EN 10025-6 S960QL Steel Plate | S960QL QT High Structural Steel
General Description
SHH STEEL is a professional China Mill-Direct Exporter of high-strength structural steel plates. We are pleased to offer EN 10025-6 S960QL Steel Plate (Material Number 1.8933), the highest strength quenched and tempered grade in the EN 10025-6 series with improved low-temperature toughness.
S960QL belongs to the family of EN 10025-6 steel plate products covering high-yield-strength steels in the quenched and tempered condition. Compared with S960Q, the “QL” designation indicates a more stringent impact requirement at –40°C, making this grade suitable for structures exposed to colder service temperatures. After quenching and tempering, the steel develops a fine-grained tempered microstructure that delivers a minimum yield strength of 960 MPa (up to 50 mm thickness) together with reliable Charpy-V toughness at low temperature. This combination enables maximum weight reduction in mobile cranes, telescopic booms and other demanding structures operating in cold environments.
SHH STEEL supplies S960QL plates in thicknesses ranging from 6 mm to 100 mm (availability of thicker plates is limited and subject to mill capability), widths up to 3000–4000 mm and lengths up to 12000–18000 mm. Custom cutting, ultrasonic testing, surface treatment and third-party inspection services are available. Every plate is delivered with a full EN 10204 3.1 Mill Test Certificate, ensuring complete traceability from the producing mill.
Material Specification
| Parameter | Requirement / Availability |
|---|---|
| Governing Standard | EN 10025-6 |
| Steel Designation | S960QL (1.8933) |
| Delivery Condition | Quenched and Tempered (Q) |
| Product Form | Flat steel plate |
| Thickness Range | 6 mm – 100 mm (thicker plates limited) |
| Width / Length | Up to 3000–4000 mm / 12000–18000 mm |
| Certification | EN 10204 3.1 / 3.2 |
| Additional Testing | UT, Z-test, third-party inspection available |
Chemical Composition
Chemical composition is controlled in accordance with EN 10025-6 for both ladle (heat) analysis and product analysis. The QL grade features tighter limits on phosphorus and sulphur to support improved low-temperature toughness.
Ladle Analysis (Cast Analysis)
| Element | Maximum (%) |
|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 0.20 |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.80 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 1.70 |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.020 |
| Sulfur (S) | 0.010 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 1.50 |
| Nickel (Ni) | 2.00 |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 0.70 |
| Copper (Cu) | 0.50 |
| Niobium (Nb) | 0.06 |
| Vanadium (V) | 0.12 |
| Titanium (Ti) | 0.05 |
| Boron (B) | 0.005 |
| Nitrogen (N) | 0.015 |
Product Analysis
| Element | Maximum (%) |
|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 0.22 |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.86 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 1.80 |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.025 |
| Sulfur (S) | 0.012 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 1.60 |
| Nickel (Ni) | 2.10 |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 0.74 |
| Copper (Cu) | 0.55 |
| Niobium (Nb) | 0.07 |
| Vanadium (V) | 0.14 |
| Titanium (Ti) | 0.06 |
| Boron (B) | 0.006 |
| Nitrogen (N) | 0.016 |
The restricted impurity levels and controlled alloying contribute to reliable toughness performance at –40°C while maintaining acceptable weldability after quenching and tempering.
Mechanical Properties
| Nominal Thickness (mm) | Min. Yield Strength ReH | Tensile Strength Rm | Min. Elongation A | Impact Energy (longitudinal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ 50 | 960 MPa | 980 – 1150 MPa | 10 % | 40 J at –40 °C |
| 50 < t ≤ 100 | 900 MPa | 940 – 1100 MPa | 10 % | 40 J at –40 °C |
Density is approximately 7.85 g/cm³. Transverse impact values are also specified in the standard and can be provided when required by the project.
Delivery Conditions
All S960QL plates are supplied in the quenched and tempered condition as required by EN 10025-6. The quenching and tempering heat treatment is carefully controlled to achieve the ultra-high strength and required low-temperature toughness.
Additional processing options available from SHH STEEL:
- Shot blasting and shop primer application
- Ultrasonic testing in accordance with EN 10160
- Through-thickness (Z-direction) testing to Z15, Z25 or Z35
- Independent third-party inspection (SGS, BV, TUV, Lloyd’s Register, etc.)
- Precision cutting (flame, plasma or water-jet)
Tolerances
EN 10025-6 S960QL Steel Plate dimensional tolerances are supplied in accordance with EN 10029. For S960QL QT High Structural Steel, customers may select the required class for thickness, width, length and flatness according to project needs. Both mill edges and cut edges (flame or plasma) are available for S960QL steel plate. Tighter tolerances for EN 10025-6 S960QL can be arranged by special agreement when required.
Weldability
S960QL is an ultra-high-strength quenched and tempered steel. Welding requires extremely strict control of preheating, heat input and the exclusive use of matching low-hydrogen ultra-high-strength consumables to maintain toughness in the heat-affected zone, especially for low-temperature service.
Recommended welding consumables:
| Welding Process | Suggested Consumables |
|---|---|
| SMAW (Stick) | E12018-G, E13018-G |
| GMAW / MAG | ER120S-G, ER130S-G |
| FCAW | E121T1-G, E131T1-G |
| SAW | Matching ultra-high-strength wire and flux combinations |
Preheating is mandatory. Interpass temperature must be tightly controlled, and post-weld heat treatment is frequently required for critical or highly stressed components. Welding procedures should be carefully qualified.
Equivalent Material Grades
| Grade | Standard | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| S960QL | EN 10025-6 | Primary designation |
| 1.8933 | EN | Material number |
| Q960E / Q960F | GB/T 1591 | Closest Chinese equivalents |
| Weldox 960 / Strenx 960 | SSAB | Similar ultra-high-strength QT concept |
| TStE 960 V | Former DIN | Historical related grade |
Applications
EN 10025-6 S960QL is selected when the absolute maximum strength, maximum weight reduction and reliable low-temperature performance are required. Typical applications include:
| Application Area | Typical Components / Keywords |
|---|---|
| Mobile Cranes & Lifting | Boom structures, telescopic arms – S960QL Crane |
| Heavy Construction | Ultra-high-load frames – S960QL Structural Steel |
| Mining & Earthmoving Equipment | Chassis, boom structures – S960QL Mining |
| Offshore & Marine | Lifting equipment – S960QL Offshore |
| Low-Temperature Structures | Structures requiring –40°C toughness – S960QL Low Temperature |
| Energy & Power | Special high-strength fabrications – S960QL Energy |
| General Heavy Fabrication | Ultra-high-strength welded assemblies – S960QL Fabrication |
Why Choose SHH STEEL
SHH STEEL is a China Mill-Direct Exporter. We maintain long-term strategic cooperation with major Chinese steel mills and act as a first-level agent. This direct supply model allows us to offer competitive mill-direct pricing, shorter lead times, consistent quality and full Mill Test Certificates (EN 10204 3.1 / 3.2) for EN 10025-6 S960QL Steel Plate.
Our experienced export and technical teams provide support on material selection, welding procedures, cutting and processing. Customers benefit from reliable supply and professional service for the highest strength quenched and tempered steel projects requiring improved low-temperature performance.
FAQ
- What does “QL” mean in S960QL?“Q” indicates the quenched and tempered condition, while “L” means the steel meets higher impact energy requirements at –40°C.
- What is the difference between S960Q and S960QL?Both grades have the same strength level. S960Q is impact tested at –20°C, whereas S960QL is tested at –40°C and provides higher toughness values for colder service conditions.
- What is the material number of S960QL?1.8933
Conclusion
EN 10025-6 S960QL (1.8933) quenched and tempered steel plate from SHH STEEL provides the highest yield strength of 960 MPa in the EN 10025-6 series combined with excellent toughness at –40°C. As a China Mill-Direct Exporter, we provide competitive pricing, reliable quality and full technical support. Contact SHH STEEL today for stock availability, pricing or processing services.
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