Steel Q235C
GB Q235C · ASTM A36
Q235C is the higher-toughness grade of the GB/T 700 Q235 family, a low-carbon structural steel impact tested at 0 °C with tighter chemistry control than Q235B; A36 is the closest common equivalent.
Reference datasheet — Q235C 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
Q235C tempers and conditions
Q235C is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. HR is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solution annealed | Used for maximum ductility before severe cold forming or deep drawing of blanks. | 235 | 390 | 36 | 110 HB | 11 % IACS |
HRDefault Hot rolled | Standard mill condition for plate, sections and coil; pick for general welded structures. | 265 | 430 | 30 | 125 HB | 10.5 % IACS |
Normalized | Choose for thick plate or where uniform, best low-temperature toughness and reliable 0 °C impact values are required. | 270 | 430 | 33 | 120 HB | 10.8 % IACS |
Cold rolled | Thin-gauge sheet with smooth surface for pressed parts and enclosures; toughness class is nominal only. | 320 | 450 | 22 | 140 HB | 10.4 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Pick for bright, close-tolerance bar and shafting where higher yield and better surface finish are needed. | 420 | 520 | 14 | 160 HB | 10.2 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways Q235C is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
HDG | Hot-Dip Galvanized | Coating |
What is Q235C?
Q235C is the higher-toughness grade of the GB/T 700 Q235 family, a low-carbon structural steel impact tested at 0 °C with tighter chemistry control than Q235B; A36 is the closest common equivalent. It is used for general welded structures and fabricated frames, supplied as hot-rolled plate and sections, cold-rolled sheet, cold-drawn bar and hot-dip galvanized product, with default values of 265 MPa yield, 430 MPa tensile, 30 % elongation and 125 HB. Strength is well below S355-class steels, and it has no corrosion resistance, so coating is mandatory. Move to Q355C/S355J0 when higher yield strength is required. Q235C 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). Q235C has a yield strength of 265 MPa (38.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 430 MPa (62.4 ksi) — weaker than 92% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is Q235C used for?
- structural steel
- welded frames
- bridges
- machine bases
Advantages
- Readily welded — 95/100, better than 97% of steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 85/100, better than 96% of steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 30%, better than 93% of steel grades
- Easy to machine — 65/100, better than 93% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10.5 % IACS, better than 89% of steel grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 40/100, worse than 96% of steel grades
- Low strength — 265 MPa (38.4 ksi), worse than 92% of steel grades
Q235C properties
Typical room-temperature values for Q235C-HR; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
Q235C 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
Q235C has a yield strength of 265 MPa (38.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 430 MPa (62.4 ksi) — weaker than 92% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
Q235C is rated for continuous service to 350°C (662 °F). It conducts heat at 50 W/m·K (28.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 87% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12 µm/m·K (6.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Q235C conducts electricity at 10.5 % IACS, better than 89% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Q235C takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability7
Q235C's machinability is good (65/100, better than 93% of steel grades); weldability excellent (95/100); formability excellent (85/100).
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. Q235C is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Q235C
Is Q235C easy to machine?
Free machining at ~70 % of 1212; gummy in the annealed state, so use positive rake and coolant, or specify cold-drawn bar for better chip break and finish.
Can Q235C be welded?
Excellent — CEV ≈ 0.35, weld with E4303/E5015 or ER70S-6 GMAW; no preheat under ~30 mm, 100–150 °C preheat for heavy or restrained joints.
Can Q235C be formed, bent or molded?
Cold bends to d = a (≤60 mm thickness) per GB/T 700; hot forms readily at 900–1200 °C, normalize afterwards for thick sections.
Q235C 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, grade C | ≤ 0.17 | 0.15 |
| Si | ≤ 0.35 | 0.22 |
| Mntypically 0.35–0.80 in practice | ≤ 1.4 | 0.55 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| S | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Fefully killed (Z) steel | balance |
What surface finishes work on Q235C?
No anodizing; shot blast then paint, hot-dip galvanize, zinc-rich primer or phosphate + oil — bare surfaces rust within days in humid air.
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 Q235C in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- A36
- Also called
- Q235-C
How much does Q235C cost?
Q235C 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.
Q235C — frequently asked
What is Q235C used for?
Q235C is typically used for structural steel, welded frames, bridges and machine bases. In short: low-cost weldable structural steel; excellent cold formability; 0 °C impact tested.
What is the yield strength of Q235C?
Q235C has a typical yield strength of 265 MPa (38.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 430 MPa (62.4 ksi) — weaker than 92% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is Q235C easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (65/100, better than 93% of steel grades). Free machining at ~70 % of 1212; gummy in the annealed state, so use positive rake and coolant, or specify cold-drawn bar for better chip break and finish.
Can Q235C be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (95/100). Excellent — CEV ≈ 0.35, weld with E4303/E5015 or ER70S-6 GMAW; no preheat under ~30 mm, 100–150 °C preheat for heavy or restrained joints.
What surface finishes work on Q235C?
No anodizing; shot blast then paint, hot-dip galvanize, zinc-rich primer or phosphate + oil — bare surfaces rust within days in humid air.
Can Q235C be formed, bent or molded?
Cold bends to d = a (≤60 mm thickness) per GB/T 700; hot forms readily at 900–1200 °C, normalize afterwards for thick sections.
What is the maximum service temperature of Q235C?
Q235C 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 Q235C-HR and Q235C-CD?
HR is the default condition — standard mill condition for plate, sections and coil; pick for general welded structures. CD: pick for bright, close-tolerance bar and shafting where higher yield and better surface finish are needed. Yield strength is 265 MPa in HR versus 420 MPa in CD.
How much does Q235C cost?
Q235C 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
- GB/T 700-2006 Carbon structural steels (2006)
- ASTM A36/A36M Structural Steel — ASTM International (2019)
- GB 50017 Standard for design of steel structures — MOHURD (2017)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
- Machinery's Handbook, 31st ed. — Industrial Press (2020)
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.