What is ASTM A36 steel plate?
ASTM A36 specifies carbon steel plates, shapes and bars for riveted, bolted and welded construction with 250 MPa (36 ksi) minimum yield and 400–550 MPa tensile — the tensile band is what makes it a structural, not a pressure, grade. Chemistry is simple: carbon up to 0.25–0.29 % depending on thickness, manganese 0.80–1.20 % above 20 mm, silicon 0.40 % max, and copper 0.20 % min when ordered for weathering resistance. There is no impact requirement and no killing requirement, so mills may supply it semi-killed; the certificate states the practice. Yield for plate above 200 mm drops to 220 MPa. The grade is prequalified under AWS D1.1, bends to 1.5 × t and is the reference for A307 bolts and E60/E70 electrodes. In EN terms it lies between S235JR (235 MPa) and S275JR (275 MPa); most engineers accept S275JR as an over-matching substitute and S235JR where the design used the tensile rather than the yield. ASME SA-36 is the identical plate listed for non-pressure parts of boilers and vessels (supports, skirts, lugs).
Chemical composition
| Element | C | Mn | P | S | Si | Cu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| max. % (ladle) | ≤ 0.25 (≤ 20 mm) / 0.26 (20–40) / 0.27 (40–100) | 0.80–1.20 (> 20 mm) | ≤ 0.030 | ≤ 0.030 | ≤ 0.40 | ≥ 0.20 when specified |
Mn not specified ≤ 20 mm. CEV ≈ 0.38–0.43.
Mechanical properties
| Thickness | Yield min (MPa / ksi) | Tensile (MPa / ksi) | Elongation min (200 / 50 mm) | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ 200 mm | 250 / 36 | 400–550 / 58–80 | 20 % / 23 % | not required (CVN on order) |
| > 200 mm | 220 / 32 | 400–550 / 58–80 | 20 % / 23 % | — |
Equivalent grades
| System | Grade | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EN 10025-2 | S235JR (near) / S275JR (over-match) | S275JR usually accepted |
| DIN 17100 | ST37-2 / ST44-2 | historic |
| JIS G3101 | SS400 | closest Asian grade |
| GB/T 700 | Q235B / Q275 | |
| ASME | SA-36 | identical |
| ISO 630 | E235B / E275B |
Thickness range and stock sizes
| Thickness | Widths × lengths | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 6–12 mm | 2 000 / 2 438 × 6 000–12 192 | to order 2–4 weeks |
| 15–40 mm | 2 000 / 2 438 / 2 500 × 6 000–12 000 | to order 2–4 weeks |
| 50–100 mm | 2 000–2 500 × 6 000 | to order 3–5 weeks |
| any | S235JR / S275JR from stock as substitute | 3–5 days |
Weight per m² and per plate
| Thickness | kg/m² | 1 500 × 6 000 (kg) | 2 000 × 6 000 (kg) | 2 500 × 12 000 (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 mm | 47.1 | 424 | 565 | 1 413 |
| 8 mm | 62.8 | 565 | 754 | 1 884 |
| 10 mm | 78.5 | 707 | 942 | 2 355 |
| 12 mm | 94.2 | 848 | 1 130 | 2 826 |
| 15 mm | 117.8 | 1 060 | 1 413 | 3 533 |
| 20 mm | 157.0 | 1 413 | 1 884 | 4 710 |
| 25 mm | 196.3 | 1 766 | 2 355 | 5 888 |
| 30 mm | 235.5 | 2 120 | 2 826 | 7 065 |
| 40 mm | 314.0 | 2 826 | 3 768 | 9 420 |
| 50 mm | 392.5 | 3 533 | 4 710 | 11 775 |
| 60 mm | 471.0 | 4 239 | 5 652 | 14 130 |
| 80 mm | 628.0 | 5 652 | 7 536 | 18 840 |
| 100 mm | 785.0 | 7 065 | 9 420 | 23 550 |
Nominal weights — mill tolerance to EN 10029 class A adds up to +4 % on thin plate; invoiced on theoretical weight unless agreed otherwise.
Welding, cutting and forming
Prequalified under AWS D1.1 with E7018, ER70S-6 and SAW F7A2; preheat per D1.1 Category A: none up to 19 mm, 10 °C to 38 mm, 65 °C to 65 mm, 110 °C above. Cold bending 1.5 × t; hot forming unrestricted. Plasma to 50 mm, laser to 20 mm, oxy-fuel beyond. Machines well (about 70 % of the B1112 rating). Galvanises reliably; specify silicon control if the surface finish matters.
Where it is used
- Base plates, gussets, stiffeners and connection plates
- Equipment skids, frames and supports to US specifications
- Non-pressure parts of ASME vessels (skirts, lugs, saddles) as SA-36
- Tanks, hoppers and chutes
- Machinery bases and general fabrication
- Ship outfitting and non-class structures
A36 vs A572 Grade 50 vs S235JR
A36 (250 MPa) is the plain carbon grade; A572 Gr. 50 (345 MPa) is the HSLA grade that has largely replaced it for primary members because it costs only a few percent more. S235JR is the EN twin of A36 — 235 MPa yield but a guaranteed +20 °C impact value that A36 lacks — and S275JR (275 MPa) over-matches it; see S235JR plate and S275JR plate. Order A36 by name only when the drawing or the inspector demands the ASTM certificate.
Price
A36 is priced at the S235JR base plus a small ASTM-certification premium (about 20 USD/t). The band below is the indicative FOB Istanbul range for mill-order plate; S235JR substitutes ship at the stock price.
Bands from our weekly export list (September 2026), FOB Istanbul, full-container quantities, excluding freight and certificates. Firm price per project on RFQ within one working day.
Export and packing
ASTM A36 steel plate leaves Dilovası on timber skids in packs of up to 5 t, steel-strapped with corner protectors and the heat number stencilled on every plate. One 40' HC carries 24–25 t of 6 m plate; short plate goes 20 t to a 20'. 12 m and heavy plate go by flat-rack or breakbulk from Derince port. Customs code 7208.51 / 7208.52.
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| MOQ | 10 t of one thickness |
| Incoterms | FOB Istanbul · CIF / CFR Gulf, Africa · DAP EU, Balkans, Iraq, Caucasus · DAP Aktau |
| Lead time | To order 2–4 weeks; S235JR substitute from stock 3–5 days |
| Packing | Skids up to 5 t, strapped |
| Container / truck | 40' HC ≈ 24–25 t of 6 m plate |
| Documents | Invoice, packing list, EN 10204 3.1 (3.2 on request), certificate of origin; SASO / SONCAP / PVoC on request |
| Payment | 30% advance, balance against B/L copy; L/C at sight for orders above 100 t |
Certificates and testing
ASTM A36 steel plate ships with EN 10204 3.1 certificates cross-referenced to the stencilled heat numbers. Where the project requires it we arrange 3.2 certification with Lloyd's, BV, TÜV or SGS, ultrasonic examination to EN 10160 and Charpy testing at the temperature you specify.
How to order
Send thickness × width × length (imperial sizes 96 × 240 in etc. available), tonnage, whether S235JR / S275JR may be substituted, and certificate type (MTR per A6 or EN 10204 3.1).
Standards
- ASTM A36/A36M — carbon structural steel
- ASME SA-36
- ASTM A6 general requirements
- AWS D1.1 prequalified base metal
Grades
Grade data sheets (chemistry, mechanicals, equivalents) are on our reference site: A36 · S235JR · S275JR
Frequently asked questions
What is A36 steel?
ASTM A36 is the standard American carbon structural steel: 250 MPa (36 ksi) minimum yield, 400–550 MPa tensile, weldable and formable, used for plates, shapes and bars in general construction.
Is A36 the same as S235JR?
Nearly — S235JR has 235 MPa yield and a mandatory +20 °C impact test; A36 has 250 MPa yield and no impact requirement. S275JR is the safe over-matching substitute; substitution needs designer approval.
What is the difference between A36 and A572 Grade 50?
A36 is plain carbon steel at 250 MPa yield; A572-50 is micro-alloyed HSLA at 345 MPa — 38 % stronger for little extra cost, so it is now the default for primary structural members.
Is A36 weldable?
Yes — it is prequalified under AWS D1.1; no preheat is needed up to 19 mm with low-hydrogen consumables.
Do you stock A36 plate in Turkey?
We roll A36 to order (2–4 weeks) and stock S235JR/S275JR, which most engineers accept as equivalents for immediate delivery.