Q550MF TMCP Steel Plate GB/T 1591 Supplier
What is Q550MF TMCP Steel Plate GB/T 1591?
Q550MF, also searched as GB/T 1591 Q550MF, Q550MF steel plate, Q550MF TMCP plate and Q550 MF, is the 550 MPa quality-grade-F grade delivered by thermomechanical controlled process in GB/T 1591-2018. Q is the yield symbol, 550 is the thin-plate minimum yield in MPa, M is the delivery letter, and F is the quality letter for Charpy impact at −60°C.
The M is the point of this page. A quenched-and-tempered certificate cannot be stamped MF. That route is GB/T 16270 Q550F. Grade E on the TMCP route is GB/T 1591 Q550ME, tested at −40°C. Grade D is GB/T 1591 Q550MD. Grade C is GB/T 1591 Q550MC. The 500 MPa TMCP sister at −60°C is GB/T 1591 Q500MF. The 460 MPa TMCP sister is GB/T 1591 Q460MF. The full family sits on GB/T 1591. Do not drop a 550 MPa drawing onto a 500 MPa plate, and do not upgrade it to GB/T 16270 Q620F without a price check.
EN 10025-4 stops at S460M and S460ML. There is no S550M and no −60°C letter in that book. The usual European comparison is EN 10025-6 S550QL1, which is quenched and tempered, not TMCP, and is tested at −60°C. EN 10025-6 S550QL is only −40°C. EN 10025-4 S460ML is one yield step lower and stops at −50°C. EN 10025-6 is the QT book. On the US side, ASTM A514 is about 100 ksi / 690 MPa and is quenched and tempered, so it is not an MF twin. ASTM A572 Gr.55 is 55 ksi. Dual mark only when both books are fully met. See high strength low alloy plates.
SHH STEEL is a global steel mill sourcing partner and steel manufacturer and exporter, mill-direct, China origin. We source Q550MF from first-line structural mills that can actually run the TMCP schedule at 550 MPa and hold −60°C impact, print heat analysis and product analysis when ordered, and ship plate to fabricators in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa and South America. Related pages include structural steel plates and the products index.
Material Specification
| Specification Element | Requirement | SHH STEEL Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| Plate book | GB/T 1591-2018 Q550MF | Confirmed |
| Other search names | Q550MF steel plate, Q550 MF, Q550MF TMCP | Covered |
| Delivery condition | Thermomechanical controlled process | Confirmed |
| Yield, ≤ 16 mm | 550 MPa min | Confirmed |
| Quality grade | F, impact at −60°C | Confirmed |
| Not this page | GB/T 16270 Q550F | QT, different book |
| Not this page | GB/T 1591 Q550ME | −40°C, not F |
| EN comparison | EN 10025-6 S550QL1 is QT, −60°C | Not a swap |
| US comparison | ASTM A514 is QT, about 690 MPa | Not a twin |
| Product analysis | GB/T 222 column when ordered | Confirmed |
| Supply role | Global steel mill sourcing partner | SHH STEEL |
| Certification | EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 | As ordered |
Nearby pages that buyers compare, but must not swap blindly, include GB/T 1591 Q500MF, GB/T 16270 Q550E and ASTM A572 Gr.55.
Chemical Composition
Heat analysis is the mill ladle table in GB/T 1591-2018 for TMCP Q550. Product analysis, when ordered, follows GB/T 222. Q550MF is a microalloyed HSLA plate. Grade F is the tightest cleanliness letter on this family, because the impact test is at −60°C. Phosphorus and sulfur are tighter than grade E. Mills may add Nb, V or Ti, and some heats use nickel, chromium or molybdenum to hold the 550 MPa window. The certificate shows the elements actually used. TMCP chemistry is often leaner than a QT heat of the same yield, because the rolling schedule does part of the strengthening.
Heat Analysis and Product Analysis — GB/T 1591 Q550MF, TMCP
| Element | Heat analysis (%) | Product analysis (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C), max | 0.18 | 0.20 |
| Silicon (Si), max | 0.60 | 0.65 |
| Manganese (Mn), max | 2.00 | 2.10 |
| Phosphorus (P), max | 0.015 | 0.020 |
| Sulfur (S), max | 0.010 | 0.015 |
| Niobium (Nb), max | 0.11 | 0.12 |
| Vanadium (V), max | 0.12 | 0.13 |
| Titanium (Ti), max | 0.20 | 0.21 |
| Chromium (Cr), max | 0.80 | 0.85 |
| Nickel (Ni), max | 1.00 | 1.05 |
| Copper (Cu), max | 0.80 | 0.85 |
| Molybdenum (Mo), max | 0.30 | 0.35 |
| Boron (B), max | 0.004 | 0.005 |
| Nitrogen (N), max | 0.015 | 0.017 |
| Aluminium (Als), min when used | 0.015 | 0.010 |
Carbon equivalent is limited by thickness in the standard. The M route often has a lower CEV window than quenched-and-tempered GB/T 16270 Q550F. If the purchase order writes product analysis, SHH STEEL prints both columns and the thickness band used for the tensile test. A warmer 500 MPa file is GB/T 1591 Q500MD, not this grade.
Mechanical Properties
Buyers search Q550MF mechanical properties, Q550MF yield strength, GB/T 1591 Q550MF tensile and Q550MF impact −60°C.
Tensile and impact — GB/T 1591 Q550MF, TMCP
| Thickness | Yield min | Tensile | Elongation min | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ 16 mm | 550 MPa | 670–830 MPa | 16% | −60°C, grade F |
| > 16–40 mm | 530 MPa | 620–800 MPa | 16% | −60°C, grade F |
| > 40–63 mm | 520 MPa | 600–790 MPa | 16% | −60°C, grade F |
| > 63–80 mm | 500 MPa | 590–780 MPa | 15% | −60°C, grade F |
Impact energy is the average of three longitudinal Charpy V-notch specimens, commonly 27 J to 34 J minimum at −60°C, depending on the ordered edition and thickness. One value may fall below the table, but not below 70% of that value. Write a higher energy on the order if the owner requires it. Not every TMCP heat will hold F on thick plate. SHH STEEL confirms the thickness before promising the letter.
Yield steps down with thickness. A 550 MPa name on 12 mm plate is not the minimum on a 40 mm flange. 550 MPa is about 80 ksi. ASTM A514 is about 100 ksi and is not this book. Density is 7.85 g/cm³. Hardness is not a design value for this grade. Z15, Z25 or Z35 through-thickness tensile is an extra, not part of the F letter.
Material Comparison
| Grade | Book | Delivery | Yield, thin plate | Impact | Swap? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB/T 16270 Q550F | GB/T 16270 | QT | 550 MPa | −60°C | Different process |
| GB/T 1591 Q550ME | GB/T 1591-2018 | TMCP | 550 MPa | −40°C | Warmer M sister |
| Q550MF | GB/T 1591-2018 | TMCP | 550 MPa | −60°C | This page |
| GB/T 1591 Q500MF | GB/T 1591-2018 | TMCP | 500 MPa | −60°C | Lower yield |
| GB/T 16270 Q620F | GB/T 16270 | QT | 620 MPa | −60°C | Higher yield |
| EN 10025-6 S550QL1 | EN 10025-6 | QT | 550 MPa | −60°C | Closest, not a twin |
| EN 10025-4 S460ML | EN 10025-4 | TMCP | 460 MPa | −50°C | Lower yield |
| ASTM A572 Gr.55 | ASTM A572 | As rolled | 380 MPa | Different | Lower yield |
A warmer TMCP file is GB/T 1591 Q550MD. A 460 MPa file is GB/T 1591 Q460MF.
Equivalent Material Grades
There is no official one-to-one substitute for Q550MF. What buyers compare is a 550 MPa TMCP plate tested at −60°C.
EN 10025-4 has no S550M. EN 10025-6 S550QL1 is the strength comparison at the same impact temperature, but it is quenched and tempered. EN 10025-6 S550QL is only −40°C. EN 10025-4 S460ML is the nearest TMCP book grade and is one step lower, tested at −50°C. EN 10025-2 S355JR is +20°C and only 355 MPa. In the United States, ASTM A514 is about 100 ksi and is quenched and tempered. ASTM A572 Gr.55 is 55 ksi. ASTM A36 is 36 ksi and is well below this yield. SHH STEEL will not stamp EN 10025-6 S550QL1 or ASTM A514 on a Q550MF certificate unless the purchase order names both books and both tables are met.
| Designation | Country / region | Standard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q550MF | China | GB/T 1591-2018 | Name on this page |
| GB/T 16270 Q550F | China | GB/T 16270 | QT, not this page |
| GB/T 1591 Q550ME | China | GB/T 1591-2018 | TMCP, −40°C |
| GB/T 1591 Q500MF | China | GB/T 1591-2018 | 500 MPa, −60°C |
| EN 10025-6 S550QL1 | Europe | EN 10025-6 | QT, −60°C, not a twin |
| EN 10025-4 S460ML | Europe | EN 10025-4 | TMCP, lower yield |
| ASTM A514 | USA | ASTM A514 | QT, about 690 MPa |
| JIS G3106 SM570 | Japan | JIS G3106 | Lower yield comparison |
Structural Service
Buyers pick Q550MF when a bridge, building member or welded fabrication wants about 550 MPa yield, a TMCP condition, and impact at −60°C. Search phrases such as Q550MF steel plate and GB/T 1591 Q550MF all point here. The family index is GB/T 1591.
It is the wrong plate when the drawing says quenched and tempered. That work is GB/T 16270 Q550F. It is the wrong plate for a −40°C file. That work is GB/T 1591 Q550ME, and the QT sister is GB/T 16270 Q550E. It is the wrong plate for a −20°C file. That work is GB/T 1591 Q550MD. It is the wrong plate for a 0°C file. That work is GB/T 1591 Q550MC. It is the wrong plate for a 500 MPa file. That work is GB/T 1591 Q500MF or GB/T 1591 Q500ME. It is the wrong plate for a 620 MPa file. That work is GB/T 16270 Q620F. It is the wrong plate for a pressure vessel. That work sits on ASTM A516 or pressure vessel steel plates.
SHH STEEL supplies this plate when the drawing names GB/T 1591, quality grade F, and the M condition at 550 MPa.
Weldability
Q550MF is a weldable TMCP HSLA structural plate. Carbon is controlled, and many heats use Nb, V or Ti. A procedure written for ASTM A36 is not a finished WPS for thick Q550MF. Carbon equivalent on the M route is often lower than quenched-and-tempered GB/T 16270 Q550F, which helps the root pass, but the TMCP microstructure still needs a qualified procedure. A procedure qualified only at −40°C may miss the −60°C coupon.
Typical consumables are matching 80–90 ksi low-hydrogen electrodes or wires. E7018-class electrodes are under-matched if the joint must develop full plate strength. A procedure written for ASTM A572 Gr.55 does not cover 550 MPa. Preheat follows thickness, hydrogen and the approved WPS. Heat input should stay inside the mill window. A very high heat input can soften the TMCP zone next to the weld.
The fabricator owns the WPS. SHH STEEL can share mill heat data, product analysis and carbon equivalent for that review. Do not use a Q550MF procedure on GB/T 1591 Q420MB without checking the lower-yield carbon equivalent. Do not use it on GB/T 1591 Q500MC either if the joint must develop 550 MPa.
Heat Treatment and Delivery Condition
Usual delivery from SHH STEEL for Q550MF is thermomechanical controlled process. The plate is not quenched and tempered as GB/T 16270 Q550F.
TMCP combines controlled rolling and accelerated cooling. Finish rolling is held in the non-recrystallization range, then the plate is cooled on the run-out table to a finish temperature the mill records. Do not order Q550MF as quenched and tempered. That route belongs to GB/T 16270. Stress relief after fabrication, if used, should be agreed before cutting, because a high temper can move the TMCP properties.
The certificate lists GB/T 1591 Q550MF, heat number, delivery condition, heat analysis, product analysis when ordered, tensile by thickness band, and −60°C impact. Certificates may be EN 10204 3.1 or EN 10204 3.2. Dual marking to EN 10025-6 S550QL1 is available only when both books are fully met. S550QL1 is not a TMCP grade, and S550QL does not cover −60°C by itself.
Dimensions
Usual supply range from SHH STEEL for Q550MF steel plate:
- Thickness: commonly 8 mm – 40 mm, heavier plate to 50 mm by mill confirmation
- Width: 1500 mm – 3000 mm, wider by enquiry
- Length: 3000 mm – 12000 mm
Cut-to-size webs, flanges, base plates and gussets are available. Browse more sizes on structural steel plates.
Tolerances
Dimensional limits for Q550MF follow GB/T 709 unless the purchase order names EN 10029 or another table.
Typical thickness tolerance idea for Q550MF plate
| Nominal thickness (mm) | Usual minus (mm) | Usual plus (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 – 15 | −0.3 | +0.8 |
| 15 – 25 | −0.4 | +0.9 |
| 25 – 40 | −0.5 | +1.1 |
| 40 – 50 | −0.6 | +1.3 |
Width on 1500–3000 mm plate is commonly held to about +20 / 0 mm or ±25 mm unless a tighter extra is named. Length on 3000–12000 mm plate is commonly held to about +50 / 0 mm. Flatness follows the agreed class. SHH STEEL will not assume a zero-minus extra on Q550MF unless the order says so.
Supplementary Requirements
Q550MF already defines 550 MPa yield, TMCP delivery and −60°C impact. Extra items still have to be written on the purchase order.
Book name. Write GB/T 1591 Q550MF. Do not write only Q550, and do not write GB/T 16270 if the mill must stamp M and F. The family page is GB/T 1591.
Impact. Grade F is −60°C. Write a higher energy if the owner requires it. Do not expect this result from GB/T 1591 Q550ME.
Delivery condition. Write thermomechanical controlled process. Write GB/T 16270 Q550F if quenched and tempered is required.
EN or US comparison. Write EN 10025-6 S550QL1 or ASTM A514 only if dual mark is required and both tables are met. S550QL1 is QT, not TMCP. S550QL is −40°C, not −60°C.
Product analysis. Write it if the file needs the second chemistry column.
Through-thickness. Z15, Z25 or Z35 when the joint is loaded through the thickness.
NDE. UT to GB/T 2970 or the named class.
Identification. Heat number, Q550MF, thickness and mill logo.
Third-party witness. EN 10204 3.2 with SGS, TÜV, BV, ABS or the inspector named.
Applications
| Industry | Typical components |
|---|---|
| Arctic and cold-region bridges | Q550MF webs and flanges from SHH STEEL |
| Outdoor structures | Q550MF columns and base plates tested at −60°C |
| Construction machinery | Q550MF frames where the drawing names M and −60°C |
| General fabrication | Q550MF gussets and connection plates |
| Comparison vs EN 10025-4 | Q550MF next to EN 10025-4 S460ML |
| Comparison vs ASTM A572 | Q550MF next to ASTM A572 Gr.55 |
| Lower yield option | GB/T 1591 Q500MF when 500 MPa is enough |
Q550MF is the plate for a 550 MPa TMCP file tested at −60°C. It is the wrong plate for a painted weathering facade that needs corten. It is the wrong plate for a 690 MPa QT boom under GB/T 16270. A warmer QT file is GB/T 16270 Q550E.
Supply Capability
SHH STEEL sources Q550MF from first-line Chinese structural mills and ships it on worldwide terms. Partner mills include Wuyang (Wugang), Angang, Shougang, Hanye, Anyang Iron and Steel, Baosteel, Xinyu, Xingcheng and other qualified mills when the size requires it.
Mill test certificates are issued to EN 10204 3.1 as standard. EN 10204 3.2 is arranged when the order names a third-party hold point.
Usual rolling thickness: 8 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm, 16 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm. Heavier plate is confirmed before order.
Processing: CNC or flame cutting, bevel, flattening, shot blast, UT to the named class.
Trade terms: FOB Shanghai main, CIF destination available. Payment: TT, LC, or TT + LC.
Ocean time from Shanghai: US West 14–18 days; US Gulf 28–35 days; Rotterdam / Antwerp 28–35 days; Jebel Ali 18–25 days; Singapore 7–12 days; other ports quoted.
Third-party: SGS, TÜV, BV, ABS, CCS, GL, VL, DNV, RINA, NK, KR, or the inspector named.
Global Delivery and Markets
SHH STEEL is a global steel mill sourcing partner with mill partnerships in China. We supply GB, ASTM, ASME, EN, DIN and JIS steel to buyers in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa and South America. Origin is mill-direct, China origin.
SHH STEEL has supplied steel plates to the USA, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, El Salvador, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, India, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan and Korea.
Typical lead time: ex-stock 5–7 days when an F heat is in yard; standard TMCP with −60°C test about 40–55 days; 3.2 inspection about 50–60 days.
Why Choose SHH STEEL
SHH STEEL is a global steel mill sourcing partner and steel manufacturer and exporter, mill-direct, China origin. For Q550MF that means mill-direct structural price, not a multi-layer stockist mark-up. We buy from mills that can actually run the TMCP schedule at 550 MPa and test at −60°C, so the M and the F are both on the certificate.
Delivery is short when the size is in rolling range: ex-stock 5–7 days, standard MF heat about 40–55 days, 3.2 inspection about 50–60 days. Cutting, bevel and UT can run in the same window. FOB Shanghai is the main term. CIF to US West, US Gulf, Rotterdam, Jebel Ali and Singapore is quoted on the same file.
Experience on this grade is simple: print GB/T 1591 Q550MF, keep the TMCP route, and do not ship GB/T 16270 Q550F or GB/T 1591 Q550ME as MF. We will not drop the M to save a cooling cycle, and we will not change F to E to save a cold test. If the drawing needs quenched and tempered plate, we will move the inquiry to Q550F under GB/T 16270. If the drawing needs 500 MPa, we will move it to GB/T 1591 Q500MF or GB/T 1591 Q500MC.
FAQ
- What is Q550MF steel plate?
- Q550MF in GB/T 1591-2018 is thermomechanical controlled process high-strength low-alloy plate with 550 MPa minimum yield on thin plate and Charpy impact at −60°C. SHH STEEL supplies this plate worldwide as a global steel mill sourcing partner.
- Is Q550MF the same as GB/T 16270 Q550F?
- No. Both can yield at 550 MPa and both can be tested at −60°C. GB/T 16270 Q550F is quenched and tempered. Q550MF is TMCP.
- Is Q550MF the same as Q550ME?
- No. Both are TMCP. Q550ME is tested at −40°C. Q550MF is tested at −60°C.
- Is Q550MF the same as Q500MF?
- No. Both are TMCP and both are tested at −60°C. Q500MF is 500 MPa. Q550MF is 550 MPa.
- What is the European equivalent of Q550MF?
- There is no S550M in EN 10025-4. The strength comparison is EN 10025-6 S550QL1, which is quenched and tempered and tested at −60°C. Dual mark only when both books are fully met.
- What is the US equivalent of Q550MF?
- There is no official ASTM twin. ASTM A514 is about 100 ksi and is quenched and tempered. SHH STEEL does not dual-mark ASTM A514 unless both books are met.
Conclusion
Q550MF steel plate to GB/T 1591 is 550 MPa TMCP structural plate with impact at −60°C. It is not quenched-and-tempered GB/T 16270 Q550F and not −40°C GB/T 1591 Q550ME. EN 10025-4 has no S550M. EN 10025-6 S550QL1 is the strength comparison and is QT. ASTM A514 is about 690 MPa and is not a substitute. Whether the inquiry says Q550MF, GB/T 1591 Q550MF or Q550MF TMCP plate, SHH STEEL as a global steel mill sourcing partner supplies plate with Q550MF chemistry, heat and product analysis as ordered, GB/T 709 tolerances and EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 certification.
SHH STEEL supplies Q550MF Steel Plate to the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas for work that actually names the M condition and the F letter. The grade family is listed on GB/T 1591.
Contact SHH STEEL for mill rolling, −60°C impact, cutting, UT, 3.2 inspection or a worldwide quotation.
Q550MF, Q550MF steel plate, GB/T 1591 Q550MF, Q550MF TMCP, Q550MF supplier, SHH STEEL

