What is S960Q Low Alloy Steel Plate ?
S960Q is a high-yield strength structural steel grade produced under the EN 10025-6 standard. It is a Quenched and Tempered (Q+T) material designed for applications requiring a balance of extreme strength, weight reduction, and durability.
S960QL is a high-strength, quenched and tempered (QT) weldable fine-grained structural steel. Classified under the EN 10025-6 standard, it is one of the highest-strength steels available for structural use. It is engineered for demanding load-bearing applications where reducing structural weight while increasing payload capacity is critical.
Key Characteristics
Ultra-High Strength: Features a minimum specified yield strength of 960 MPa, allowing for much higher load-bearing capacities than standard grades.
Exceptional Toughness: Maintains high impact resistance and fatigue strength even at low temperatures, making it ideal for harsh environments and dynamic loads.
Superior Weldability: Despite its strength, the low carbon equivalent design minimizes the risk of hydrogen-induced cracking and ensures compatibility with standard welding techniques.
Refined Microstructure: The specialized quenching and tempering process optimizes the steel's grain structure to achieve superior mechanical properties.
Chemical & Mechanical Properties
The material is composed of high-quality iron and carbon, alloyed with elements such as manganese, silicon, and phosphorus. These elements enhance the plate's toughness and corrosion resistance. It is available in various heat-treated states (annealed, quenched, or tempered) to meet specific project requirements.
Common Applications
S960Q is widely utilized across heavy industries where structural integrity and weight savings are critical:
| Industry | Application Examples |
| Construction & Infrastructure | Main structural components for long-span bridges and high-rise buildings. |
| Heavy Machinery | Booms for cranes, excavator components, and bulldozer frames. |
| Mining & Transport | Dump truck bodies, loaders, and heavy-duty trailers. |
| Offshore & Energy | Offshore platforms, subsea components, and wind turbine towers. |
| Aerospace & Defense | Specialized structural components requiring ultra-high strength-to-weight ratios. |
Fabrication & Compliance
To ensure the longevity and safety of components made from S960Q:
Welding: Proper procedures and heat treatments must be followed to maintain the integrity of the heat-affected zone (HAZ).
Engineering: Design and fabrication should be conducted by experts knowledgeable in high-strength steel standards to ensure compliance with international regulations.
Chemical composition % of steel S960Q (1.8941): EN 10025-6-2004
| C | Si | Mn | Ni | P | S | Cr | Mo | V | N | Nb | Ti | Cu | Zr | B | CEV |
| max 0.2 | max 0.8 | max 1.7 | max 2 | max 0.025 | max 0.015 | max 1.5 | max 0.7 | max 0.12 | max 0.015 | max 0.06 | max 0.05 | max 0.5 | max 0.15 | max 0.005 | max 0.82 |
Mechanical properties of steel S960Q (1.8941)
| Nominal thickness (mm): | 3 - 50 |
| Rm - Tensile strength (MPa) | 980-1150 |
| Nominal thickness (mm): | 3 - 50 |
| ReH - Minimum yield strength (MPa) | 960 |
| KV - Impact energy (J) longitud., | 0° 40 |
-20° 30 |
| A - Min. elongation Lo = 5,65 √ So (%) | 10 |
1What is S960Q?
S960Q is a European standard (EN 10025-6) designation for an ultra-high-strength, quenched and tempered structural steel known for exceptional strength (minimum yield strength of 960 MPa), excellent toughness, and good weldability, making it ideal for heavy-duty applications like bridges, cranes, and machinery where lightweight, durable components are needed, replacing heavier standard steels.
2What is the equivalent of S960q steel?
S960Q steel is an ultra-high-strength, weldable structural steel (EN 10025-6) known for its 960 MPa minimum yield strength, with common variants S960QL (better toughness) and S960QL1 (enhanced weldability) being closely related, often compared to high-strength Q&T steels like Dillinger's DILLIMAX 965, with no direct single-grade equivalent but rather similar high-strength alternatives (e.g., S890QL, S960QL) across different standards.
3What is the difference between S960Q and S960QL?
The main difference is toughness: S960Q is a quenched and tempered high-strength steel, while S960QL adds the 'L' designation, indicating it's tested for low-temperature impact toughness, often down to -20°C or lower, making it more suitable for cold environments than the standard S960Q, which might only meet basic impact requirements. Both offer the same 960 MPa minimum yield strength but differ in their guaranteed impact energy absorption at specific low temperatures, with QL having superior performance.
4What is the composition of S960Q?
S960Q is a high-yield strength structural steel (minimum 960 MPa) defined by EN 10025-6, known for excellent strength, toughness, and weldability, achieved through quenching and tempering (Q+T). Its composition includes typical alloying elements like Manganese, Chromium, Molybdenum, Nickel, Niobium, Titanium, and Vanadium, with low Carbon content, optimized for demanding applications in bridges, heavy machinery, and construction, requiring precise control over elements like Boron and Nitrogen.
5What is the maximum allowable stress value for S960QL?
S960QL is a high-strength structural steel with a minimum yield strength (Rp0.2) of 960 MPa, and its typical tensile strength (Rm) ranges from 980 MPa to 1150 MPa, so the maximum allowable stress is generally taken as its minimum yield strength or slightly below its tensile strength, depending on design codes, with engineers often using a safety factor on the 960 MPa minimum or its ultimate tensile value, around 1000-1050 MPa for design.
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