Steel S355J0
EN S355J0 · GB Q355C
S355J0 is a general-purpose non-alloy structural steel to EN 10025-2 (1.0553) with 355 MPa minimum yield strength and Charpy impact toughness guaranteed at 0 °C; close equivalents are Q355C, A572 Grade 50 and SM490A.
Reference datasheet — S355J0 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 +AR condition
S355J0 tempers and conditions
S355J0 is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. +AR 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed / soft annealed | Used before heavy cold forming or deep machining; lowest strength and hardness, best ductility. | 330 | 490 | 30 | 140 HB | 8.7 % IACS |
+AR | Heavy plate; reduced minimum yield (335 MPa at 40–63 mm, 325 MPa at 63–80 mm, 315 MPa at 80–100 mm) and lower UTS band. | 350 | 500 | 23 | 152 HB | 8.6 % IACS |
+AR | Medium plate and heavy section; yield minimum drops to 345 MPa per EN 10025-2 thickness table. | 370 | 530 | 24 | 158 HB | 8.6 % IACS |
+ARDefault Hot rolled | Standard mill delivery condition for plate, section and bar up to 16 mm — cheapest and most widely stocked. | 380 | 540 | 25 | 160 HB | 8.6 % IACS |
Normalized | Choose for heavy sections, hot-formed parts or when uniform fine-grain toughness through thickness is required. | 385 | 530 | 27 | 155 HB | 8.6 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Pick for close-tolerance shafting and machined parts; higher strength and better surface, but residual stresses and lower ductility. | 500 | 620 | 14 | 190 HB | 8.6 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways S355J0 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 (EN ISO 1461) as-rolled product | Coating |
What is S355J0?
S355J0 is a general-purpose non-alloy structural steel to EN 10025-2 (1.0553) with 355 MPa minimum yield strength and Charpy impact toughness guaranteed at 0 °C; close equivalents are Q355C, A572 Grade 50 and SM490A. It is the default grade for welded steel structures, machinery frames and bases, supplied as hot-rolled plate, sections, hollow sections and cold-drawn bar, with default values of 380 MPa yield, 540 MPa tensile, 25 % elongation and about 160 HB. It has no corrosion resistance and must be coated, and its 0 °C qualification is not sufficient for low-temperature duty — specify S355J2 or normalized S355NL for colder service. S355J0 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F). S355J0 has a yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) — weaker than 68% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is S355J0 used for?
- structural beams
- welded frames
- bridges
- cranes
- machine bases
Advantages
- Readily welded — 88/100, better than 87% of steel grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 120 MPa·√m (109.2 ksi·√in), better than 81% of steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 65/100, better than 81% of steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 25%, better than 77% of steel grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
S355J0 properties
Typical room-temperature values for S355J0-+AR; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
S355J0 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical16
S355J0 has a yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) — weaker than 68% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
S355J0 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 47 W/m·K (27.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 75% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12 µm/m·K (6.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
S355J0 conducts electricity at 8.6 % IACS, better than 66% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of S355J0 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
S355J0's machinability is good (60/100, better than 83% of steel grades); weldability excellent (88/100); formability good (65/100).
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. S355J0 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with S355J0
Is S355J0 easy to machine?
Machines like ordinary C-Mn steel at ~58 % of AISI 1212; use coated carbide, moderate speeds, and expect stringy chips in the as-rolled condition.
Can S355J0 be welded?
Excellent weldability by SMAW/GMAW/SAW with matching low-hydrogen consumables; CEV ≤ 0.47 means preheat is usually only needed above ~30–40 mm or in restrained joints.
Can S355J0 be formed, bent or molded?
Good cold bending (minimum bend radius ≈ 1.5–2.5 t depending on thickness and direction); hot forming 900–1050 °C followed by normalizing restores toughness.
S355J0 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cmax 0.22 for flat products t > 40 mm | ≤ 0.2 | 0.17 |
| Si | ≤ 0.55 | 0.25 |
| Mn | ≤ 1.6 | 1.4 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Nlimit waived if sufficient N-binding elements present | ≤ 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.55 | 0.15 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on S355J0?
No anodizing; protect by shot blasting plus zinc-rich primer/paint system, hot-dip galvanizing or metallizing — bare steel rusts quickly outdoors.
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 S355J0 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
How much does S355J0 cost?
S355J0 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.
S355J0 — frequently asked
What is S355J0 used for?
S355J0 is typically used for structural beams, welded frames, bridges, cranes and machine bases. In short: standard 355 MPa structural steel; highly weldable, CEV ≤ 0.47; 0 °C impact toughness.
What is the yield strength of S355J0?
S355J0 has a typical yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) — weaker than 68% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is S355J0 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, better than 83% of steel grades). Machines like ordinary C-Mn steel at ~58 % of AISI 1212; use coated carbide, moderate speeds, and expect stringy chips in the as-rolled condition.
Can S355J0 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (88/100). Excellent weldability by SMAW/GMAW/SAW with matching low-hydrogen consumables; CEV ≤ 0.47 means preheat is usually only needed above ~30–40 mm or in restrained joints.
What surface finishes work on S355J0?
No anodizing; protect by shot blasting plus zinc-rich primer/paint system, hot-dip galvanizing or metallizing — bare steel rusts quickly outdoors.
Can S355J0 be formed, bent or molded?
Good cold bending (minimum bend radius ≈ 1.5–2.5 t depending on thickness and direction); hot forming 900–1050 °C followed by normalizing restores toughness.
What is the maximum service temperature of S355J0?
S355J0 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 S355J0 +AR and S355J0-CD?
+AR is the default condition — standard mill delivery condition for plate, section and bar up to 16 mm — cheapest and most widely stocked. CD: pick for close-tolerance shafting and machined parts; higher strength and better surface, but residual stresses and lower ductility. Yield strength is 380 MPa in +AR versus 500 MPa in CD.
How much does S355J0 cost?
S355J0 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 10025-2 Hot rolled products of structural steels — Non-alloy structural steels — CEN (2019)
- GB/T 1591 High strength low alloy structural steels (Q355C) — SAC (2018)
- ASTM A572/A572M Grade 50 — ASTM International (2021)
- EN 1993-1-1 Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures — CEN (2005)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Structural steel plate S355 delivery conditions — SSAB / Dillinger (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.