Steel A387 Gr 11 · heat-treated state · default condition
Steel A387 Gr 11 N&T
Properties of the N&T condition, compared with the other A387 Gr 11 tempers.
Default stocked condition: N&T Class 2 plate for pressure vessels needing the higher 515–690 MPa tensile band.
What is A387 Gr 11 N&T?
A387 Gr 11 N&T is A387 Gr 11 heat treated to N&T — default stocked condition: N&T Class 2 plate for pressure vessels needing the higher 515–690 MPa tensile band. A387 Gr 11 N&T has a yield strength of 355 MPa (51.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) — weaker than 73% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 23% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi). A387 Gr 11 N&T has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F).
Advantages
- High service temperature — 550°C (1,022 °F), better than 94% of steel grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 120 MPa·√m (109.2 ksi·√in), better than 80% of steel grades
A387 Gr 11 N&T properties
Typical room-temperature values for A387 Gr 11 N&T — 9 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every A387 Gr 11 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
A387 Gr 11 N&T has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F).
Mechanical15
A387 Gr 11 N&T has a yield strength of 355 MPa (51.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) — weaker than 73% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 23% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).
Thermal6
A387 Gr 11 N&T is rated for continuous service to 550°C (1,022 °F). It conducts heat at 38 W/m·K (22 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 68% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12.3 µm/m·K (6.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
A387 Gr 11 N&T conducts electricity at 8 % IACS, better than 55% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (20/100), better than 87% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of A387 Gr 11 N&T takes about 27 MJ of energy and emits 2.1 kg of CO₂ — less than 59% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability7
A387 Gr 11 N&T's machinability is fair (50/100, worse than 53% of steel grades); weldability good (55/100); formability fair (50/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other A387 Gr 11 tempers and conditions
A387 Gr 11 is also supplied in 4 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the A387 Gr 11 overview.
- N&TDefaultDefault stocked condition: N&T Class 2 plate for pressure vessels needing the higher 515–690 MPa tensile band.355 MPa yield · 175 HB
- Q&T Cl.2Used on heavy-wall plate where liquid quenching plus temper is needed to meet Class 2 strength and low-temperature CVN through thickness.400 MPa yield · 185 HB
- N&T Cl.2Explicit Class 2 order for reactor shells and hot piping designed to the higher ASME allowable stresses.355 MPa yield · 175 HB
- N&T Cl.1Pick Class 1 when maximum ductility/toughness and easier forming and welding matter more than strength (415–585 MPa band).275 MPa yield · 150 HB
Working with A387 Gr 11 N&T
Is A387 Gr 11 easy to machine?
Machines like normalized 4130 at roughly 55 % of AISI 1212 — rigid setups, carbide tooling and moderate speeds; the 0.5–0.8 % Si makes chips slightly abrasive.
Can A387 Gr 11 be welded?
P-No.4 material: preheat 150–250 °C, low-hydrogen B2/CM filler (E8018-B2, ER80S-B2), interpass control, and PWHT at 690–730 °C to avoid hard HAZ and hydrogen cracking.
Can A387 Gr 11 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold-form only with generous radii; heavy heads and shells are hot-formed 900–1000 °C and then re-normalized and tempered.
What surface finishes work on A387 Gr 11?
Not anodizable — blast and paint, aluminize/thermal-spray for hot service, or weld-overlay/clad with 347SS or Inconel 625 where corrosive process fluids contact the surface.
A387 Gr 11 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Cheat analysis | 0.05 – 0.17 | 0.12 |
| Sihigh-Si is characteristic of Gr 11 | 0.5 – 0.8 | 0.65 |
| Mn | 0.4 – 0.65 | 0.52 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Smax; often restricted to ≤0.010 for clean-steel reactor plate | ≤ 0.04 | 0.01 |
| Cr | 1 – 1.5 | 1.25 |
| Mo | 0.45 – 0.65 | 0.55 |
| Fe | balance | — |
A387 Gr 11 N&T — frequently asked
What is A387 Gr 11 N&T used for?
A387 Gr 11 N&T is typically used for boilers, pressure vessels and cracking tower. In short: chrome-moly pressure plate.
What is the yield strength of A387 Gr 11 N&T?
A387 Gr 11 N&T has a typical yield strength of 355 MPa (51.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) — weaker than 73% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is A387 Gr 11 N&T easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (50/100, worse than 53% of steel grades). Machines like normalized 4130 at roughly 55 % of AISI 1212 — rigid setups, carbide tooling and moderate speeds; the 0.5–0.8 % Si makes chips slightly abrasive.
Can A387 Gr 11 N&T be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (55/100). P-No.4 material: preheat 150–250 °C, low-hydrogen B2/CM filler (E8018-B2, ER80S-B2), interpass control, and PWHT at 690–730 °C to avoid hard HAZ and hydrogen cracking.
What surface finishes work on A387 Gr 11 N&T?
Not anodizable — blast and paint, aluminize/thermal-spray for hot service, or weld-overlay/clad with 347SS or Inconel 625 where corrosive process fluids contact the surface.
Can A387 Gr 11 N&T be formed, bent or molded?
Cold-form only with generous radii; heavy heads and shells are hot-formed 900–1000 °C and then re-normalized and tempered.
What is the maximum service temperature of A387 Gr 11 N&T?
A387 Gr 11 N&T is rated for continuous use to about 550°C (1,022 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in A387 Gr 11 N&T?
Yes — A387 Gr 11 N&T is available for CNC machining and sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM A387/A387M — Pressure Vessel Plates, Alloy Steel, Chromium-Molybdenum — ASTM International (2021)
- ASME BPVC Section II Part A (SA-387) and Part D (allowable stresses, physical properties) — ASME (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- API RP 941 — Steels for Hydrogen Service at Elevated Temperatures — API (2016)
- GB/T 713 (15CrMoR ) — SAC (2014)
- Mysteel / 1688 (2026)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.