Description
The Workhorse of Structural Steel – With Real-World Reliability
We’ve supplied A36 hot rolled flat bars to bridge projects, factory retrofits, and custom fabricators for over a decade. What makes this carbon steel grade special isn’t just its ASTM A36 compliance – it’s how consistently it performs in the field. Take a recent offshore platform repair: 25mm thick A36 flats handled 40-ton dynamic loads with no cracking after 8mm fillet welds. That’s typical of this grade’s 58-80 ksi tensile strength and 36 ksi yield strength (minimum).
- Hot-rolled with purpose: The mill scale surface isn’t just cost-effective – it actually helps protect during short-term outdoor storage. For precision machining? We offer pickling and oil (P&O) treatment to achieve 125 RMS finishes.
- Dimensional flexibility matters: While standard sizes run 6m/12m lengths, we’ve cut 3.2m segments for containerized shipments and 11.7m pieces to minimize welding on-site. Tolerances stay tight (±0.5mm on thickness/width) even with custom cuts.
- Weld without worry: Unlike higher-carbon steels, A36 rarely needs pre-heating for field joints. We’ve seen it hold up in -20°F environments with proper E70XX electrode selection.
Where It Shines (And Where It Doesn’t)
This isn’t the steel for marine splash zones or chemical plants – carbon steel will rust without coatings. But in dry warehouses, structural frameworks, and machinery bases, it’s unbeatable for the price. One client saved 18% versus A572 by using A36 for non-corrosive conveyor supports – with identical load capacity.
Common questions we hear:
– “Can it be laser-cut?” Yes, though >12mm thickness may require plasma for edge quality.
– “How’s the flatness?” Within 3mm/m deviation standard; we offer leveling for critical applications.
– “What about galvanizing?” Perfectly suitable, but expect slight warping on thin sections (3-6mm) during hot-dip.
Made in China – With Global Standards
Our furnace-to-finish control ensures consistent chemistry (max 0.26% carbon, 0.05% sulfur) and ultrasonic-tested internal integrity. Need something special? We’ve produced 50mm thick × 280mm wide flats with deburred edges for nuclear facility repairs, all with full mill certifications (EN 10204 3.1).
Whether you need 100 pieces or 1,000 tons, we handle it the same way – with transparent pricing, mill test reports, and no hidden fees. Let’s discuss your next project’s real needs. Email our engineers – we’ll respond with practical solutions, not just a quote.
