Materials database

Lean duplex stainless steel with minimal Ni and Mo — the most cost-effective duplex grade. Uses Mn and N instead of expensive Ni for austenite stability. Double the yield strength of 304 (450 MPa vs 190 MPa). Used as a direct replacement for 304/316L where higher strength or better SCC resistance is needed.

Lean duplex stainless steel with low Mo content. More economical than 2205 with better corrosion resistance than 304/316L. Developed for construction, water treatment, and storage tanks where full duplex properties are not required.

The most widely used high-speed steel worldwide. W-Mo-Cr-V composition gives excellent red hardness (cuts at temperatures up to 600°C). Used for twist drills, end mills, taps, reamers, bandsaw blades, and general-purpose cutting tools. The benchmark HSS grade.

Cobalt super high speed steel — 8% Co for maximum hot hardness (HRC 69 at 550°C). THE HSS for machining superalloys, titanium, and pre-hardened steels where M2 burns out. Mo-series (not W-series like T15). Reaches HRC 68-70 after hardening — among the hardest HSS grades. Also known as HS2-9-1-8 (EN) or SKH59 (JIS). Used for drills, end mills, taps, broaches, and milling cutters for difficult-to-machine materials.

Nickel-copper alloy with excellent resistance to seawater, hydrofluoric acid, and alkaline environments. One of the few alloys resistant to HF acid at all concentrations. Used for marine engineering, chemical processing, oil refinery piping, and valve/pump components.

Age-hardenable version of Monel 400. Al and Ti additions enable precipitation hardening to double the strength of Monel 400. Retains excellent seawater and HF acid resistance. Used for pump shafts, impellers, doctor blades, oil well tools, and marine fasteners.

Nitrile butadiene rubber (Buna-N) — THE oil and fuel resistant elastomer. ACN content (18-50%) determines the oil resistance vs low-temp flexibility tradeoff. Higher ACN = better oil resistance but stiffer at low temp. The most widely used seal material worldwide. Used for O-rings, fuel hoses, gaskets, hydraulic seals, oil seals, and nitrile gloves. Not suitable for ozone, UV, or polar solvents (ketones, esters). HNBR variant for higher heat resistance.

Nickel-chromium age-hardenable alloy with Ti + Al for gamma-prime strengthening. Developed originally for gas turbine blades. Good creep resistance to ~700°C. Used for exhaust valves, springs at elevated temperatures, nuclear engineering fasteners, and gas turbine components. ≈ UNS N07080.

Precipitation-hardened Ni-Cr-Co superalloy — Ti+Al for gamma-prime strengthening. Creep-resistant to 920°C (higher than Nimonic 80A at ~815°C). Co 15-21% for solid-solution strengthening. Used for gas turbine blades, turbine discs, exhaust re-heaters, high-temp springs, and motorsport engine valves. Also hot-working tools.

Oil-hardening cold-work tool steel. Good balance of wear resistance, toughness, and machinability at moderate cost. Very predictable heat treatment response. The standard choice for hand tools, gauges, jigs, fixtures, taps, reamers, and general precision tooling.

Pre-hardened plastic mold steel (usually delivered at 28-34 HRC). The most widely used mold base steel globally. Good machinability in pre-hardened condition, good polishability. Used for injection molds, die-casting dies, extrusion tooling, and structural mold components.

Lowest-strength pressure vessel steel — ReH >=235 MPa. Excellent weldability due to very low C (max 0.16%). THE entry-level boiler/pressure vessel plate in EN 10028-2. Used for low-pressure vessels, boiler drums, heat exchangers, and steam piping at modest pressures and temperatures to ~400°C.

Unalloyed pressure vessel steel — THE standard boiler plate material in Europe. ReH >=265 MPa, good weldability, guaranteed elevated-temperature properties to ~450°C. "GH" = suitable for use at elevated temperatures. Used for boilers, pressure vessels, heat exchangers, and steam drums per EN 10028-2 and PED 2014/68/EU.

Weldable fine-grained non-alloy steel for pressure vessels with minimum yield strength 275 MPa. NH designation indicates normalized condition with impact testing at -20°C. Widely used entry-level pressure vessel grade for boilers, storage tanks, heat exchangers, and pipes transporting hot liquids. Good weldability without preheating for most thicknesses.

Weldable fine-grained non-alloy steel for pressure vessels with minimum yield strength 275 MPa and impact testing at -40°C (NL1 designation). Low-temperature variant of P275NH. Used for low-temperature pressure vessels, cryogenic storage tanks, and process equipment where guaranteed sub-zero toughness is required. Good weldability without preheating for most thicknesses.

Mid-range pressure vessel steel — ReH >=295 MPa. Between P265GH and P355GH. Used for unfired pressure vessels, heat exchangers, and boiler components per EN 10028-2. Good weldability and guaranteed elevated-temperature yield strength. Widely specified in European process plant design.

Higher-strength pressure vessel steel — ReH >=355 MPa, guaranteed elevated-temperature properties. Between P265GH and 16Mo3 in the pressure vessel hierarchy. Used for boilers, steam drums, heat exchangers, and pressure piping operating to ~400°C. EN 10028-2, PED 2014/68/EU compliant. Good weldability.

Weldable fine-grained non-alloy steel for pressure vessels with minimum yield strength 355 MPa in normalized condition. N designation indicates impact testing at room temperature. Widely used medium-strength pressure vessel grade for boilers, heat exchangers, storage tanks, and process vessels. Also standardized for seamless tubes (EN 10216-3) and welded tubes (EN 10217-3). Equivalent to ASTM A537 Class 1.

Weldable fine-grained non-alloy steel for pressure vessels with minimum yield strength 355 MPa. NH designation indicates normalized condition with specified elevated temperature properties and impact testing at -20°C. Very widely used pressure vessel grade for boilers, storage tanks, heat exchangers, and pipes transporting hot liquids and pressurized gases. Good weldability and resistance to brittle cracking.

Normalized pressure vessel steel with low-temperature toughness — ReH >=355 MPa, Charpy at -40°C (KV >=27J). "NL" = Normalized + Low-temperature. Used for pressure vessels, storage tanks, and process equipment operating in cold environments (LPG, cryogenic). EN 10028-3 + PED compliant.

Weldable fine-grained non-alloy steel for pressure vessels with minimum yield strength 355 MPa and impact testing at -40°C (NL1 designation). Low-temperature variant of P355NH for applications requiring guaranteed toughness at sub-zero temperatures. Used for cryogenic storage vessels, LNG/LPG tanks, and pressure equipment operating in cold environments. Equivalent to ASTM A737 Grade B.

Weldable fine-grained non-alloy steel for pressure vessels with minimum yield strength 355 MPa and impact testing at -50°C (NL2 designation). The most stringent low-temperature variant of the P355 series with tightest P and S control. Used for cryogenic storage vessels, LNG tanks, and pressure equipment in extreme cold service. Commonly stocked by European plate distributors.

High-strength weldable fine-grained alloy steel for pressure vessels with minimum yield strength 460 MPa in normalized condition. N designation indicates impact testing at room temperature. Used for high-pressure boilers, large storage tanks, heavy process vessels, and pipeline components. Equivalent to DIN StE460 and API 5L Grade X70.

Highest-strength normalized pressure vessel fine-grain steel — ReH >=460 MPa. "N" = normalized, "H" = elevated temperature. Used for high-pressure vessels, boiler drums, and chemical reactors where maximum strength with guaranteed elevated-temperature properties is needed. EN 10028-3 + PED compliant. Good weldability due to fine grain and controlled CEV.