What is S355MC steel?
S355MC belongs to EN 10149-2, the standard for high-yield hot-rolled flat products for cold forming. The M in the name says thermomechanically rolled: the strip is finished at a controlled low temperature so that niobium, titanium and vanadium micro-additions refine the grain and deliver 355 MPa yield from a steel with only 0.12 % carbon. The C says cold-forming: the standard guarantees minimum bend radii (0.5 × t up to 3 mm, 1.0 × t above, transverse) and the low carbon equivalent (≈ 0.30) means it welds without preheat at any thickness in the range. Compared with S355J2 plate of the same strength it is cleaner, more ductile, tougher (40 J at −20 °C longitudinal) and thinner — MC grades are produced as strip up to 20 mm, and in practice 2–12 mm covers the market. Its old name QStE 380 TM (SEW 092) still appears on German drawings.
Chemical composition
| Element | C | Si | Mn | P | S | Al | Nb | V | Ti |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| max. % (ladle) | 0.12 | 0.50 | 1.50 | 0.025 | 0.020 | ≥ 0.015 | 0.09 | 0.20 | 0.15 |
Nb + V + Ti combined ≤ 0.22 %. CEV typically 0.28–0.32.
Mechanical properties
| Thickness | Yield ReH min (MPa) | Tensile Rm (MPa) | Elongation min | Impact KV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5–3 mm | 355 | 430–550 | 19 (A80) | — |
| > 3 mm | 355 | 430–550 | 23 % (A5) | 40 J at −20 °C (long.) |
Equivalent grades
| System | Grade | Note |
|---|---|---|
| SEW 092 | QStE 380 TM | old German name |
| EN 10025-2 | S355J2 (plate) | same yield, not for tight bends |
| ASTM | A1011 HSLAS Gr. 50 / A607 Gr. 50 | HSLA sheet |
| JIS G3134 | SPFH 540 | |
| GB/T 1591 | Q355 (TM) | |
| SSAB | Strenx 355MC / Domex 355MC | brand equivalents |
Thickness range and stock sizes
| Thickness | Widths × lengths | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 2–3 mm | coil 1 000–1 500 mm; sheet to 6 000 mm | to order, cut-to-length in Dilovası |
| 4–8 mm | coil 1 250–1 500 mm; sheet 1 500 × 6 000 | part stock (6 mm), rest 2–3 weeks |
| 10–12 mm | coil 1 500 mm; sheet 1 500 × 6 000–12 000 | to order 2–3 weeks |
Weight per m² and per plate
| Thickness | kg/m² | 1 500 × 6 000 (kg) | 2 000 × 6 000 (kg) | 2 500 × 12 000 (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 mm | 15.7 | 141 | 188 | 471 |
| 2.5 mm | 19.6 | 177 | 236 | 589 |
| 3 mm | 23.6 | 212 | 283 | 707 |
| 4 mm | 31.4 | 283 | 377 | 942 |
| 5 mm | 39.3 | 353 | 471 | 1 178 |
| 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 |
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
Cold forming is the point: bend to an inside radius of 0.5 × t (≤ 3 mm) or 1 × t (> 3 mm) transverse to rolling, 1.5 × t longitudinal, with the burr on the inside of the bend and sheared edges deburred to avoid edge cracks. Welding needs no preheat (CEV ≈ 0.30); use matching or slightly under-matching consumables (G42 / G46) and keep heat input moderate — over-heating the HAZ softens a thermomechanical steel, it does not harden it. Laser cutting is excellent up to 12 mm; plasma and punching are routine. Do not normalise or hot-form: the strength comes from the rolling, and it is lost above about 600 °C.
Where it is used
- Trailer and semi-trailer chassis longitudinals and cross-members
- Truck bodies, tippers and tail-lifts
- Agricultural and forestry machine frames
- Heavy cold-roll-formed C, Z and sigma profiles
- Crane and access-platform booms (lighter sections)
- Container and vehicle floor stringers
S355MC vs S355J2
Same 355 MPa, different steels. S355J2 (EN 10025-2) is a conventional plate grade with up to 0.20 % C for welded structures; cold bending is limited to about 2 × t and thick plate is its home. S355MC (EN 10149-2) is a thermomechanical strip with ≤ 0.12 % C for forming: bend radius 1 × t, better toughness, thinner gauges, slightly higher price per ton. If the part is bent, pressed or roll-formed, choose MC; if it is a flat welded plate over 12 mm, choose S355J2. For more strength in the same family move to S500MC.
Price
S355MC carries about 180 USD/t over the S235JR base in our list — micro-alloying and thermomechanical rolling cost more than a conventional plate. The band below is the month's indicative FOB Istanbul range for coil and cut sheet.
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
Export packing of S355MC steel is by skid: up to 5 t per pack, steel straps, corner boards, stencilled heat numbers and a pack list that references the 3.1 certificates. A 40' HC takes 24–25 t of 6 m plate. Long and heavy plate is shipped flat-rack or breakbulk via Derince. HS code 7208.51 / 7208.52.
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| MOQ | One coil (≈ 18–20 t) or 10 t of sheet |
| Incoterms | FOB Istanbul · CIF / CFR Gulf, Africa · DAP EU, Balkans, Iraq, Caucasus · DAP Aktau |
| Lead time | Coil to order 2–3 weeks; cut sheet from coil stock 5–8 days |
| Packing | Coil eye-to-sky on cradle, VCI wrap; sheet on skids ≤ 5 t |
| Container / truck | 20' one coil (18–20 t); 40' HC two coils or 24 t sheet |
| 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
S355MC steel 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
Specify thickness × width (coil) or thickness × width × length (sheet), tonnage, edge condition (mill edge or trimmed), and whether pickled-and-oiled (HRPO) surface is required — MC grades are also available pickled for painted parts.
Standards
- EN 10149-2:2013 — S355MC, 1.0976
- EN 10051 tolerances (coil, sheet)
- EN 10204 3.1
- Former SEW 092 QStE 380 TM
Grades
Grade data sheets (chemistry, mechanicals, equivalents) are on our reference site: S355MC · S420MC · S500MC
Frequently asked questions
What is S355MC steel?
A thermomechanically rolled, micro-alloyed hot-rolled steel to EN 10149-2 with 355 MPa minimum yield, ≤ 0.12 % carbon and guaranteed cold-bending radii — made for pressing and roll-forming; material number 1.0976.
What is the difference between S355MC and S355J2?
S355J2 is a structural plate for welding (C ≤ 0.20 %, bend ≈ 2 × t); S355MC is a low-carbon forming strip (bend 1 × t, 40 J at −20 °C, 2–12 mm). Same yield, different purpose.
What is QStE 380 TM?
The former German (SEW 092) name of S355MC — the same thermomechanical cold-forming grade.
What bend radius can S355MC take?
Minimum 0.5 × t up to 3 mm and 1.0 × t above 3 mm transverse to the rolling direction (1.5 × t longitudinal), per EN 10149-2.
Is S355MC available as plate?
It is produced as hot-rolled strip; we supply coil and cut-to-length sheet up to 12 mm and 6 000 mm (12 000 mm on request) — not as heavy plate.