SPV490 Pressure Vessel Plate

SPV490 is a steel plate grade for pressure vessels as defined under the Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS). It follows the JIS G 3115 standard and is primarily used for manufacturing pressure vessels, boilers, and high-pressure equipment operating at room or moderate temperatures.

Equivalent Grades 

The approximate equivalents for SPV490 in other international standards are:

ISO Standard: PT610Q / PT610QH

ASTM (US): A543 Type C Class 3 (or similar 610MPa class pressure vessel plates)

Former JIS Name: SPV 50 (Used prior to 1990)

applications

1. Pressure Vessels and Storage Equipment

The most critical application for SPV490 is the fabrication of vessels capable of withstanding medium to high internal pressures.

Spherical Tanks & Storage: Used for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) storage, liquefied gas tanks, and large-capacity storage tanks operating at ambient or moderate temperatures.

Reactors & Heat Exchangers: In the petrochemical industry, it is used for core static equipment such as reactors, heat exchangers, and separators.

Liquefied CO2 Tanks: Within the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) value chain, high-strength steels like SPV490 are ideal for manufacturing onshore and shipborne medium-pressure storage tanks for liquefied CO2.

2. Energy and Power Industry

Power Station Boilers: Used for manufacturing boiler steam drums, headers, and other pressure-bearing components subjected to high pressure.

Hydropower Equipment: Utilized for high-pressure penstocks and turbine spiral cases. Its high strength allows for thinner plates, reducing overall weight while maintaining safety.

Nuclear Power: Applied in nuclear reactor pressure vessels and associated high-pressure piping systems.

3. Heavy Machinery and Transportation

Transport Containers: Used in the fabrication of pressurized railway tank cars, ISO tank containers, and specialized vessels for transporting volatile chemicals.

Industrial Equipment: Used for air preheaters, economizers, and heavy engineering machinery components that require high structural reliability.

4. Infrastructure and Construction

Large Structural Components: Due to its superior weldability, it is sometimes employed in high-demand bridge construction, architectural structures, and foundation supports for high-rise buildings.

Manufacturing Process of SPV490 Steel Plate

Smelting and Refining

SPV490 is smelted by electric arc or converter furnace, followed by LF furnace refining to remove impurities. VD/VOD vacuum treatment is applied to reduce gas content in molten steel, ensuring high purity. The steel is formed into billets via continuous casting or ingot casting, with electroslag remelting optional for premium quality.

Heating and Controlled Rolling

Billets are heated to 1180±10℃ and held for 1.5-2h for full austenitization. Two-stage controlled rolling is adopted with a total reduction of 78%: 33%-55% deformation in the austenite recrystallization zone, then rolling starting at 930±10℃ in the non-recrystallization zone, with 44% first-stage deformation as the optimal parameter.

Direct Quenching and Tempering (DQT)

Online direct quenching is conducted immediately after rolling at 850±10℃, transforming austenite into fine martensite and bainite to enhance hardenability (1.4-1.5 times that of traditional reheating quenching). Tempering is processed at 640-680℃ for 40min, relieving internal stress and optimizing the strength-toughness balance.

Finishing and Inspection

The steel plate is cut to size, with ultrasonic flaw detection (ASTM A435/A578) and low-temperature impact tests performed. It is delivered in normalized, normalized+tempered or quenched+tempered condition, with Z-direction performance (Z15-Z35) available on request.

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What is SPV490?

SPV490 is a kind of high-strength shipbuilding steel plate, mainly used in the construction of ship hulls and marine structures. It has excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance, adapting to harsh marine environments.

What are the main mechanical properties of SPV490?

SPV490 features high tensile strength (490-630MPa) and yield strength (≥315MPa). It also has good toughness and ductility, ensuring structural stability under heavy loads and low-temperature conditions at sea.

Which standards does SPV490 comply with?

SPV490 complies with the Japanese industrial standard JIS G 3115. This standard specifies the technical requirements, chemical composition, mechanical properties and inspection methods of shipbuilding pressure vessel steels.

What is the chemical composition range of SPV490?

The main chemical components of SPV490 include C (≤0.18%), Si (0.15-0.55%), Mn (1.00-1.60%), P (≤0.035%), S (≤0.035%), and trace elements like Cu, Cr, Ni to enhance performance.

What are the typical applications of SPV490?

SPV490 is widely used in manufacturing ship hull plates, deck plates, bulkheads, and marine pressure vessels. It is also applicable to offshore platforms and other marine engineering structures requiring high strength.

Does SPV490 require heat treatment before use?

Yes, SPV490 usually undergoes normalizing heat treatment (heating to 850-900℃, holding, then air cooling). This process refines the grain structure, improving its strength and toughness for marine service.

What is the maximum operating temperature for SPV490?

The maximum safe operating temperature for SPV490 is around 350℃. Beyond this temperature, its mechanical properties (strength, toughness) will gradually decrease, affecting structural reliability.

How to test the quality of SPV490 steel plates?

Quality testing of SPV490 includes chemical composition analysis (spectrometry), mechanical property tests (tensile, impact, bending), ultrasonic flaw detection, and surface quality inspection to ensure no defects.

Is SPV490 resistant to seawater corrosion?

SPV490 has basic seawater corrosion resistance due to its chemical composition. However, for long-term marine service, additional anti-corrosion measures (such as painting, galvanizing) are recommended to extend its service life.