S960QL is a high-strength structural grade. S960QL Steel Plate is designed with different chemical elements giving them superior performance and enhanced resistance. The S960ql is quenched and tempered, giving the subsequent modules enhanced strength and abrasion resistance across stress-induced systems. Structural Steel 960 shows outstanding resistance to wear and tear while showing enhanced tolerance to weathering.
The S960 material possesses superior surface quality and superb bendability in different environments. Designed with exceptional consistency, the Steel 960 exhibits high impact toughness while providing enhanced resistance against stress fracture. The versatile S960mc grade exhibits superior yield strengths of minimum 960mpa, giving it outstanding load-bearing capacity.
S960 Ql modules possess good weldability and excellent toughness with HAZ strength in the system. The Steel 960mc comes in thickness between 4mm up to 35mm. It has an impact hardness of 40J with excellent notch toughness. The S960QL High Strength Structural Steel Plate is widely used in heavy transport, mining industry, lifting material, and so on.
EN10025-6 S960QL quenched and tempered steel plate Chemical composition
| Grade | C % | Si % | Mn % | P % | S % | N % | B % | Cr % |
| S960QL | 0.200 | 0.800 | 1.700 | 0.020 | 0.010 | 0.015 | 0.005 | 1.500 |
| Cu % | Mo % | Nb % | Ni % | Ti % | V % | Zr % | ||
| 0.500 | 0.700 | 0.060 | 2.000 | 0.050 | 0.120 | 0.150 |
EN10025-6 S960QL quenched and tempered steel plate mechanical properties
| Grade | Thickness(mm) | Min Yield (Mpa) | Tensile(MPa) | Elongation (%) | Min Impact Energy | |
| S960QL | 8mm-50mm | Min 960Mpa | 980-1150Mpa | 10% | -40 | Min 30J |
| 51mm-100mm | Min 910Mpa | 920-1000Mpa | 10% | -40 | Min 30J | |
| 101mm-150mm | Min 860Mpa | 870-980Mpa | 10% | -40 | Min 30J |
Key Processing Aspects
Welding:
Techniques: Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW/MIG) and Manual Metal Arc Welding (MMA/stick) are common.
Challenges: Cold cracking in the HAZ is the primary issue due to the steel's microstructure.
Solutions: Use filler metals with similar or lower strength (e.g., G Mn4Ni2.5CrMo for MIG), controlled heat input, and potentially pre-heating/post-weld heat treatment (PWHT).
Cutting:
Plasma or laser cutting are used, but grinding the cut edges to remove oxides and the HAZ is crucial before welding.
Forming/Bending:
While it offers good bendability for its strength, it's best done in a facility equipped for it, as forming can be difficult and risks cracking.
Heat Treatment:
The "QL" designation means it's delivered in a Quenched and Tempered state, giving it its high strength.
Post-Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT) with methods like localized electron beam PWHT can refine the HAZ structure, improve ductility, and reduce residual stresses.
Quality Control:
Mill test certificates (MTCs) confirm mechanical properties (yield/tensile strength) and chemical composition.
Destructive and non-destructive testing (NDT) of welded joints verifies performance.
Why It's Processed This Way
High Strength: Allows for weight reduction in structures (e.g., cranes, heavy vehicles).
Toughness: Provides resistance to fracture, even at low temperatures (down to -40°C for some grades).
Fine-Grained Structure: Achieved through Q&T processing, giving it superior strength, but making HAZ management critical during fabrication.
applications
1. Construction Machinery Industry
This is a core application field for S960QL. Its high strength-to-weight ratio and wear resistance significantly enhance equipment performance and service life.
Crane Structures: Used in boom sections, jibs and chassis of truck, crawler and mobile cranes. It reduces structural weight by over 30% vs conventional steel, boosting lifting capacity and cutting energy consumption by 12-15%.
Excavation Equipment: Applied to excavator arms, bucket rods and bodies. Its wear resistance is 40% higher than ordinary steel, with fatigue life tripled, adapting to high-impact, high-abrasion construction sites.
Mining Machinery: Used for mine truck floors, coal mine hydraulic supports and drilling rig supports. It resists heavy load impact and ore friction, with 50% higher impact resistance (-20℃ verified) and 4.5-year service life for mine truck floors.
2. Transportation Industry
S960QL meets transportation equipment's lightweight and high-strength needs, improving load capacity and operational safety.
Truck and Trailer Components: Used in truck chassis, trailer frames and anti-collision bars. Italy's Mantella adopted Strenx® 960 Plus (equivalent to S960QL) for trailer chassis, matching aluminum weight while retaining steel's durability.
Railway Equipment: Applied to high-load carriages, bogie frames and connectors. Its excellent fatigue resistance ensures stable operation under repeated loads.
Special Transportation Vehicles: Used for heavy-duty trucks, hazardous chemical tanks and refrigerated bodies, suitable for cold regions due to low-temperature toughness.
3. Construction and Bridge Engineering
It is widely used in large construction projects requiring high structural strength and design flexibility.
Super High-Rise Buildings: Used for core columns, steel beams and floor structures. It reduces component cross-sections, increases indoor space and enhances seismic performance.
Large Bridges: Applied to high-stress components of suspension, cable-stayed and highway bridges. Its high tensile/compressive strength ensures stability under extreme weather and heavy traffic.
Special Structures: Used in stadiums, exhibition centers and industrial plants, adapting to complex shapes and heavy loads.
4. Offshore and Extreme Environment Equipment
With excellent low-temperature toughness and post-treatment corrosion resistance, S960QL suits offshore and polar harsh environments.
Offshore Platforms: Used for oil rigs, supports and underwater pipelines, resisting seawater corrosion and wave impact.
Polar and Cold Region Equipment: S960QL variants have ≥60J impact energy at -40℃, suitable for polar ships and cold-region equipment, avoiding brittle fracture.
5. Agricultural Machinery and Other Fields
Agricultural Machinery: Used for tractor frames, harvester cutting tables and grain transport parts, withstanding farmland impacts and extending service life.
Military Equipment: Applied to military vehicle chassis and armored components, meeting high strength, lightweight and anti-impact requirements.
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What is S960QL?
S960QL is a high-strength quenched and tempered structural steel. It boasts a minimum yield strength of 960 MPa, offering excellent toughness and weldability. Widely used in heavy machinery, construction, and offshore structures due to its superior load-bearing capacity.
What is the minimum yield strength of S960QL?
The minimum yield strength of S960QL is 960 megapascals (MPa). This high yield strength makes it suitable for applications requiring heavy load resistance, ensuring structural stability in demanding engineering projects like crane booms and bridge components.
What processing method is S960QL subjected to?
S960QL undergoes quenching and tempering (Q&T) processing. Quenching hardens the steel, while tempering relieves internal stress and improves toughness. This process balances strength and ductility, essential for high-performance structural use.
Is S960QL weldable?
Yes, S960QL is weldable, but proper procedures are required. Preheating and post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) are recommended to prevent cold cracking. Use low-hydrogen welding consumables to maintain its mechanical properties after welding.
What are the main chemical components of S960QL?
Key components include carbon (C ≤ 0.20%), manganese (Mn ≤ 1.80%), silicon (Si ≤ 0.60%), and alloying elements like chromium, molybdenum, and nickel. These elements enhance its strength, toughness, and hardenability during heat treatment.
What is the typical application of S960QL?
S960QL is commonly used in heavy-duty equipment: crane booms, mining machinery, offshore platforms, and high-rise building steel structures. It also fits in military vehicles and pressure vessels requiring high strength-to-weight ratio.
What is the maximum thickness of S960QL available?
S960QL is available in thicknesses up to 150 mm, depending on manufacturers. Thicker plates may need adjusted heat treatment to ensure uniform mechanical properties across the cross-section, meeting project-specific requirements.
What is the tensile strength range of S960QL?
Its tensile strength ranges from 1050 to 1200 MPa. This range ensures the steel can withstand high tensile forces without deformation or failure, making it ideal for load-bearing structures in harsh working environments.
Does S960QL require preheating before welding?
Yes, preheating is necessary for S960QL welding. The recommended preheating temperature is 80-150°C, depending on thickness. Preheating reduces the cooling rate, preventing martensite formation and cold cracking in the weld zone.
What is the impact toughness of S960QL?
S960QL has excellent impact toughness, typically ≥ 40 J at -20°C (Charpy V-notch test). This ensures it resists brittle fracture in low-temperature environments, suitable for outdoor and offshore applications.