Boiler & Pressure Vessel Steel Plate
Boiler and pressure vessel steel plate is a killed, fine-grain normalized or thermomechanically rolled plate engineered for high strength, notch toughness, and excellent weldability under elevated temperature and pressure service.
Material
Fine-Grain Killed Carbon-Manganese and Microalloyed Steel. Common grades include ASME/SA516 Gr.55/60/65/70, SA537 Cl.1/2, SA285 Gr.C; EN 10028-2 P265GH, P355GH, P460NH; JIS G3118 SB410, SB450, SB480.
Model
PVQ Plate, Boiler Quality Plate
Size
Standard widths from 1500 mm to 4000 mm; lengths up to 18000 mm. Can be supplied as mill prime or precision pre-cut.
Thickness
6 mm to 300 mm, with the most common range for vessel shells being 10 mm to 100 mm.
Standard
ASME SA/SA516, SA/SA537, SA/SA285; EN 10028-2; JIS G3118; GB 713. Compliant with design codes like ASME BPVC Section VIII, PED 2014/68/EU.
MOQ
15 Metric Tons.
Delivery Time
Standard lead time is 6 to 12 weeks from order confirmation, dependent on grade, thickness, and required certifications/testing.
Long Description
Boiler and pressure vessel steel plate is a specialized product manufactured for the fabrication of pressure-containing equipment such as boilers, heat exchangers, reactors, and storage tanks. Its production involves fully killed steelmaking (typically with silicon and aluminum) to ensure a fine, uniform austenite grain structure, followed by controlled rolling and normalizing or quenching & tempering heat treatments. This process guarantees homogeneous mechanical properties, low susceptibility to aging, and superior notch toughness to prevent brittle fracture. The plates are characterized by strict control over chemical composition (particularly sulfur and phosphorus), non-destructive testing requirements (ultrasonic examination), and enhanced through-thickness properties. They are supplied to rigorous international pressure equipment codes which mandate specific design values for tensile and yield strength at room and elevated temperatures.
Key Product Highlights
This plate is produced to exacting pressure equipment codes like ASME Section II, EN 10028, and AD 2000-Merkblätter.
It exhibits excellent notch toughness and resistance to brittle fracture across a wide temperature range.
Fine-grain practice and killed steel metallurgy ensure uniform properties and good weldability with low risk of porosity.
Plates are often supplied with mandatory ultrasonic testing (UT) inspection to internal quality standards.
Available in normalized (N), thermomechanically rolled (TM), and quenched & tempered (QT) delivery conditions for different strength levels.
Product Advantages
Full traceability and certification ensure compliance with the strictest safety regulations for pressure equipment.
Consistent mechanical properties across the plate and through the thickness enable reliable engineering design and fabrication.
The material’s performance at elevated temperatures is well-documented and codified for accurate design calculations.
Third-party inspection and supplementary testing (e.g., HIC test, step-cooling) are available for sour service or specific environmental requirements.
Established supply chains support the procurement needs of fabricators for both small batches and large projects.
Industry Application
This plate is used in the fabrication of fired and unfired pressure vessels, steam boilers, reactor shells, heat exchanger shells and tubesheets, separator drums, liquefied gas storage tanks, and high-pressure piping.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Unit | Carbon Steel Grade (e.g., P355GH) | Quenched & Tempered Grade (e.g., P460NL1) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon Content (C) | % | ≤ 0.20 | ≤ 0.18 | Controlled for weldability and strength. |
| Manganese (Mn) | % | 0.90 – 1.60 | 1.00 – 1.70 | Primary strengthening element. |
| Phosphorus (P) | % | ≤ 0.025 | ≤ 0.025 | Tighter control than structural steels. |
| Sulfur (S) | % | ≤ 0.015 | ≤ 0.010 | Very low to improve toughness and formability. |
| Tensile Strength | MPa | 470 – 630 | 560 – 720 | Grade and condition dependent range. |
| Yield Strength | MPa | ≥ 355 (t≤16mm) | ≥ 460 (t≤16mm) | Minimum ReH value at room temperature. |
| Elongation | % | ≥ 22 | ≥ 19 | Minimum longitudinal value. |
| Hardness | HB | N/A | N/A | Not a primary specified property. |
| Thickness | mm | 6 – 120 | 6 – 120 | Strength values are thickness dependent. |
| Width | mm | 1500 – 4000 | 1500 – 4000 | Standard mill capabilities for plate products. |
| Coil Weight | MT | N/A | N/A | This product is supplied as plates, not coils. |
| Surface Treatment | – | As-Rolled, Blast Cleaned | As-Rolled, Blast Cleaned | Often supplied descaled for inspection. |
| Coating / Finish | – | Normalized (N), Normalized-Rolled (NR) | Quenched & Tempered (QT) | Delivery condition is critical for properties. |
| Rolling Type | – | N/A | N/A | Parameter is specific to coil products. |
| Standard Example | – | EN 10028-2 P355GH+N | EN 10028-3 P460NL1+QT | Representative grade, condition, and material standard. |
Packaging & Surface Treatment
Plates are carefully bundled on heavy-duty steel skids with protective wooden dunnage between layers to prevent surface abrasion and facilitate lifting. Bundles are tightly strapped with steel bands. For long-term storage or sea transit, they are often wrapped in waterproof, reinforced plastic or coated paper. The surface is typically supplied as-rolled (with mill scale) or blast-cleaned to Sa 2.5, ready for ultrasonic inspection and subsequent fabrication.
Aliases Names
Pressure Vessel Quality (PVQ) Plate, Boiler Quality Plate, P355GH Plate, SA516 Plate, Vessel Steel, Fired Heater Plate.
