SA517 Grade E is a high-strength, quenched and tempered alloy steel plate. It is mainly used for pressure vessels and boilers, featuring excellent toughness and weldability, suitable for low-temperature and high-pressure working environments.
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product name |
Boiler vessel plate |
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Technology |
Hot Rolled |
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standard |
EN10025 standard: S235JR, S235J0, S235J2 |
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DIN 17102 standard: StE255, WstE255, TstE255, EstE255 |
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A283/A283M A283 class a, A283 class B |
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A283 Class C, A283 Class D |
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A573/A573M A573 level 58, |
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Width |
0.6m-3m or as required |
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Length |
4m-12m or as required |
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Thickness |
3mm-300mm or as required |
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Surface Treatment |
Clean, blasting and painting according to customer requirement |
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Package |
Export standard packaging: bundled wooden box or required; |
ASME SA517 Grade E Pressure Vessel Steel Plate Chemical Composition:
| MATERIAL | C | Mn | Si | P≤ | S≤ |
| SA517GRE | 0.10-0.22 | 0.35-0.78 | 0.08-0.45 | 0.035 | 0.035 |
ASME SA517 Grade E Pressure Vessel Quality Steel Mechanical Properties:
| MATERIAL | Tensile Strength(MPa) | Yield Strength(MPa) MIN | % Elongation MIN |
| SA517GRE | 729-930 | 620 | 14 |
processing
1. Cutting
Oxy-Fuel Cutting: The most common method. For thicknesses over 1 inch, preheating the plate to 200°F–300°F (100°C–150°C) is recommended to prevent edge cracking.
Plasma/Laser Cutting: Highly effective for thinner plates. These methods produce a smaller Heat Affected Zone (HAZ) compared to flame cutting.
Cold Sawing: Best for maintaining original material properties as it introduces zero thermal stress.
2. Forming (Bending)
Cold Forming: Due to the high yield strength (100 ksi), expect significant springback.
Radius: Use a larger bend radius than standard carbon steel-typically 3 to 5 times the plate thickness.
Direction: Bending transverse to the rolling direction is preferred to avoid cracking.
Hot Forming: Generally discouraged. If the steel is heated above its Tempering Temperature (usually around 1150°F / 620°C), it will lose its strength. If hot forming is mandatory, the plate must be re-quenched and tempered afterward.
3. Welding (Critical Step)
Welding SA517 Grade E requires strict adherence to ASME Section IX procedures.
Consumables: Use Ultra-Low Hydrogen electrodes (e.g., E11018-M) to prevent hydrogen-induced cracking.
Heat Input Control: High heat input can soften the HAZ and reduce toughness. Use multi-pass, stringer bead techniques rather than wide weaving.
Preheat/Interpass Temp: Maintain temperatures between 200°F and 400°F depending on thickness. Avoid exceeding the maximum interpass temperature to protect the grain structure.
4. Machining
Hardness: Expect a Brinell hardness of approximately 235–293 HBW.
Tooling: Use Carbide-tipped tools with rigid setups to handle the material's toughness.
Strategy: Use slower speeds and constant feeds; allowing the tool to dwell will cause work-hardening, making further cutting difficult.
5. Post-Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT)
Stress Relieving: If required by code, ensure the PWHT temperature stays below the original tempering temperature (typically 50∘F to 100∘F lower).
Risk: Exceeding the tempering limit will permanently lower the yield strength below the required 100 ksi minimum.
advantages
1. Superior Strength-to-Weight Ratio
High Yield Strength: With a minimum yield of 100 ksi (690 MPa), it is nearly three times stronger than standard structural steel (like A36).
Weight Reduction: Engineers can use thinner plates to withstand the same pressure, significantly reducing the overall weight of vessels, tanks, and transport vehicles.
2. Exceptional Toughness
Low-Temperature Performance: Designed to maintain high Charpy V-notch impact resistance even in cold environments.
Brittle Fracture Resistance: The Quenched and Tempered (Q&T) process ensures the material remains ductile, preventing catastrophic failure under sudden stress or high pressure.
3. Cost-Efficiency in Fabrication
Reduced Material Volume: Thinner plates mean less steel to purchase and lower shipping costs.
Welding Efficiency: While it requires strict procedures, using thinner plates reduces the number of weld passes and the amount of filler metal required compared to thicker, lower-strength alternatives.
4. Specialized for Heavy Thickness
Deep Hardenability: Unlike Grade B, which is limited to 1.25 inches, Grade E maintains its high-strength properties in plates up to 6 inches (150 mm) thick due to its specific alloy composition (including Chromium and Molybdenum).
5. Increased Payload for Transport
Mobile Pressure Vessels: For MC-331 tankers, the lighter vessel weight allows for a higher payload of chemicals or gases, directly improving operational profitability.
6. Excellent Durability
Wear and Fatigue Resistance: The high hardness (235–293 HBW) provides better resistance to surface wear and cyclic loading fatigue compared to conventional pressure vessel steels like SA516-70.
Contact us at beam@gneesteelgroup.com for pricing, technical support, or customized solutions. We are always ready to support your project.
What are the main chemical components of SA517 Grade E?
Key components include C (0.15-0.21%), Mn (0.70-1.00%), Si (0.15-0.35%), P ≤0.020%, S ≤0.010%, Cr (0.80-1.10%), Mo (0.45-0.60%), and Ni (1.00-1.30%).
What is the typical application of SA517 Grade E?
It is widely used in manufacturing pressure vessels, boiler shells, storage tanks, and offshore oil and gas equipment that operate under high pressure and low temperature.
Is SA517 Grade E weldable?
Yes, SA517 Grade E has good weldability. Proper preheating (150-200°C) and post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) are recommended to avoid cold cracking and ensure weld joint integrity.
What is the recommended preheating temperature for SA517 Grade E welding?
The recommended preheating temperature is 150°C to 200°C (302°F to 392°F). Preheating reduces the temperature gradient, prevents hydrogen-induced cracking, and improves weld quality.
What is the maximum thickness of SA517 Grade E plates commonly available?
Common maximum thickness is up to 200 mm (7.87 inches). Thicker plates may require special heat treatment to ensure uniform mechanical properties throughout the cross-section.
What is the density of SA517 Grade E?
The density of SA517 Grade E is approximately 7.85 g/cm³ (0.283 lb/in³), the same as most carbon and low-alloy steels, which is a key parameter for weight calculation in engineering design.
What standard specifies the requirements for SA517 Grade E?
SA517 Grade E is specified by the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (Section II, Part A). This standard defines its chemical composition, mechanical properties, heat treatment, and testing requirements.
What is the impact toughness requirement of SA517 Grade E?
It requires a minimum Charpy V-notch (CVN) impact energy of 27 J (20 ft-lb) at -18°C (0°F). This ensures good toughness even in low-temperature working conditions.
What is the hardness of SA517 Grade E after heat treatment?
After quenching and tempering, its Brinell hardness (HB) is typically 220-260. This hardness level balances strength and machinability for subsequent processing.
What is the minimum yield strength of SA517 Grade E?
The minimum yield strength of SA517 Grade E is 690 MPa (100 ksi). This high yield strength ensures it can withstand heavy loads and high pressure in critical applications like pressure vessels.
What is the tensile strength range of SA517 Grade E?
Its tensile strength ranges from 795 MPa to 930 MPa (115 ksi to 135 ksi). This range balances strength and ductility, making it reliable for high-stress engineering scenarios.