What temperature is P355N?
P355N is a fine-grained construction steel for pressure vessels, designed for normal to low-temperature service, with its strength maintained down to around -20°C, though it's often specified for general room-temperature use in applications like tanks and pipes, unlike P355NH for low temps or P355GH for high temps. While it has a high melting point (around 1370-1400°C), its service temperature range is typically from sub-zero to around 400°C, with specific mechanical properties varying by temperature.

P355N is the "workhorse" grade of the EN 10028-3 standard. It is a globally recognized steel used when a project must comply with European safety codes. It is highly valued in international procurement because it is widely stocked by steel stockholders across Europe and Asia.
Decoding the Name:
P: Short for "Pressure," ensuring the material has undergone Ultrasonic Testing (UT) to check for internal flaws or laminations.
355: The grade's strength metric ($355$ MPa), equivalent to 51,500 psi.
N: Denotes the heat-treated state, which is mandatory for many high-pressure vessel certifications.
Key Comparison:
In the global market, P355N is the direct rival to the American ASME SA537 Class 1. Both are normalized pressure vessel steels. However, P355N is more strictly aligned with the metric system and Eurocode 3, making it the preferred choice for projects designed in Europe or the Middle East.
Key Characteristics:
PED Certification: Every plate comes with a 3.1 or 3.2 Inspection Certificate, providing full traceability back to the heat of the steel mill.
High Yield-to-Tensile Ratio: This allows engineers to utilize more of the material's strength in their calculations, leading to weight savings.
Longevity: The fine-grain structure resists aging and fatigue, extending the maintenance intervals of the finished vessel.

Common Applications:
Found in offshore platform equipment, gas scrubbers, and large-scale autoclaves used in the pharmaceutical and food processing industries.
What is the machinability of P355N steel ?
P355N steel offers good machinability, described as being comparable to B1112 steel (around 66% machinability), allowing for effective machining into precise components for pressure vessels and other applications, with recommendations for appropriate cutting speeds (around 110 ft/min) and emphasis on its excellent weldability and use in demanding high-pressure/temperature environments.
What is the composition of P355N ?
P355N is a normalized, weldable fine-grain structural steel (EN 1.0562) for pressure purposes, primarily composed of iron with controlled amounts of carbon, manganese, silicon, phosphorus, sulfur, and small additions of chromium, molybdenum, niobium, titanium, vanadium, aluminum, and nitrogen, designed for strength in boilers, pressure vessels, and piping, with key elements like Mn (0.9-1.7%) and low Carbon (<=0.2%) ensuring weldability and fine grain structure.
What is the difference between P355 N and P355 NH steel?
P355 N and P355 Nh are both pressure vessel steels, but they differ in their intended applications based on temperature. P355 N is designed for room temperature service, while P355 Nh is specifically for elevated temperature applications, meaning it retains its strength and properties at higher temperatures.
|
Equivalent steel grade of P355N |
|||||||
|
Europe |
Belgium |
Germany |
France |
Italy |
Sweden |
India |
Japan |
|
Fe E355 |
D52-1,2 |
A St52 |
A52CP |
Fe510-1-KW |
SS 21,06,01 |
Grade 1 |
SPV 355 |
EN 10216-3 Grade P355N Steel Chemical Structure
| Carbon | Silicon | Manganese | Phosphorous | Sulphur | Molybdenum | Nickel | Chromium | Copper | Others |
| max 0.20 | max 0.50 | 0.90-1.70 | 0.025 | 0.02 | max 0.08 | max 0.50 | max 0.30 | max 0.30 |
Mechanical properties of steel P355N (1.0562)
| Nominal thickness (mm): | to 60 | 60 - 100 | 100 - 150 | 150 - 250 |
| Rm - Tensile strength (MPa) (+N) | 490-630 | 470-610 | 460-600 | 450-590 |
| Nominal thickness (mm): | to 16 | 16 - 40 | 40 - 60 | 60 - 100 | 100 - 150 | 150 - 250 |
| ReH - Minimum yield strength (MPa) (+N) | 355 | 345 | 335 | 315 | 305 | 295 |
| KV - Impact energy (J) transverse, (+N) | -20° 27-30 |
0° 35-40 |
+20° 39-50 |
| KV - Impact energy (J) longitud., (+N) | -20° 40-45 |
0° 47-65 |
+20° 55-75 |
| Nominal thickness (mm): | to 60 | 60 - 250 |
| A - Min. elongation at fracture (%) (+N) | 22 | 21 |
1What is P355N material equivalent to ?
P355N (EN 1.0562) is a European fine-grain structural steel, with key equivalents including ASTM A537 Class 1 (US), API 5L Grade X52, and older standards like StE 355 (German DIN) and 2106 (Swedish SS), all characterized by good weldability and strength for pressure vessels, boilers, and pipelines.
2What is the hardness of P355N?
P355N steel, a normalized, weldable pressure vessel steel (EN 1.0562), typically has a Brinell hardness value around 120-160 HB for thinner sections, though specific values depend on thickness, with strength requirements (yield 355 MPa, tensile 490-650 MPa) often prioritized over hardness, noted for good toughness.
3What are the typical application fields of P355N?
P355N is a normalized, fine-grain steel primarily used for pressure vessels, boilers, and pressure piping in industries like oil, gas, chemical processing, and power generation, for manufacturing items such as reactors, heat exchangers, storage tanks, and gas cylinders, valued for its good weldability and performance at various temperatures.
4Is P355N carbon steel?
Yes, P355N is a type of carbon steel, specifically a normalized, fine-grain, non-alloy steel for pressure applications, known for its good weldability and impact strength at low temperatures, commonly used in boilers, pressure vessels, and pipes. While it's categorized as non-alloy, it can sometimes contain small amounts of chromium and molybdenum for improved properties, making it a high-quality structural material for demanding uses.
5Is P355N hard to drill ?
Yes, P355N, a type of pressure vessel steel (similar to stainless/alloy steels), can be challenging to drill due to its strength and tendency to work-harden, requiring slow speeds, significant force, proper lubrication (like cutting oil), and sharp, appropriate bits (cobalt or carbide) to manage heat and prevent dulling, rather than being a simple mild steel job.
6What are the primary advantages of P355N ?
P355N steel's primary advantages are its high strength, excellent toughness, and good weldability, making it ideal for demanding applications like pressure vessels and boilers, especially those requiring good impact resistance, even at lower temperatures (as seen in related P355NL grades). It offers superior performance in high-pressure, high-temperature environments, with variants providing enhanced low-temperature toughness (NL1/NL2), ensuring reliability in critical energy and chemical infrastructure.
7What are common testing requirements for P355N ?
P355N, a weldable fine-grain structural steel for pressure vessels (EN 10028-3), requires tests for mechanical properties (tensile, impact at low temperatures), chemical composition, dimensional accuracy, internal soundness (ultrasonic testing), and surface quality, often with PWHT simulation and mill test certificates (EN 10204 3.1/3.2). Key tests include low-temperature impact tests (Charpy V-notch), tensile strength, and ultrasonic testing (UT) for internal defects, ensuring suitability for pressure applications.
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