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A36 Steel Plate
Available in standard and heavy thicknesses, ASTM A36 steel plate is one of the most popular materials used in structural applications in the United States.
What is A36 Steel Plate?
ASTM A36 Steel Plate is one of the most common grades of steel used in structural applications. This mild carbon steel grade contains chemical alloys that give it properties such as machinability, ductility, and strength that are ideal for use in constructing a variety of structures.
Overview:
- A36 steel plate is a popular steel plate grade used for a variety of structural applications, including buildings.
- Available for heavy steel plate applications in up to 18” thickness.
- May have multiple specs certified on Mill Test Report, but guaranteed to be certified to meet ASTM A36.
- Healthy inventories of A36 steel plate are maintained in all Leeco® Steel distribution centers.
- Ability to be riveted, bolted or welded.
- Available to purchase online via Leeco Pro. Click here to log on or contact us to learn more.
Available Sizes
Due to its wide variety of uses, Leeco Steel keeps a ready stock of the following standard sizes in our distribution centers, but other sizes may be available for special orders.
| THICKNESS | WIDTH | LENGTH | |
| A36 | 3/16" – 18" | 48" – 120" | Up to 480" |
Benefits of A36 Steel Plate
The machinability, strength and durability of A36 make it ideal for applications that require materials that are relatively light, but strong and durable enough to withstand high stress. These properties are crucial in materials used to construct infrastructure like buildings and bridges, where structural damage and failure could have devastating impacts.
Due to the popularity of A36 steel plate, steel plate suppliers like Leeco keep a healthy inventory of a wide variety of plate sizes, making it easy to source. A36 is also one of the most economically priced grades of steel plate.
A36 Equivalent Plate Grades
A36 steel is produced to meet standards set by ASTM, whose material standards are widely accepted in projects across the globe. However, some countries may require that structural projects which meets standards set by a different regulatory body. For example, structural projects that require plate falling under EN standards may use S275 in place of A36, as it is generally considered equivalent.
While not exactly equivalent to A36, other structural grades of mild and HSLA steel may also be suitable for use in infrastructure projects, as these grades often have properties similar to A36
Applications & Industries
A36 steel plate is typically used in structural applications due to its high strength-to-weight ratio and formability, as these properties make it easy to shape A36 into to a variety of structural pieces that can withstand great forces. Some of the common infrastructure applications for A36 include bridge and building construction.
While most commonly used in the infrastructure sector, A36 steel plate’s versatility makes it ideal for use in applications for other industries as well, including:
- Construction
- Oil and gas
- Industrial manufacturing (heavy A36 steel plate)
- Road plate
Material Properties
The following material properties are ASTM specifications and will be confirmed on the Mill Test Report.
| Yield Point (ksi) | Tensile Strength (ksi) | Min. 8" Elongation % | |
| A36 | 36 | 58-80 | 20 |
Chemical Composition
The following composition properties are ASTM specifications for the A36 grade.
| Up to 3/4" Thick | |
| Carbon max | 0.25% |
| Phosphorus max | 0.030% |
| Sulfur max | 0.030% |
| Silicon | 0.40% max |
| Copper min | 0.20% |
| Over 3/4" to 1 1/2" Thick | |
| Carbon max | 0.25% |
| Manganese | 0.80-1.20% |
| Phosphorus max | 0.030% |
| Sulfur max | 0.030% |
| Silicon | 0.15-0.40% max |
| Copper min | 0.20% |
| Over 1 1/2" to 2 1/2" Thick | |
| Carbon max | 0.26% |
| Manganese | 0.80-1.20% |
| Phosphorus max | 0.030% |
| Sulfur max | 0.030% |
| Silicon | 0.15-0.40% max |
| Copper min | 0.20% |
| Over 2 1/2" to 4" Thick | |
| Carbon max | 0.27% |
| Manganese | 0.85-1.20% |
| Phosphorus max | 0.030% |
| Sulfur max | 0.030% |
| Silicon | 0.15-0.40% max |
| Copper min | 0.20% |
| Over 4" Thick | |
| Carbon max | 0.29% |
| Manganese | 0.85-1.20% |
| Phosphorus max | 0.030% |
| Sulfur max | 0.030% |
| Silicon | 0.15-0.40% max |
| Copper min | 0.20% |