Brief Introduction Of Low Alloy High Strength Steel 16Mn

Many steel material buyers purchase steel plate in China, especially high strength low alloy steel.

16Mn is kind of C-Mn steel, its carbon content is from 0.1% to 0.25% and with some alloy elements such as manganese (Mn), silicon (Si), vanadium (V), niobium (Nb), titanium (Ti) and other elements. 16 Mn is a kind of low alloy steel with large output and the most extensive application. This kind of steel can be used as the alternative material of many kinds of steel.Today we introduce 16Mn as your reference for purchasing steel plate in China.

As a old Chinese standards, 16Mn is edited from GB 1591-1988 “low alloy structural steel”, has now been replaced by Q345. Low alloy steel Q345 steel has 5 quality grades, which are represented by from Q345A to Q345E. It can be said that Q345 steel is the substitution of old brand steel of 12MnV, 14MnNb, 18Nb, 16MnRE, 16Mn and other steel types, rather than only 16Mn steel. Their corresponding foreign maters are showed below:

GB ASTM JIS EN DIN
Q345A Grade 50 SPFC 590  E335(St 52-3) 1.0060
Q345B Grade 50 SPFC 590 S355JR  1.0045
Q345C Grade 50 SPFC 590 S355JO 1.0553
Q345D Grade 50 SPFC 590 S355J2 1.0577
Q345E Grade 50 SPFC 590 S355NL 1.0546

What’s The Difference Between 16Mn And Q345?

The chemical element of Q345 steel is basically the same as that of 16Mn steel. The difference lies in the addition of Ti, Nb and V micro alloying elements, which can refine grain, improve toughness, and finally improve the mechanical properties of steel. In other words, the comprehensive mechanical properties of Q345 steel are better than that of 16Mn steel, especially its low temperature performance and allowable stress.

Standards comparison:

Chemical composition comparison

Steel C Si Mn P S Cr  Ni Cu Nb V Ti N Mo
16Mn 0.12~0.20 0.20~0.55 1.20~1.60 ≤0.045 ≤0.045 ≤0.30 ≤0.30 ≤0.30 / / / / /
Q345B ≤0.20 ≤0.50 ≤1.70 ≤0.035 ≤0.035 ≤0.30 ≤0.50 ≤0.30 ≤0.07 ≤0.15 ≤0.20 ≤0.012 ≤0.10

16Mn is a typical grade of low alloy high strength steel, mainly including 16Mn steel plate, 16Mn seamless tube and 16Mn forgings, they are widely used in the manufacture of medium and low pressure vessels and oil tanks as well as general mechanical structural parts.
The ratio of the main constituent elements of Q345 steel is basically the same as that of 16Mn steel. The difference is the addition of Ti, Nb, and V trace alloying elements.

Q345 steel is the replacement of the old grades of 14MnNb, 12MnV, 16MnRE, 16Mn, 18Nb, and other steels, not just the replacement of 16Mn. In terms of chemical composition, 16Mn and Q345 are also different. More importantly, there is a big difference in the thickness grouping size of the two steel materials according to the different yield strength, which will inevitably cause the change of the allowable stress of certain thickness materials. Therefore, it is not appropriate to simply apply the allowable stress of 16Mn steel to Q345 steel, and the allowable stress should be re-determined according to the new steel thickness grouping size.

The ratio of the main constituent elements of Q345 steel is basically the same as that of 16Mn steel. The difference is the addition of Ti, Nb, and V trace alloying elements. A small amount of Ti, V, and Nb alloy elements can refine the grains, improve the toughness of the steel, and greatly improve the comprehensive mechanical properties of the steel. Because of this, the thickness of the steel plate can be made larger. Therefore, the comprehensive mechanical properties of Q345 steel should be better than 16Mn steel, especially its low temperature performance is not available in 16Mn steel. The allowable stress of Q345 steel is slightly higher than that of 16Mn steel.

What Is The Difference Between Q345 Material And 16Mn Steel?

Q345 material and 16Mn steel are a kind of steel names. Their starting points are different. Q345 material is named from the yield strength of steel, Q stands for yield strength (initial letter of yield), 345 is the value of yield strength, which is 345 Mpa. However, 16Mn steel refers to 0.16% carbon content and 0.7% – 1.0% manganese content.

In addition, the name of 16Mn steel is the old national standard, that is, the former name, because the former national standard has requirements on the manganese content of this material, that is, the manganese content is between 0.7% – 1.0%. However, the new national standard does not require the manganese content of this material, so it does not need to be expressed in 16Mn steel, which is replaced by Q345 material.

Usually, I have friends who ask 16Mn steel, and I will explain to him. Of course, if there are certain requirements for manganese content of Q345 material, I will also screen for customers and try to meet his requirements.

Classification by quality grade: Q345 is low-alloy steel of ordinary quality, and 16Mn is high-quality low-alloy steel.

Q345 belongs to GB/T1591-94 low-alloy high-strength structural steel. 16Mn belongs to JB4726-2000 carbon steel low alloy steel forgings for pressure vessels. Looking at the standards, it should be clear that the two steels have different uses.

In comparison, 16Mn has stricter requirements for sulfur and phosphorus content, and stricter quality requirements. 16MN and Q345 are the same in general use, but only 16MN can be used for containers and boilers, because Q345 is not listed in GB150, if you want to use it, the procedure is very troublesome, and it is classified according to characteristics. Both are weldable low alloy high strength structural steel.

The starting point of the name is different

Q345 and 16Mn are a name for steel. Their starting points are different. Q345 is named from the yield strength of steel. Q stands for yield strength (the first letter of yield), and 345 is the value of yield strength. And 16mn refers to the carbon content of 0.16%, manganese content (0.7%-1.0%).

The name of 16mn is the old name of the national standard, that is, the previous name, because the previous national standard has requirements for the manganese content of this material, that is, the manganese content is between (0.7%-1.0%), and the new national standard has already There is no requirement for the manganese content of this material, so 16mn is not used to represent it, and q345 is used instead.

Q345 Equivalent

【H】 Ceramic lined pipe

Ceramic lined pipe is made through self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) technique.

【H】 Cast basalt lined steel pipe

Cast basalt lined steel pipe is composed by lined with cast basalt pipe, outside steel pipe and cement mortar filling between the two layers.

【H】 Ceramic Tile Lined Pipes

Ceramic tile lined pipes have very uniform coating of specially formulated ceramic material that is affixed to the inner of the pipe.

【H】 Rare earth alloy wear-resistant pipe

The material of the rare earth alloy wear-resistant pipe is ZG40CrMnMoNiSiRe, which is also the grade of rare earth alloy steel.

【H】 Tubes Erosion Shields

Tubes Erosion Shields are used to protect boiler tubing from the highly erosive effects of high temperatures and pressures thereby greatly extending tube life.

【H】 ASTM A213 T91 Alloy Tube

The ASTM A213 T91 seamless tubes are primarily used for boiler, superheater, and heat-exchanger.

Ni-Hard Wearback Pipes Ni-Hard Wearback Pipes
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