Steel Q960Q
GB Q960Q · EN S960Q
Q960Q is the top standard grade of the GB/T 16270 quenched and tempered structural family, matching EN S960Q, with 1010 MPa yield, 1050 MPa tensile, 13% elongation and about 340 HB (36 HRC).
Reference datasheet — Q960Q 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 QT condition
Q960Q tempers and conditions
Q960Q is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. QT is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
quenched, tempered and stress-relieved (≤ 580 °C) | Specify after welding or cold forming when residual stress and distortion must be controlled; stress relief below the original tempering temperature trades yield down to 950 MPa for higher toughness. | 950 | 1,010 | 14 | 34 HRC | 7 % IACS |
QT | Use for thick-walled welded structures and large frames from 50 to 80 mm, where limited hardenability lowers core yield to 975 MPa, elongation to 12% and weldability to score 45. | 975 | 1,020 | 12 | 35 HRC | 7 % IACS |
QTDefault Quenched and tempered | Pick this quenched and tempered plate up to 50 mm thickness for booms, lifting arms and other lightweight load-bearing parts needing 1010 MPa yield at 13% elongation. | 1,010 | 1,050 | 13 | 36 HRC | — |
What is Q960Q?
Q960Q is the top standard grade of the GB/T 16270 quenched and tempered structural family, matching EN S960Q, with 1010 MPa yield, 1050 MPa tensile, 13% elongation and about 340 HB (36 HRC). It is specified for weight-critical structures such as telescopic crane sections and ultra-high-strength trailers, supplied as plate in QT, QT 50–80 mm and stress-relieved QT+SR conditions. Machinability (30), weldability (50) and formability (32) are all low, service is limited to 250 °C, and coating is mandatory because there is no corrosion resistance. Q890Q is the easier-to-fabricate alternative. Q960Q has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F). Q960Q has a yield strength of 1,010 MPa (146 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,050 MPa (152 ksi) — stronger than 92% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 13% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is Q960Q used for?
- Mobile crane telescopic sections
- Ultra-high-strength trailer frames
- Boom arms for lifting equipment
- Chassis crossmembers for heavy transport
- Load-bearing structural weldments
- Lightweight lifting attachments
Advantages
- High strength — 1,010 MPa (146 ksi), better than 92% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 30/100, worse than 89% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 250°C (482 °F), worse than 85% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 13%, worse than 78% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 34 W/m·K (19.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 77% of steel grades
Q960Q properties
Typical room-temperature values for Q960Q-QT; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
Q960Q has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Mechanical16
Q960Q has a yield strength of 1,010 MPa (146 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,050 MPa (152 ksi) — stronger than 92% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 13% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
Q960Q is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 34 W/m·K (19.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 77% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12 µm/m·K (6.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Q960Q conducts electricity at 7 % IACS, worse than 74% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Q960Q takes about 30 MJ of energy and emits 2.4 kg of CO₂ — more than 56% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability6
Q960Q's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 89% of steel grades); weldability fair (50/100); formability poor (32/100).
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. Q960Q is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Q960Q
Is Q960Q easy to machine?
Use coated carbide tooling with low cutting speed, heavy feed and rigid clamping; at 320–370 HB cutting forces are high and the surface work-hardens easily. Drill on high-rigidity machines with ample coolant.
Can Q960Q be welded?
Weldable with low-hydrogen consumables of the ≥890 MPa class, preheat 100–150 °C (higher for thick plate), interpass ≤200 °C and controlled heat input to avoid HAZ softening and cold cracking. Do not re-quench after welding.
Can Q960Q be formed, bent or molded?
Cold bend transverse to the rolling direction with a minimum bend radius of about 3–4t and increased die clearance. Hot forming destroys the quench-and-temper properties and requires re-quenching and tempering.
Q960Q 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cupper limit, heat analysis | ≤ 0.2 | 0.17 |
| Si | ≤ 0.8 | 0.35 |
| Mn | ≤ 1.7 | 1.3 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| S | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Cr | ≤ 1.5 | 0.6 |
| Ni | ≤ 2 | 1 |
| Mo | ≤ 0.7 | 0.45 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.5 | 0.15 |
| V | ≤ 0.12 | 0.05 |
| Nb | ≤ 0.06 | 0.03 |
| Ti | ≤ 0.05 | 0.02 |
| Bimproves hardenability | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Altotal Al, refines grain | ≥ 0.02 | 0.03 |
| N | ≤ 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Zr | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on Q960Q?
Painting, zinc spraying or hot-dip galvanizing is required for corrosion protection. Galvanizing and acid pickling carry a hydrogen embrittlement risk and need a de-embrittlement bake; shot peening improves fatigue life.
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 Q960Q in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- S960Q
How much does Q960Q cost?
Q960Q 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.
Q960Q — frequently asked
What is Q960Q used for?
Q960Q is typically used for mobile crane telescopic sections, ultra-high-strength trailer frames, boom arms for lifting equipment, chassis crossmembers for heavy transport, load-bearing structural weldments and lightweight lifting attachments. In short: top standard GB Q&T grade; S960Q equivalent; weight-critical booms.
What is the yield strength of Q960Q?
Q960Q has a typical yield strength of 1,010 MPa (146 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,050 MPa (152 ksi) — stronger than 92% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is Q960Q easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 89% of steel grades). Use coated carbide tooling with low cutting speed, heavy feed and rigid clamping; at 320–370 HB cutting forces are high and the surface work-hardens easily. Drill on high-rigidity machines with ample coolant.
Can Q960Q be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (50/100). Weldable with low-hydrogen consumables of the ≥890 MPa class, preheat 100–150 °C (higher for thick plate), interpass ≤200 °C and controlled heat input to avoid HAZ softening and cold cracking. Do not re-quench after welding.
What surface finishes work on Q960Q?
Painting, zinc spraying or hot-dip galvanizing is required for corrosion protection. Galvanizing and acid pickling carry a hydrogen embrittlement risk and need a de-embrittlement bake; shot peening improves fatigue life.
Can Q960Q be formed, bent or molded?
Cold bend transverse to the rolling direction with a minimum bend radius of about 3–4t and increased die clearance. Hot forming destroys the quench-and-temper properties and requires re-quenching and tempering.
What is the maximum service temperature of Q960Q?
Q960Q is rated for continuous use to about 250°C (482 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Q960Q cost?
Q960Q 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
- EN 10025-6 Hot rolled products of structural steels — Flat products of high yield strength structural steels in the quenched and tempered condition — CEN (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
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.