Steel Q215
GB Q215
Q215 is a lower-strength plain carbon structural steel in the Chinese GB/T 700 Q-series, softer and more ductile than Q235 with no deliberate alloy additions.
Reference datasheet — Q215 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the HR condition
Q215 tempers and conditions
Q215 is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. HR is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solution annealed | Softest condition, used for deep drawing, severe cold heading and wire redraw stock. | 205 | 345 | 38 | 105 HB | 11 % IACS |
quality class A (no impact test required) | Cheapest quality class; pick for non-critical indoor/ambient parts where notch toughness is not specified. | 230 | 385 | 33 | 116 HB | 11 % IACS |
HRDefault Hot rolled | Default mill condition for plate, strip, coil, sections and ERW pipe; use for general welded structures. | 235 | 390 | 33 | 116 HB | — |
quality class B (Charpy V ≥27 J at 20 °C) | Choose when a room-temperature impact guarantee and tighter S content are needed for welded load-bearing parts. | 235 | 395 | 33 | 118 HB | 11 % IACS |
Normalized | Normalizing (~900 °C, air cool) refines grain after hot forming or heavy welding for uniform toughness. | 240 | 380 | 35 | 115 HB | 11 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Cold-drawn bar, wire and cold-rolled strip: higher strength and better surface/tolerance, but low ductility until annealed. | 400 | 500 | 12 | 150 HB | 10.5 % IACS |
What is Q215?
Q215 is a lower-strength plain carbon structural steel in the Chinese GB/T 700 Q-series, softer and more ductile than Q235 with no deliberate alloy additions. It is chosen where forming and welding matter more than strength, and is supplied as hot-rolled bar and sections, A- and B-quality classes, normalized, annealed and cold-drawn stock, and as wire rod and welded pipe. Default values are 235 MPa yield, 390 MPa tensile, 33 % elongation and 116 HB. Design strength is low, machinability is poor because the steel is gummy, and there is no corrosion resistance; step up to Q235 when load capacity governs. Q215 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,495°C (2,723 °F). Q215 has a yield strength of 235 MPa (34.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 390 MPa (56.6 ksi) — weaker than 96% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 33% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is Q215 used for?
- welded pipe
- light structural sections
- wire rod
- general fabrication
Advantages
- High electrical conductivity — 11 % IACS, better than 98% of steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 90/100, better than 98% of steel grades
- Readily welded — 95/100, better than 97% of steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 33%, better than 96% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 51 W/m·K (29.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 92% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 235 MPa (34.1 ksi), worse than 96% of steel grades
- Hard to polish — 40/100, worse than 96% of steel grades
Q215 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Q215-HR; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
Q215 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,495°C (2,723 °F).
Mechanical16
Q215 has a yield strength of 235 MPa (34.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 390 MPa (56.6 ksi) — weaker than 96% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 33% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
Q215 is rated for continuous service to 350°C (662 °F). It conducts heat at 51 W/m·K (29.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 92% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12 µm/m·K (6.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Q215 conducts electricity at 11 % IACS, better than 98% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Q215 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability6
Q215's machinability is good (62/100, better than 89% of steel grades); weldability excellent (95/100); formability excellent (90/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the steel family
Yield strength against density for every steel grade FabDigit runs. Q215 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Q215
Is Q215 easy to machine?
Soft and gummy — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed and generous coolant to avoid built-up edge and stringy chips; cold-drawn stock machines noticeably better.
Can Q215 be welded?
Excellent weldability by SMAW/GMAW/ERW with E43xx (E6013/E7018-class) consumables; no preheat needed below ~30 mm.
Can Q215 be formed, bent or molded?
Very good cold formability — passes tight cold-bend tests, suitable for roll forming, deep drawing, cold heading and wire drawing.
Q215 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CGB/T 700-2006 | 0.09 – 0.15 | 0.12 |
| Si | ≤ 0.35 | 0.2 |
| Mnup to 1.20 % permitted for some product forms | 0.25 – 0.55 | 0.4 |
| P | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| S≤0.050 % for class A, ≤0.045 % for class B | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on Q215?
No natural corrosion resistance: hot-dip galvanize, zinc-electroplate, phosphate+paint or powder coat; takes bluing and paint well after pickling.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on steel parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Organic Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel Q215 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Also called
- Q215-AQ215-B
How much does Q215 cost?
Q215 is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Q215 — frequently asked
What is Q215 used for?
Q215 is typically used for welded pipe, light structural sections, wire rod and general fabrication. In short: softest Q-series structural steel; best formability in Q-series; low-cost pipe and wire steel.
What is the yield strength of Q215?
Q215 has a typical yield strength of 235 MPa (34.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 390 MPa (56.6 ksi) — weaker than 96% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is Q215 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (62/100, better than 89% of steel grades). Soft and gummy — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed and generous coolant to avoid built-up edge and stringy chips; cold-drawn stock machines noticeably better.
Can Q215 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (95/100). Excellent weldability by SMAW/GMAW/ERW with E43xx (E6013/E7018-class) consumables; no preheat needed below ~30 mm.
What surface finishes work on Q215?
No natural corrosion resistance: hot-dip galvanize, zinc-electroplate, phosphate+paint or powder coat; takes bluing and paint well after pickling.
Can Q215 be formed, bent or molded?
Very good cold formability — passes tight cold-bend tests, suitable for roll forming, deep drawing, cold heading and wire drawing.
What is the maximum service temperature of Q215?
Q215 is rated for continuous use to about 350°C (662 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Q215-HR and Q215-CD?
HR is the default condition — default mill condition for plate, strip, coil, sections and ERW pipe; use for general welded structures. CD: cold-drawn bar, wire and cold-rolled strip: higher strength and better surface/tolerance, but low ductility until annealed. Yield strength is 235 MPa in HR versus 400 MPa in CD.
How much does Q215 cost?
Q215 is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
- Machinery's Handbook, 31st ed. — Industrial Press (2020)
- worldsteel LCI data for steel products — World Steel Association (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.