What Is EN 10025-5 S355J2W Steel Plate?
S355J2W grade steel under the EN 10025-5 standard is a weathering resistant steel, which could more accurately be termed an atmospheric corrosion resistant steel. S355J2W steel plate is a copper-chromium alloy steel that displays a greater level of resistance to atmospheric weathering than other unalloyed steels. Its chemical composition promotes the early formation of an adhering protective layer of rust when exposed to the elements. Often, welds on these steels are specified for similar corrosion resistance and color match, so that the fabricated structure weathers uniformly.
Standard and Steel Category
EN 10025-5 is the European standard for hot-rolled structural steel products, Part 5 covering technical delivery conditions for structural steels with improved atmospheric corrosion resistance. S355J2W belongs to the corten steel family, a high-strength weathering steel. The word CorTen is the trademark name given to a weathering steel alloy material originally produced by United States Steel. Corten weathering steel grades were developed to reduce or eliminate the use of coats, primers, or paints on the material to make it rustproof; when exposed to the environment, corten steel forms an outer rust layer that protects the steel from corrosion.
Chemical Composition and Mechanical Properties
The chemical composition of S355J2W is: carbon up to 0.16 percent, silicon up to 0.50 percent, manganese 0.50-1.50 percent, phosphorus up to 0.030 percent, sulfur up to 0.030 percent, chromium 0.40-0.80 percent, and copper 0.25-0.55 percent. The chromium and copper additions give the steel its protective rust layer, while the controlled carbon and impurity levels keep it weldable and tough. Mechanically, the grade is specified with a tensile strength of 510-680 MPa, a minimum yield strength of 355 MPa, and a minimum elongation of 16 percent measured on a 50 mm gauge, with Charpy impact testing at -20 degrees Celsius.
Equivalents
Common equivalents for S355J2W include W.Nr 1.8965, WSt52.3, S355J2G1W, WR50C, SMA570W, E36WB4, and ASTM A588 Grade A. As a reference, ASTM A588 Grade A is specified with carbon up to 0.19 percent, manganese 0.80-1.25 percent, phosphorus 0.04 percent, sulfur 0.05 percent, silicon 0.30-0.65 percent, nickel up to 0.40 percent, chromium 0.40-0.65 percent, copper 0.25-0.55 percent, and vanadium 0.02-0.10 percent. Equivalence should be confirmed against the governing standard before substitution, because delivery conditions and testing rules differ between standards.
Specification and Applications
Typical supply specifications include thickness up to 16 mm and width up to 2000 mm, with length customized as required. The steel is available in hot-rolled, normalized, as-rolled, and thermo-mechanically rolled delivery states, in plate and sheet shapes. S355J2W is widely used in air preheaters, economizers, bridge building, construction, railway carriages, and container production, where atmospheric corrosion resistance and long service life are required. The material can be supplied with third-party inspection and product identification testing to confirm the chemical composition and mechanical properties.
FAQ
1. What is S355J2W steel?
It is a weathering steel under EN 10025-5 with improved atmospheric corrosion resistance, achieved through a copper-chromium alloy design.
2. What are the mechanical properties of S355J2W?
Tensile strength 510-680 MPa, minimum yield strength 355 MPa, minimum elongation 16 percent, and impact testing at -20 degrees Celsius.
3. What are the equivalents of S355J2W?
W.Nr 1.8965, WSt52.3, S355J2G1W, WR50C, SMA570W, E36WB4, and ASTM A588 Grade A are commonly cited equivalents.
4. Where is S355J2W used?
Air preheaters, economizers, bridge building, construction, railway carriages, and container production.
5. What thickness is available?
Typical supply is up to 16 mm thickness and 2000 mm width, with customized length.
6. Why is it called corten steel?
CorTen is the trademark name of the weathering steel alloy family originally produced by United States Steel; the name combines corrosion resistance and tensile strength.
