Steel grades in the Czech Republic
The steel industry in the Czech Republic has a long and varied history, with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. In the 19th century the modern steel industry was established by a number of European countries and was further developed in the 20th century as the Iron Curtain made its way eastward. Steel production was a cornerstone of the Czech economy and its production was an important contributor to the nation’s construction, automotive, and aerospace industries.
Today, Czech steel production is comprised of a number of different types of steel grades. Low carbon grades are most common, followed by medium and high carbon grades. Other types of grades include free-cutting steel, high strength steel, stainless steel, tool steel, and spring steel.
Each of these grades have their own specific chemical composition, which is responsible for different physical properties such as ductility and wear resistance. Generally, the higher the carbon content, the higher the strength and hardness of the steel. To ensure the steel fulfills its required purpose, the chemical composition of each grade must meet certain standards.
In the Czech Republic, steel grades are mainly standardized according to the European Union’s EN10025 standards. This is a set of standards established by the European Committee for Standardization (EN) as well as individual national standards across the European Union. The EN10025 standards are divided into six parts: Part 1, General Requirements; Part 2, Technical Delivery Conditions; Part 3, Structural Steels; Part 4, Non-Alloy Structural Steels; Part 5, Weldable Fine Grain Structural Steels; and Part 6, Quench- and Tempered Steels.
Each part of the EN10025 standards contains a list of steel grades used for a specific application. For example, Part 3 (Structural Steels) includes Grade A and Grade B, while Part 5 (Weldable Fine Grain Structural Steels) includes Grade S235JR. The number of steel grades used for a project depends on its size, complexity, and purpose.
In addition to the EN10025 standards, steel grades in the Czech Republic and across Europe tend to feature different designations and symbols. These range from simple symbols indicating basic alloying elements to more complex symbols indicating specific qualities. For example, common symbols used in the Czech Republic are C, Cr, and Mn, which stand for carbon, chromium, and manganese, respectively. Other symbols such as Si, P, and N are also used and denote properties such as silicate, phosphorous, and nitrogen.
In summary, the steel industry in the Czech Republic is highly developed and can cater to all types of projects. Steel grades are mainly standardized according to EN10025 standards and feature a range of designations and symbols to denote different physical and chemical properties. The different grades and their associated symbol indicate the best material for a given application.
