4mm Q960E Ultra High Strength Steel Plate

4mm Q960E is a thin‑specification (4 mm) QT structural steel meeting GB/T 16270, with 960 MPa yield strength and –40°C impact toughness (the "E" grade). While impact tests for <6 mm are not mandatory, they can be supplied on request. Its QT route delivers full‑thickness hardening, fine grain structure, lower CEV for welding, and strict flatness, designed for lightweight thin‑wall structures.

GNEE Steel supplies this 4mm Q960E grade with full traceability, offering flexible dimensions, ready stock, and one‑stop processing services – from laser cutting to cold bending – to support your prototyping and production needs.

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 Significant Lightweight Performance

• Strength comparison: Yield strength is 2.7 times that of Q355B, 2.1 times that of Q460C
• Weight reduction effect: Replaces 6–8mm ordinary structural steel under the same load, achieving 30%–50% single component weight reduction
• Industrial application benefits: Directly improves equipment payload, reduces fuel consumption and transportation cost

Uniform Through-Thickness Performance

• Through-thickness mechanical property uniformity, uniform tempered sorbite structure
• Intra-plate strength deviation controlled within 3%, stable performance of each blanked small part

Optimized Cold Formability for Thin Gauge

• Room temperature 90° cold bending: Passes with R ≥ 2t without cracks
• Supports precision bending, stamping and roll forming, suitable for various special-shaped thin-wall components

High-Efficiency Welding Adaptability

• CEV typically ≤0.45% (depending on thickness and heat treatment route), lower than medium-thick specifications
• Preheating may not be required under controlled conditions above 0°C, depending on welding procedure and heat input, significantly improving on-site assembly efficiency

• Construction Machinery: Boom skins, reinforcing ribs and auxiliary structural parts of truck cranes and aerial work platforms
• Special & Mining Vehicles: Lightweight carriage plates, side beams and protective structures of fire trucks, mining dump trucks and emergency rescue vehicles
• Agricultural Machinery: High-load frames of harvesters, balers and large seeding equipment
• Lightweight Steel Structures: Space truss chords, solar mounting brackets and purlin components pursuing high strength-to-weight ratio 

What Is The Price Per Ton Of Q960E Steel Plate?

As of mid-2026, the FOB China price of Q960E ultra-high strength steel plate ranges from 850 to over 1200 USD per ton depending on plate thickness - the mainstream 20–50mm specification is priced at 850–980 USD/ton - and you can find a complete size-by-size quotation, market trend analysis and procurement tips in our dedicated Q960E steel plate price guide.

(This differentiated section builds expert authority, strengthens customer trust, and encourages buyers to send inquiries for professional verification)

• Grade substitution risk: Some suppliers disguise thin Q690E / Q890E sheets as Q960E products, exploiting the inherent higher tensile strength characteristic of thinner steel gauges.
• Process shortcut trap: Adopting TMCP thermomechanical controlled rolling instead of offline quenching & tempering (QT) treatment, which causes serious softening in the welding heat-affected zone after fabrication.
• Flatness rejection trap: Quenched plates without precision leveling exhibit severe warpage; this leads to a scrap rate exceeding 20% after cutting and cold bending operations.
• False low-temperature impact performance claim: Unsubstantiated marketing claims of "-40℃ impact toughness compliance" without valid test reports. Per GB/T 16270 standard, full-size Charpy V-notch impact testing is not mandatory for steel plates thinner than 6 mm.
• Mill test certificate counterfeit trap: Supplying forged or duplicate MTC (Mill Test Certificate) documents lacking traceable heat lot numbers, which cannot guarantee genuine material quality.

While 4mm Q960E delivers outstanding lightweight benefits, its ultra-high strength and thin gauge result in a narrower process window than ordinary carbon steel during fabrication. Improper operation can easily lead to edge cracking, welding cold cracks, or post-cutting warpage, which raises scrap rates and construction costs. Drawing on over a decade of experience in high-strength steel supply and fabrication, GNEE Steel has summarized the following field-proven process parameters for direct on-site application, helping you avoid common processing pitfalls.

Welding Process Guidelines

Recommended welding consumables: ER100S-G low-hydrogen welding wire, matched to the 960MPa strength grade

• Preheating requirement: No preheating is required at ambient temperature ≥ 0℃; 80–100℃ local preheating is recommended when the temperature drops below 0℃
• Welding heat input: Controlled within 12 – 20 kJ/cm to avoid excessive softening of the heat-affected zone
• Deformation control: Symmetrical welding and sectional intermittent welding are recommended for 4mm thin plates to minimize post-weld warpage

Cold Bending & Forming Parameters

Minimum 90° cold bending mandrel diameter: minimum bending radius R ≥ 2t, passing without cracks at room temperature

• Bending springback reference: 3° – 5°, which can be used for pre-compensation of press brake parameters
• Sharp bending suggestion: Slotting before bending or warm forming process is advised to avoid edge cracking and reduce forming risk

Cutting Process Recommendations

• Priority option: Laser cutting – narrow kerf, minimal heat-affected zone, and negligible thermal deformation, ideal for precision blanking of 4mm thin gauge
• Alternative option: CNC plasma cutting for medium-precision irregular shapes
• Not recommended: Flame cutting – prone to edge burning and hardened layer cracks on thin ultra-high strength steel

If your facility is not equipped with dedicated processing equipment for ultra-high strength steel, lacks mature process experience, or simply wants to cut secondary processing costs and shorten project lead time, GNEE Steel can provide a full set of customized processing solutions for 4mm Q960E plates. You only need to provide drawings and requirements, and we will deliver finished components that meet your specifications, eliminating the need for process debugging and reducing scrap risk on your end.

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To reduce your secondary processing costs and shorten on-site fabrication lead time, GNEE Steel provides full-range customized processing services tailored for 4mm Q960E thin plates, delivered by our professional fabrication team with strict dimensional tolerance control:

• Precision Cutting: CNC laser and plasma cutting for custom irregular shapes, with cutting surface roughness ≤ Ra25 and dimensional deviation within ±0.5mm

• Bevel Preparation: V-type, X-type, K-type bevel machining to match on-site welding requirements, ensuring consistent bevel angle and root face dimension

• Surface Pretreatment: Shot blasting up to Sa2.5 grade, with optional epoxy zinc-rich primer or anti-rust coating to extend outdoor storage life and reduce on-site surface treatment workload

• Forming Support: Cold bending and rolling services within the allowable bending radius, accompanied by professional process parameter guidance to avoid forming defects

Ready to put 4mm Q960E to work?
You've seen the data – 2.7× the strength of Q355B, full‑thickness uniformity, weldable without preheat (in mild conditions), and bendable down to R=2t. But numbers only come alive when they solve your real‑world weight and fabrication challenges.

At GNEE Steel, we don't just supply coils and plates – we back every shipment with traceable mill test certificates, on‑site process support, and one‑stop cutting/bending/beveling services to get your components production‑ready. Our current inventory covers 4–150 mm thicknesses, with 4 mm thin sheets available for immediate order.

Contact our technical team today for a free material selection review, sample testing, or a quote tailored to your project. Lightweight your design – without compromising strength or weldability.

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Q960E Steel Plate Packing & Delivery

Standard Marine packing, can be customized according to customer requirements

1) Bundle

2) In Bulk

3) Water proof plastic wrap.
20ft GP: 5.8m(length) x 2.13m(width) x 2.18m(high)
40ft GP: 11.8m(length) x 2.13m(width) x 2.18m(high)
40ft HG: 11.8m(length) x 2.13m(width) x 2.72m(high)

What is the difference between Q960D and Q960E?

The core difference lies in low temperature impact performance: Q960D guarantees impact toughness at -20℃, while Q960E guarantees impact performance at -40℃, which is more suitable for cold regions and low-temperature service scenarios.

Does Q960E steel require preheating before welding?

Yes. For plates with thickness ≥ 20mm, preheating at 100–150℃ is recommended, matched with low-hydrogen welding consumables and controlled heat input of 15–25 kJ/cm to avoid cold cracking.

What is the maximum available thickness of Q960E steel plate?

Conventional supply thickness ranges from 8mm to 150mm, and customized thickness beyond the range can be negotiated by order.

Is 4mm Q960E produced in accordance with GB/T 16270?

4mm Q960E is a customized thin gauge produced under the framework of GB/T 16270. Its mechanical properties meet the Q960 grade requirements of the standard, but the standard Charpy V-notch impact test is not mandatory for plates thinner than 6mm.

Does 4mm Q960E need preheating before welding?

For 4mm Q960E, no preheating is required when the ambient temperature is above 0℃ with matched low-hydrogen welding consumables. Local preheating at 80–100℃ is recommended when the temperature is below 0℃.

What is the minimum bending radius for 4mm Q960E?

The minimum 90° cold bending mandrel diameter is 2 times the plate thickness (R ≥ 2t) at room temperature, which can pass without cracks.