18MnMoNbR Steel Plate for Pressure Vessels (GB/T 713)

18MnMoNbR is a pressure vessel steel plate grade under the Chinese national standard. The manufacturing specification is GB/T 713.2-2023 (previous version: GB/T 713-2014), and the ultrasonic testing standard is NB/T 47013.3-2015.

This grade is a low-alloy steel containing manganese, molybdenum, and niobium, offering excellent strength and toughness for heavy-wall pressure vessels and high-temperature service.

18MnMoNbR steel plates are impact tested at 0 C as standard, with minimum absorbed energy of 47 J (average) for thickness 30-60mm and 41 J for thickness >60-100mm[citation:2][citation:5].

18MnMoNbR designation explanation: 18 stands for average carbon content (0.18%), Mn denotes Manganese, Mo denotes Molybdenum, Nb denotes Niobium, R denotes Pressure Vessel Steel[citation:1][citation:2][citation:3].

Yield Strength
>=400 MPa
Tensile Strength
570-720 MPa
Impact (0 C)
>=47 J
Standard
GB/T 713.2-2023

Product Overview

18MnMoNbR Steel Plate is a low-alloy pressure vessel steel manufactured in accordance with GB/T 713.2-2023. It contains manganese, molybdenum, and niobium as alloying elements, providing excellent strength, toughness, and weldability for heavy-wall pressure vessels and high-temperature applications[citation:1][citation:2].

Compared with Q345R, 18MnMoNbR offers higher strength (570-720 MPa tensile) and better high-temperature performance due to the addition of molybdenum and niobium, making it suitable for more demanding service conditions[citation:3][citation:5].

Yield 400MPa Mo-Nb Alloyed Weldable 0 C Impact

Core Advantages

  • High strength with Mo and Nb microalloying
  • Excellent high-temperature mechanical properties
  • Customizable: HIC/SSC, high-temp properties
  • Normalized + tempered (N+T) delivery condition

Professional Technical Support and Customization

Comprehensive Knowledge Base: Our sales team is proficient in mainstream domestic and international pressure vessel standards. Whether it's the Chinese national standard 18MnMoNbR, the American ASME standard, or other international standards, we can provide accurate technical communication[citation:3][citation:11].

Zero Communication Errors: With solid product knowledge, we can avoid all basic errors during the order technical condition confirmation stage, ensuring the accuracy of your order.

Flexible Customization Capabilities: The 18MnMoNbR standard does not have mandatory requirements for hardness and high-temperature performance. If your design has special requirements (e.g., specific hardness, high-temperature mechanical properties, simulated post-weld heat treatment, HIC/SSC testing), we support customized production[citation:3][citation:11].

Hot-rolled ~15 days
Normalized ~30 days
Max thickness 100mm


Applications

Reactors and pressure vessels
Heat exchangers
Separators and accumulators
Spherical tanks
Nuclear reactor pressure shells
LPG and LNG storage tanks


Stock Resources

Normalized plates: 30-100mm (W:2000-2500, L:11000-12500)

Hot-rolled plates: 6-36mm (W:1800-2500, L:11000-12500)

Hot-rolled coils: 5-16mm (W:1500-2000)

Spot stock size range and supply conditions

Hot Rolled (AR)
Thickness (mm) Width (mm) Length (mm)
6-36 1800/2000/2200/2500 11000-12500
Normalized (N/N+T)
Thickness (mm) Width (mm) Length (mm)
30-100 2000/2200/2500 11000-12500
Hot-Rolled Coils
Thickness (mm) Width (mm)
5-16 1500/1800/2000

Supply Condition: CR, AR, N, N+T

18MnMoNbR Chemical Composition (max %)

C Si Mn Cu Ni Cr Mo Nb P S
<=0.21 0.15-0.50 1.20-1.60 <=0.30 <=0.30 <=0.30 0.45-0.65 0.025-0.050 <=0.020 <=0.010

18MnMoNbR - Alloying Elements and Roles

per GB/T 713.2-2023
C Carbon <=0.21%

Influences strength and hardness.

Si Silicon 0.15-0.50%

Deoxidizer, increases strength.

Mn Manganese 1.20-1.60%

Enhances strength and toughness.

P Phosphorus <=0.020%

Harmful element, reduces toughness.

S Sulfur <=0.010%

Harmful element, causes hot shortness.

Mo Molybdenum 0.45-0.65%

Improves high-temperature strength and corrosion resistance[citation:1][citation:2].

Nb Niobium 0.025-0.050%

Refines grain structure, improves strength and toughness[citation:1][citation:2].

Cu+Ni+Cr+Mo Residual Total <=0.70%

As residual elements, Cu, Ni, Cr each <=0.30%, Mo as alloying element up to 0.60%[citation:1][citation:2][citation:7].

18MnMoNbR typical ranges (wt%): C <=0.21, Si 0.15-0.50, Mn 1.20-1.60, P<=0.020, S<=0.010, Mo 0.45-0.60, Nb 0.025-0.050[citation:1][citation:2][citation:7].

18MnMoNbR Mechanical Properties and Impact Test

Thickness (mm) YS (MPa) TS (MPa) Elong (%) Impact 0 C (J)
30-60 >=400 570-720 18 >=47
>60-100 >=390 570-720 18 >=47

18MnMoNbR High-Temperature Mechanical Properties (Rp0.2 or RcL, MPa)

Thickness (mm) 100℃ 150℃ 200℃ 250℃ 300℃ 350℃ 400℃ 450℃ 500℃
30-60

375

365 360 355 350 340 310 275 -
>60-100 370 360 355 350 345 335 305 270 -

Note: High-temperature tensile properties available upon request. Values based on GB/T 713.2-2023 Table 3[citation:3][citation:7][citation:8].

18MnMoNbR vs Q345R

Item 18MnMoNbR Q345R
Standard GB/T 713.2 GB/T 713.2
Alloying Elements Mn, Mo, Nb Mn
Yield Strength >=400 MPa >=345 MPa
Tensile Strength 570-720 MPa 510-640 MPa
Impact mandatory Yes (0 C, >=47J) Yes (0 C, >=34J)

Scenario-Based Recommendation - GB Grade Comparison

Q345R

General pressure vessels, boilers
Yield >=345 MPa - Tensile 510-640 MPa
Charpy: 0 C
Standard grade, cost-effective
Q345R details

Q370R

High-pressure vessels, lightweight design
Yield >=370 MPa - Tensile 530-630 MPa
Charpy -20 C
Higher strength than Q345R
Q370R details

Q420R

High-pressure large vessels
Yield >=420 MPa - Tensile 590-720 MPa
Charpy -20 C
High strength, good weldability
Q420R details

18MnMoNbR

Heavy-wall reactors, high-temp service
Yield >=400 MPa - Tensile 570-720 MPa
Charpy 0 C (47 J)
Mo-Nb alloyed for high-temp performance
[Current Grade]

16MnDR

Cryogenic tanks, cold regions
Yield >=315 MPa - Tensile 490-620 MPa
Charpy -40 C
Low-temperature application
16MnDR details
Quick selection path: Q345R (standard) -> Q370R -> Q420R -> 18MnMoNbR (Mo-Nb alloyed, high-temp) ; Low-temp branch: 16MnDR (-40 C)

Quality Control and Inspection

Mill Test Certificate 3.1 Chemical analysis Mechanical testing Charpy V-notch 0 C High-temp tensile UT optional

Customizable Specification Range for 18MnMoNbR

Thickness
6-100 mm
(custom rolling)
Width
1500-5200 mm
(adjustable per order)
Length
<= 18000 mm
(max. single length)

Delivery Condition

AR CR TMCP N+T N

AR as rolled - CR controlled rolled - TMCP thermo-mechanical - N+T normalized + tempered - N normalized

Additional Requirements

  • Simulated post-weld heat treatment (PWHT)
  • Brinell hardness requirements
  • HIC / SSC testing
  • High-temperature tensile properties

Other customized technical conditions are also negotiable.

The above ranges represent our standard customizing capability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 18MnMoNbR steel plate used for?

18MnMoNbR steel plate is mainly used for heavy-wall reactors, heat exchangers, separators, spherical tanks, nuclear reactor pressure shells, and LPG/LNG storage tanks requiring high strength and high-temperature performance[citation:1][citation:2].

What is the impact test temperature for 18MnMoNbR?

18MnMoNbR steel plates are impact tested at 0 C as standard, with minimum average absorbed energy of 47 J for thickness 30-60mm and 41 J for thickness >60-100mm[citation:2][citation:5].

What is the difference between Q345R and 18MnMoNbR?

18MnMoNbR offers higher strength (400 MPa yield vs 345 MPa) and better high-temperature performance due to the addition of molybdenum (0.45-0.60%) and niobium (0.025-0.050%). It is specifically designed for heavy-wall and high-temperature applications[citation:1][citation:2].

What is the delivery condition for 18MnMoNbR?

18MnMoNbR is typically delivered in normalized + tempered (N+T) condition with a tempering temperature not lower than 620 C[citation:6][citation:7][citation:11].

Can you provide 18MnMoNbR steel plates with custom sizes?

Yes. Custom rolling up to 100mm thick, 5200mm wide, 18000mm long. Delivery: 15-20 days hot-rolled, 30-35 days normalized.

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