General purpose structural steel 235 MPa yield, impact tested at 20 C. Most widely used structural grade in Europe.
Standards
| Standard Body |
Designation |
Country |
| EN 10025-2 |
S235JR / S235J0 / S235J2 |
EU |
| DIN (obsolete) |
St37-2 / RSt37-2 |
Germany |
| ASTM |
A36 (nearest, slightly higher yield) |
USA |
| BS |
43A (obsolete) |
UK |
| JIS |
SS400 (nearest) |
Japan |
| GOST |
St3sp / St3ps |
Russia |
| UNS |
K02600 (nearest A36) |
USA |
| GB |
Q235B |
China |
| JUS |
C.0361 / Č.0361 / St.37-2 |
Yugoslavia |
Composition (wt.%)
| Element |
Symbol |
Min % |
Max % |
Typical % |
| Carbon |
C |
— |
0.170 |
0.140 |
| Silicon |
Si |
— |
— |
0.200 |
| Manganese |
Mn |
— |
1.400 |
1.100 |
| Phosphorus |
P |
— |
0.040 |
— |
| Sulphur |
S |
— |
0.040 |
— |
Physical
Melting Range
1493 – 1527
°C
Thermal Conductivity
52
W/mK
Thermal Expansion
12
×10⁻⁶/K
Machinability
| Rating |
70.0% (B1112=100%) |
| Turning HSS |
42.0 m/min |
| Turning Carbide |
182.0 m/min |
| Surface Finish |
Ra 1.6-6.3 um |
| Coolant |
Soluble oil 5-8% |
Mechanical
| Condition |
Rm (MPa) | Re (MPa) | A (%) |
HB | HRC | KV (J) | E (GPa) |
| Hot Rolled t<=16mm (+AR) |
360 – 510 |
≥235 |
≥26 |
— |
— |
27 |
210 |
| Hot Rolled 16<t<=40mm (+AR) |
360 – 510 |
≥225 |
≥26 |
— |
— |
27 |
210 |
| Hot Rolled t>40mm (+AR) |
350 – 500 |
≥215 |
≥24 |
— |
— |
27 |
210 |
Heat Treatment
| Process |
Temperature |
Medium |
Duration |
Hardness After |
| Normalizing |
870 – 920°C |
Still Air |
- |
Standard |
| Stress Relieving (after welding) |
530 – 580°C |
Furnace |
1h/25mm |
No change |
Applications
Light Structures: Agricultural equipment frames, greenhouse structures, garden gates and railings.
General Fabrication: Brackets, bases, supports, angles, channels and general steelwork.
Automotive: Non-structural body panels, seat frames and agricultural trailer bodies.
Notes
S235 vs S355: S235JR: 40% lower yield, 30% lower cost. Use S235 for light structures where deflection (not strength) governs design — e.g. long-span purlins, agricultural frames, railings. S355 for anything requiring structural efficiency.