted.
The EN 10025 standard also defines different sub-categories of steel grades. These refer to structural steels, structural steels with a specific chemical composition and steels for cooling. Structural steels are the basic grade of steel used in European countries and have mechanical properties such as tensile strength, yield strength, and ductility. These steels are used for basic structures such as bridges and buildings. Structural steels with a specific chemical composition are used for specific applications such as railway wagons and blasting balls. Finally, steels for cooling are used for components that require higher heat-resistant qualities.
By understanding the European Union standard for steel grades and the grades that fall within this system, professionals from different industries can have a better understanding of the different types of steel and the grades of steel. There are a variety of alloy steels with different chemical compositions, mechanical properties and heat-treatment processes, which can all be part of the EN 10025 standard. Thus, understanding the way the European Union grades steel is important, as it will help to determine the optimal grade of steel for any given project.
