Steel P265NL-A (Solution annealed)
Temper
EN P265NL
Intermediate mill condition for deep cold drawing or severe bending; must be re-normalized before pressure service to restore the −50 °C toughness guarantee.
Values for the A condition
Other P265NL tempers and conditions
P265NL is listed in 5 conditions; see the grade overview at P265NL.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AThis page Solution annealed | Intermediate mill condition for deep cold drawing or severe bending; must be re-normalized before pressure service to restore the −50 °C toughness guarantee. | 255 | 425 | 33 | 118 HB | 10 % IACS |
normalized then stress relieved / simulated PWHT | Condition tested to prove properties after vessel-shop PWHT (typically 580–620 °C); slightly lower strength, unchanged toughness. | 288 | 450 | 30 | 125 HB | 10 % IACS |
normalized and tempered | Choose when thick sections or heavily cold-worked tube ends need extra ductility and lower residual stress while keeping low-temperature toughness. | 295 | 455 | 30 | 128 HB | — |
NDefault Normalized | Standard delivery condition for P265NL tube and plate; gives the fine-grain structure needed for the −50 °C Charpy requirement. | 300 | 470 | 28 | 132 HB | — |
Cold drawn seamless tube, subsequently normalized | Pick for close-tolerance, smooth-bore low-temperature tubing; final normalizing removes the cold-work and restores impact values. | 305 | 475 | 27 | 135 HB | 10 % IACS |
What is P265NL-A?
P265NL-A is P265NL in the A temper — intermediate mill condition for deep cold drawing or severe bending; must be re-normalized before pressure service to restore the −50 °C toughness guarantee. P265NL-A has a yield strength of 255 MPa (37 ksi) and a tensile strength of 425 MPa (61.6 ksi) — weaker than 93% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 33% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi). P265NL-A has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,460°C (2,660 °F). N is the default condition FabDigit quotes; A is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 52 W/m·K (30 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 98% of steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 33%, better than 96% of steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 85/100, better than 96% of steel grades
- Readily welded — 90/100, better than 90% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10 % IACS, better than 83% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 255 MPa (37 ksi), worse than 93% of steel grades
P265NL-A properties
Typical room-temperature values for P265NL-A; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are P265NL reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
P265NL-A has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,460°C (2,660 °F).
Mechanical16
P265NL-A has a yield strength of 255 MPa (37 ksi) and a tensile strength of 425 MPa (61.6 ksi) — weaker than 93% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 33% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
P265NL-A is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 52 W/m·K (30 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 98% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12 µm/m·K (6.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
P265NL-A conducts electricity at 10 % IACS, better than 83% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of P265NL-A takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 2.1 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability8
P265NL-A's machinability is good (58/100, better than 75% of steel grades); weldability excellent (90/100); formability excellent (85/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with P265NL-A
Is P265NL easy to machine?
Machines like mild steel at ~65 % of AISI 1212; gummy chips at low speed — use positive rake, sharp coated carbide and generous feed.
Can P265NL be welded?
Excellent weldability (CEV ≈ 0.35–0.42); SMAW/GMAW/SAW with low-hydrogen basic consumables of matching Ni-bearing type, preheat 100–150 °C for t > 30 mm, heat input controlled to protect the −50 °C HAZ toughness.
Can P265NL be formed, bent or molded?
Good cold bending and flanging in +N or +A; keep bend radii ≥ 2t and re-normalize after heavy cold work (>5 % strain) if low-temperature impact properties must be guaranteed.
What surface finishes work on P265NL?
No anodizing; protect with shot-blast plus epoxy/zinc-rich primer, hot-dip galvanizing or metallizing — bare surfaces rust rapidly in humid or marine air.
P265NL 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cladle analysis | ≤ 0.2 | 0.16 |
| Si | ≤ 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.8 – 1.4 | 1.1 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Slow S for toughness | ≤ 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Altotal Al, grain refining | ≥ 0.02 | 0.04 |
| Crresidual | ≤ 0.3 | 0.06 |
| Curesidual | ≤ 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Moresidual | ≤ 0.08 | 0.02 |
| Niresidual | ≤ 0.5 | 0.15 |
| Nbmicro-alloy, Nb+Ti+V limited | ≤ 0.05 | 0.01 |
| Ti | ≤ 0.04 | 0.01 |
| V | ≤ 0.05 | 0.01 |
| N | ≤ 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Fe | balance | — |
P265NL-A — frequently asked
What is P265NL-A used for?
P265NL-A is typically used for cryogenic storage tanks, gas pressure vessels, low-temperature piping systems and offshore pressure equipment. In short: cold-service pressure vessel plate; guaranteed low-temperature toughness; very high weldability rating.
What is the yield strength of P265NL-A?
P265NL-A has a typical yield strength of 255 MPa (37 ksi) and a tensile strength of 425 MPa (61.6 ksi) — weaker than 93% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is P265NL-A easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (58/100, better than 75% of steel grades). Machines like mild steel at ~65 % of AISI 1212; gummy chips at low speed — use positive rake, sharp coated carbide and generous feed.
Can P265NL-A be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (90/100). Excellent weldability (CEV ≈ 0.35–0.42); SMAW/GMAW/SAW with low-hydrogen basic consumables of matching Ni-bearing type, preheat 100–150 °C for t > 30 mm, heat input controlled to protect the −50 °C HAZ toughness.
What surface finishes work on P265NL-A?
No anodizing; protect with shot-blast plus epoxy/zinc-rich primer, hot-dip galvanizing or metallizing — bare surfaces rust rapidly in humid or marine air.
Can P265NL-A be formed, bent or molded?
Good cold bending and flanging in +N or +A; keep bend radii ≥ 2t and re-normalize after heavy cold work (>5 % strain) if low-temperature impact properties must be guaranteed.
What is the maximum service temperature of P265NL-A?
P265NL-A is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between P265NL-N and P265NL-A?
N is the default condition — standard delivery condition for P265NL tube and plate; gives the fine-grain structure needed for the −50 °C Charpy requirement. A: intermediate mill condition for deep cold drawing or severe bending; must be re-normalized before pressure service to restore the −50 °C toughness guarantee. Yield strength is 300 MPa in N versus 255 MPa in A.
Sources
- EN 10216-4 — Seamless steel tubes for pressure purposes, non-alloy and alloy steels with specified low temperature properties — CEN (2013)
- EN 10028-3 — Flat products of steels for pressure purposes: weldable fine grain steels, normalized — CEN (2017)
- EN 10222-4 — Steel forgings for pressure purposes: weldable fine grain steels with high proof strength — CEN (2017)
- EN 1011-2 — Welding recommendations for ferritic steels — CEN (2001)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.19 — Fatigue and Fracture — ASM International (1996)
- European seamless tube producer datasheets for 1.0453 / P265NL — various (Vallourec, Tenaris, Benteler) (2022)
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.