WHAT IS HSLA STEEL

HSLA stands for high-strength low-alloy steel. It is a type of carbon steel that has small amounts of alloying elements added to
its chemical composition. The alloying elements are used primarily to increase the strength of the steel. In addition to being able
to provide increased strength over carbon steel, HSLA steel can also be made to have higher toughness and be more responsive
to heat treatment. The alloying elements can also be used to increase the corrosion resistance of the steel.

How Is HSLA Steel Made?

HSLA steel is made in a fashion similar to other types of steel. Iron ore and coal are combined in a furnace which melts
materials burns away some of the impurities. Varying amounts and types of alloying elements are then added to the molten
mixture, depending on the grade of HSLA steel. Once the proper chemical composition has been achieved, several other steps
are performed to ensure there is a minimal level of contaminants in the HSLA steel. The steel is then allowed to solidify into the
form of a large rectangular ingot. The HSLA steel ingot is then worked down to the final dimensions.

How Does HSLA Steel Work?

HSLA steel can have many different advantages over standard carbon steel. The addition of alloying elements increases the
strength and hardness because the atoms of the elements help to block dislocation movement in the microstructure of a carbon
steel. Alloying elements such as tungsten, vanadium, silicon, nickel, molybdenum, and manganese are known to increase the
strength and hardness of carbon steel. Nickel is especially useful for increasing the toughness.

Corrosion resistance can also be increased in HSLA steels. Alloying elements such as copper, nickel, and chromium are able to
augment the corrosion resistance of steel. This is accomplished because the copper, nickel, and chromium in HSLA steel are
more apt to oxidize than the iron. This protects the iron from forming iron oxide, or rust.

Common Grades of HSLA Steel

There are many different grades of HSLA steel available because of the variety alloying element combinations that can be used.
The chemical composition and grade should be dependent on the intended application of the HSLA steel.

One of the most popular types of HSLA steel is ASTM A36. ASTM A36 is a general purpose HSLA steel. It is commonly used
when erecting steel structures. It is affordable, weldable, and machinable. This versatility, combined with its excellent
mechanical properties, is what makes it such a prevalent choice for structural applications.

Weathering steel is also a type of HSLA Steel. It is commonly used in structural applications where a coating or layers of paint
are not applied, such as bridge construction. Common grades of weathering steel include ASTM A242 and ASTM A588.

HSLA steel is not solely used for structural applications. It frequently is used in oil and gas transmission pipelines as well. API
5L Grade X70 is one of the most common materials used for modern pipelines. The “70” in the name refers to the 70,000 psi
minimum yield strength that American Petroleum Institute requires it to have. Also used in the oil and gas industry is ASTM
A573. ASTM A573 is frequently used for the manufacture of storage tanks.

Of course, there are numerous other grades of HSLA steel available. Some grades are more readily weldable than machinable,
while others are made for abrasion resistance, or to be precipitation hardened. Best engineering judgement should be used when
selecting an appropriate HSLA steel for a job.

GRADE GUIDE: A36 STEEL

Steel is one of the most common metals used for structural applications. It is strong, tough, ductile, formable
and weldable. As there are many different types of steel available, each with unique chemical and mechanical
properties, it is important to know some of the key attributes of A36 steel.

Chemical Composition
A36 is a low carbon steel. Low carbon steels are classified by having less than 0.3% carbon by weight. This
allows A36 steel to be easily machined, welded, and formed, making it extremely useful as a general-purpose
steel. The low carbon also prevents heat treatment from having much of an effect on A36 steel. A36 steel
usually has small amounts of other alloying elements as well, including manganese, sulfur, phosphorus, and
silicon. These alloying elements are added to give A36 steel its desired chemical and mechanical properties.
Since A36 does not contain large amounts of nickel or chromium, it does not have excellent corrosion
resistance.

Designation
Unlike most AISI grades such as 1018, 1141, or 4140, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
A36 steel is not designated by chemical composition. Instead, A36 is designated by mechanical properties. This
means that while most grades must have added alloys that fit between certain percentages, A36 must meet
specific mechanical standards. For example, steel bars and plates must have a minimum yield strength of 36,000
pounds per square inch. While there are some chemical composition requirements that A36 steel must adhere to,
the most important characteristic is the yield strength requirement.

Other Mechanical Properties

A36 steel can have ultimate tensile strengths from 58,000 to 79,800 psi. The exact ultimate tensile strength is
determined by a variety of factors such as chemical composition and forming method. A36 is
relatively ductile and can elongate to around 20% of its original length when tensile testing. Its ductility and
strength also give it excellent impact strength at room temperature.

Mechanical Properties Imperial Metric

Ultimate Tensile Strength 58,000 – 79,800 psi 400 – 550 MPa
Yield Tensile Strength 36,300 psi 250 MPa
Elongation at Break (in 200 mm) 20.0% 20.0%
Elongation at Break (in 50 mm) 23.0% 23.0%
Modulus of Elasticity 29,000 ksi 200 GPa
Bulk Modulus (Typical for steel) 20,300 ksi 140 GPa
Poissons Ratio 0.260 0.260
Shear Modulus 11,500 ksi 79.3 GPa

How A36 is Made

A36 is made in a fashion similar to most carbon steels. First, iron ore and coal are combined in a furnace.
Impurities are burned away and alloying elements are added to the molten steel. Once the chemical composition
of the A36 steel is achieved, it is solidified in into a rectangular ingot. A36 steel is normally hot rolled. This
means that it is formed to its final dimensions in using rollers while the ingot is at an elevated temperature.
Common Uses of A36
A36 steel is used in many different industries for a variety of applications because of its relatively low cost.
Also, as mentioned, the mechanical properties make it particularly suited for structural applications. Many
bridges are constructed with A36 steel. Likewise, buildings are frequently created with A36 steel because of its
high strength and toughness. A36 steel is also used for components in the automotive, construction, heavy
equipment, and oil and gas industries.

WHAT IS WEATHERING STEEL?

Weathering steel is a family of low carbon steels that have additional alloying elements mixed in with the carbon and iron
atoms. These alloying elements give weathering steel better strength and more corrosion resistance than typical low carbon steel
grades. As a result, weathering steel is commonly used in outdoor applications or environments where normal steel would be
inclined to rust.

The Composition of Weathering Steel

As a low carbon steel, weathering steel typically has less than 0.3% carbon by weight. This low amount of carbon allows it to
remain ductile and tough. Weathering steel also includes other alloying elements that help to increase the strength, but more
importantly, the corrosion resistance. There are many different alloying elements used, but the key three elements in weathering
steel are nickel, copper, and chromium.

How Does it Work?

Weathering steel is not like other corrosion resistant steels, such as austenitic stainless steel, that resist rust formation.
Weathering steel will rust, however, it will only rust on the outer surface. The rust does not penetrate deeper into weathering
steel once the outer layer of rust has formed. The surface layer of rust acts as a barrier and actually protects the steel from
further corrosion. In plain carbon steel, the rust layer that forms is porous and will break off which allows another layer to form
deeper into the steel. This cycle repeats until the steel is rendered useless. In weathering steel, the alloying elements cause the
initial rust layer that forms to adhere much better to the steel, preventing the rust from penetrating deeper and weakening the
steel. This protective rust layer eliminates the need to coat weathering steel.

Weathering Steel Grades

Weathering steel is a family of low carbon alloy steels that consists of a variety of grades. Some grades are proprietary, such as
COR-TEN A or COR-TEN B. The Patinax weathering steels are another group of proprietary grades. All of these proprietary
grades are similar to the ASTM classifications A 242 and A 588.
When is Weathering Steel Used?

The Abetxuko Bridge in Spain – made of Weathering Steel

Because weathering steel can outlast plain carbon steel in outdoor conditions, it is frequently used for exposed steel structures.
This removes the need for constant repainting and recoating of the steel. Examples include building and bridge construction.
The protective rust coating slows the corrosion rate enough that by the time the amount of corrosion would be considered
unsafe, the structure would have already exceeded its design life for other reasons.

There are environments where weathering steel should not be used because the corrosion resistance is not capable of
withstanding the conditions. Weathering steel should not be used in environments with high amounts of chlorine, as the
protective rust layer will not be able to withstand the high amount of corrosives present in chlorine rich environments. This can
lead to premature failure. Applications that could result in galvanic corrosion or corrosion induced by extreme pH levels should
also not utilize weathering steel.