All You Need to Know about Boiler Steel Plates

At first sight, boilers and reservoirs are simple devices. These are spherical or cylindrical containers for storing liquids and pressurized gasses. However, they require specific steel alloys to perform to the highest safety standards. So what characteristics should a boiler steel plate have? When and where should you use it? Keep reading to find this out.

Range of Boiler Steel Application

As the name suggests, boiler steel plates are used for producing reservoirs to store liquid or gaseous substances. Boiler steel makes a viable option for boilers, tanks, vessels, water boiler pipes, reactors, and other containers across many industries.

How Much Does Boiler Steel Cost?

Boiler steel prices vary between $550-$600 per ton. You can choose the desired boiler steel composition, thickness, and steel grade.

What Characteristics Should Boiler Steel Plates Have?

Boiler steel applications require specific steel characteristics to withstand continuous service loads. Check them out below.

Corrosion Resistance

First and foremost, boilers and other reservoirs have uninterrupted contact with water and moisture. Corrosion resistance allows boiler steel plates to serve for longer and ensure the safe storage of liquids.

Corrosion-resistant steel preserves structural integrity. Due to this, no microcracks occur on its surface. That’s why steel suppliers produce boiler steel plates using corrosion-resistant steel grades.

Heat Resistance

Heat resistance allows metals to withstand high temperatures (662° F) without damage. It’s crucial for boilers, tanks, and other reservoirs, as they must store hot pressurized liquids or gases.

High Toughness and Formability

Industrial liquid and gas containers have mostly cylindrical shapes. It implies that you have to wrap steel plates during production.

Consequently, you have to use highly formable and ductile steel for these purposes. It must preserve its integrity no matter how you bend and wrap it. At the same time, it must be tough enough to withstand pressure loads as high as 3,000 psi.

High Weldability

Weldability plays a crucial role in boiler steel plates as it defines how strong the welds will be. The stronger steel plates get attached, the more durable the whole structure will be and vice versa. That’s why you have to choose highly weldable steel that allows clean and solid joints. The welds should be free of micropores to prevent liquids from leaking from the reservoir.

Crack Resistance

Let’s imagine you have to store pressurized liquid nitrogen. This liquid has a temperature of – 320° F. It’s so freezing-cold that it makes metals more brittle. If the tank isn’t strong enough, it can crack under pressure and release liquid nitrogen. In its turn, nitrogen increases its volume by 695 times and quickly pushes out oxygen from its surroundings, involving severe safety risks for everyone around.

That’s why boiler steel plates must distribute the pressure evenly at low and high temperatures and withstand severe temperature fluctuations. They must preserve ductility while storing freezing liquids as well as reduce the risks of cracking.

Wrap Up

You have to choose steel for boilers and other reservoirs wisely, paying close attention to its mechanical and chemical properties. Boiler steel plates must be durable, corrosion-resistant, and easily weldable to tolerate service loads. Make sure you buy high-class boiler steel from trusted suppliers that follow international steel production standards.