The final result of rolling ingots in a rolling mill, Steel Slab, is defined as a semi-finished steel product, which is sometimes produced by processing ingots using a continuous casting process. With rectangular cross-sections, steel slabs are used as beginner metals in the production of flat products such as hot rolled coils or steel plates. Slabs are in flat form and rectangular shape ranging from 160 mm thicknesses and more. An impressive number of industries are using Steel Slab.
Product Name: Steel Slab
Hs Code: 72061000
Note: this article is unrelated to the Structural Concrete Slabs in Civil Engineering.
Usage of steel slabs
Steel slabs are mostly used in the heavy machinery industry, as well as steel plates/ coils production. Similar to the steel billets, slabs are also formed for further processing. However, they are always in their unique rectangular shape. Typically, they are processed through flat rolling and mostly are converted into chequered plates, sheet metal, pipes, and tubes.
Types, Properties, and Standards of steel slabs
Steel slabs are available in stainless steel; however, the most common is carbon steel. The chemical properties are different, but the important elements are iron, copper, chromium, molybdenum, manganese, nickel, and silicon. Through standard coding, the specifications must be identified, and usually, they are attached or imprinted to the end part of the slab, which always includes:
- Heat number: this is sealed into the far end of the metal
- Color code: This shows the grade of the metal and has to be painted to the end
In Steel Slabs, there must not be longitudinal and transverse cracks, jointing, scab, scum, cavities, shrinkage, or any other evidence of surface and internal defect that may negatively affect Standards of the final product. Each standard will describe the chemical specification necessary for the manufacturing of the desired product.
Some of the applied standards are:
| Standard | Specification |
|---|---|
| ASTM A615M | GOST ST 495/SP. |
| ASTM A706M | GOST ST 5/SP. |
| ASTM A711 /A7aam | S235JR |
| BS 4449 | S235J0 |
| GOST 380/89-94. | S235J2 |
| GOST ST 3 S/SP. | S275JR |
| S275J0 | PED 97/23/EC |
| S275J2 | ASME MO QSC 713 |
| S355JR | DNV |
| S355J0 | Germanischer Lloyd |
| S355J2 | Lloyd’s Register |
| ISO 9001 & 14001 - TÜV Nord | As well as some UNS, JIS and CNS standards |
| BS OHSAS 18001 - TÜV Nord | |
| AD 2000 – Merkblatt Wo/TRD 100 - TÜV Nord |
Size and Grades of steel slabs
There are different sizes, with 300 millimeters as the industry standard. Steel slab’s chemical specification varies based on the type or designation.
Grades in Steel slabs are unique, including:
- Ferritic
- Precipitation hardening
- Duplex
- Austenitic
- Martensitic
Sources:
https://corporate.arcelormittal.com/news-and-media/factfile/steel-terminology