ASTM A517 Grade Q Steel Plate | A517 Gr.Q QT High Strength Vessel Plate

ASTM A517 Grade Q is the thick-capable grade in ASTM A517/A517M. The plate is high-strength quenched-and-tempered alloy steel for fusion-welded boilers and pressure vessels. Yield is 690 MPa through 65 mm and 620 MPa from there to 150 mm. As a China mill Agent, SHH STEEL supplies it to the ASTM product specification.

The same plate is written A517 Gr.Q, A517GRQ, A517 GR Q, A517 Grade Q, ASME SA517 Grade Q, SA517 Gr.Q, SA517GRQ and A/SA517 Grade Q. They all mean Grade Q. ASTM A517/A517M is the product specification. ASME SA-517/SA-517M is the Code companion used with Section VIII.

ASTM A517 lists eight grades—A, B, E, F, H, P, Q and S. They share one mechanical table where thickness overlaps. They do not share alloy content or maximum thickness. Grade Q and Grade E may be furnished up to 150 mm (6 in.). Grade P stops at 100 mm. Grade F stops at 65 mm. Grade H and Grade S stop at 50 mm. Grade A and Grade B stop at 32 mm. That is why jack-up, offshore and heavy reactor inquiries land on A517 Gr.Q more often than on Grade B.

The steel is killed and made to fine austenitic grain practice under ASTM A20 / ASME SA-20. Heat treatment is mandatory quench and temper: austenitize at not less than 900 °C, quench in water or oil, temper at not less than 620 °C. As-rolled or normalize-only plate is not A517GRQ.

Do not mix this page with ASTM A516 or ASME SA516. Those are carbon vessel plates. ASTM A517 Grade Q is a QT alloy plate. It is also not structural A514. A514 is a structural specification. A517 is a pressure-vessel specification with A20 general requirements and vessel testing.

For Code work the plate is dual-certified to ASME SA517 Grade Q and used under ASME Section VIII. Certificates can be EN 10204 3.1 or EN 10204 3.2.

When a project is still choosing high-strength vessel plate, Direct Mill Supply by SHH STEEL puts A517GRQ next to ASME SA537, ASTM A537, ASME SA387 and ASTM A285, so the buyer can see whether they actually need 690 MPa QT or a lower-strength carbon / Cr-Mo route.

This plate belongs to the Pressure Vessel Steel Plates family. It is not a structural HSLA Steel Plates substitute and not a Carbon Steel Plates grade.

Chemistry for ASTM A517 Grade Q is reported as heat analysis and, when specified, product analysis under ASTM A517/A517M. Grade Q is a Ni-Cr-Mo-V alloy. That combination is why the plate can hold QT properties through 150 mm.

Heat Analysis — ASTM A517 Grade Q / A517GRQ

Product Analysis — A517 Gr.Q / SA517 Grade Q

A Grade F heat cannot be recertified as Grade Q. Nickel, chromium and vanadium bands are different, and Grade F stops at 65 mm. If the drawing says ASTM A517 Grade Q, the ladle must sit in the Grade Q table. As a China mill Distributor, SHH STEEL reports heat analysis on every certificate and adds product analysis when ASTM A20 or the vessel specification requires it.

Tighter phosphorus, sulfur or residuals are supplementary. Vacuum carbon deoxidation and other A20 chemistry items are available when written on the order.

All A517 grades share one tensile table. Thickness is what changes the numbers.

Tensile Requirements — ASTM A517 Grade Q per ASTM A517/A517M

That second line is why people specify Grade Q instead of Grade F. Grade F stops at 65 mm. Grade Q stays on the same specification to 150 mm.

Density is 7.85 g/cm³. Hardness after QT is typically in a high-strength vessel range; a special HBW window is a supplementary requirement.

ASTM A517 requires transverse Charpy V-notch testing with a minimum lateral expansion of 0.38 mm (0.015 in.) on each specimen. The test temperature is agreed between purchaser and manufacturer. Do not assume −40 °C unless the purchase order says so.

Specimens follow ASTM A20. If simulated PWHT is specified, coupons from the same A517 Gr.Q heat follow the vessel cycle before tensile and impact testing. On QT 690 MPa plate that request should be on the mill order whenever the shop will PWHT the vessel.

Order ASTM A517 Grade Q when the drawing names Grade Q or when thickness exceeds what Grade F can carry. If the plate is only 20 mm, Grade B may be the cheaper alloy at the same tensile table—but only if the drawing allows the grade change. SHH STEEL does not swap Q for B on a Code vessel without a written revision.

HSLA Steel Plates and S690QL structural plate are not ASTM A517. If the equipment is Section VIII, stay on A517 / SA517.

ASTM A517 Grade Q exists because some vessels cannot be designed in A516 or A537 without excessive thickness. The 690 MPa yield line (to 65 mm) cuts wall thickness. The 150 mm ceiling keeps the same specification on heavy courses.

When dual certified to ASME SA517 Grade Q, allowable stress comes from ASME Section II Part D, not from a mill flyer. Impact temperature is an order number.

Typical use is high-pressure process vessels, mobile and modular equipment, offshore structures that are Code-stamped as vessels or related pressure parts, and other fusion-welded equipment specified to A517 Grade Q. It is not a cryogenic 3.5Ni or 9Ni grade, and it is not a creep-focused Cr-Mo grade such as A387.

A517GRQ is a high-strength QT alloy. Welding is not the same job as welding A516 Gr.70.

Procedures for Code work are qualified to ASME Section IX. Consumables should match the required joint strength and toughness, usually a high-strength low-hydrogen family selected for 690 MPa class steel. Hydrogen control, preheat and interpass are mandatory. Thick Grade Q plate has enough hardenability that a cold, wet start will crack.

Preheat depends on thickness, restraint, hydrogen and the qualified WPS. After welding, many shops want to PWHT. On QT plate that decision has to be engineered. A shop cycle that is too hot or too long can drop yield below the A517 table. Simulated PWHT of mill coupons should be on the purchase order whenever the vessel specification includes PWHT.

Do not copy an A516 or A537 procedure onto ASTM A517 Grade Q. Procedure review can go through steel welding services. The fabricator owns the qualified WPS.

Heat treatment of ASTM A517 Grade Q follows ASTM A517/A517M:

• Heat to not less than 900 °C (1650 °F)
• Quench in water or oil
• Temper at not less than 620 °C (1150 °F)

That sequence is the product. As-rolled plate is not A517 Grade Q. Normalized-only plate is not A517 Grade Q.

Holding time follows mill practice and ASTM A20 thickness rules. If the purchaser fixes a tempering band or a maximum tempering temperature because later PWHT is planned, those limits go on the mill instruction and onto the certificate.

SHH STEEL reports the actual heat-treatment condition on the MTC for every A517 Gr.Q plate.

Delivery condition for this grade is quenched and tempered. That is the only standard condition.

The certificate lists ASTM A517 Grade Q and, when dual certified, ASME SA517 Grade Q; heat number; heat analysis; product analysis when ordered; tensile results by thickness line; reduction of area; Charpy lateral expansion and test temperature; heat-treatment temperatures; and supplementary tests.

Surface is vessel-plate quality. Shot blasting and shop primer are available. Decorative 2B or BA finishes are not used on QT vessel plate.

Certificates may be EN 10204 3.1 or EN 10204 3.2. BV, LR, DNV, TUV, SGS or the buyer’s agency can witness quench, temper, mechanical tests and documents when the order says so.

Usual supply range from SHH STEEL for A517 Gr.Q QT high strength vessel plate:

• Thickness: 8 mm – 150 mm (Grade Q maximum in ASTM A517 is 150 mm)
• Width: up to about 4000 mm
• Length: up to about 12000 mm

State the ordered thickness clearly. At 65 mm the tensile table changes. A 70 mm plate is ordered and tested to the lower yield line. Cut-to-length shells and nest sizes are available.

Dimensional limits follow ASTM A20 / ASME SA-20. Thickness, width, length, flatness and camber are vessel-plate tolerances. QT plate can move during quench; extra-flatness is a negotiated item.

Ultrasonic testing to A435 or A578 is commonly added on Grade Q because thickness and restraint are high. Finished sizes go through steel cutting services. Thermal cutting of 690 MPa QT plate needs preheat and edge control.

Most ASTM A517 Grade Q orders add tests beyond the base table.

Simulated PWHT. Same-heat coupons follow the vessel cycle. Tensile and Charpy are run after that cycle.

Charpy details. Base spec is lateral expansion 0.38 mm, temperature agreed. Purchasers often add energy minima, a colder temperature, and specimen location through thickness.

NDE. UT to A435 / A577 / A578; edge MT/PT after cutting.

Hardness survey. Through-thickness or surface HBW/HV after QT or after simulated PWHT.

Restricted chemistry. Tighter P, S, residuals or vacuum treatment per A20.

HIC / NACE. Only when the datasheet cites TM0284 or MR0175 / ISO 15156. Grade Q is not automatically sour-service plate.

Z-direction. A770 or Z15/Z25/Z35 for thick nozzles and strained joints.

Third-party. Witness of quench, temper, testing and documents. Output can be EN 10204 3.2.

These tests run through steel testing service. If it is not on the purchase order, it is not assumed.

For stamping, write dual A517 / SA517 Grade Q. Nearby vessel pages: ASTM A537, ASME SA537, ASTM A516, ASME SA516.

ASTM A517 Grade Q / A517 Gr.Q is selected when a Section VIII or equivalent vessel needs QT alloy strength and thickness up to 150 mm.

Related pages: petrochemical industry, energy industry, steel cutting services, steel welding services, steel testing service, worldwide shipping service.

SHH STEEL works as a China Mill Direct Exporter for plates to ASTM A517/A517M. On ASTM A517 Grade Q that means mill pricing, dual A517/SA517 marking, heat and product analysis, mandatory QT with recorded temperatures, Charpy lateral expansion at the agreed temperature, 3.1 as standard and 3.2 when specified, and the extra tests a 690 MPa vessel shop actually writes on the PO.

We also keep the order on the right grade. Grade Q is not Grade F. Grade Q is not A537 Class 2. Grade Q is not A514. If the thickness is 80 mm, we will say so before anyone tries to buy Grade B. Export packing goes through worldwide shipping service. Company scope: China steel Mill Agent-SHH STEEL.

ASTM A517 Grade Q Steel Plate is the Ni-Cr-Mo-V, quenched-and-tempered high-strength vessel grade in ASTM A517/A517M. Whether the inquiry says A517 Gr.Q, A517GRQ, A517 Grade Q or ASME SA517 Grade Q, SHH STEEL supplies plate with heat and product analysis, recorded QT, thickness-correct tensile lines, agreed Charpy testing, optional simulated PWHT, and EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 certification.

As a China mill Distributor, SHH STEEL provides ASTM A517 Grade Q / A517 Gr.Q QT High Strength Vessel Plate for boiler and ASME Section VIII work.

Contact SHH STEEL for mill rolling, QT, dual A517/SA517 marking, 3.2 inspection or a quotation.

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