Q460R Steel Plate for Pressure Vessels (GB/T 713)

Q460R is an ultra-high-strength 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 offers the highest strength among the Q-series pressure vessel steels. It is equivalent to P460NH or P460NL1 in the EN standard.

Q460R steel plates are impact tested at -20 C as standard, with minimum absorbed energy of 60 J (average).

Q460R designation explanation: Q stands for Yield Strength, 460 represents 460 MPa, R denotes Pressure Vessel Steel.

Yield Strength
>=460 MPa
Tensile Strength
630-750 MPa
Impact (-20 C)
>=60 J
Standard
GB/T 713.2-2023

Product Overview

Q460R Steel Plate is an ultra-high-strength carbon-manganese pressure vessel steel manufactured in accordance with GB/T 713.2-2023. It is specifically designed for ultra-high-pressure boilers, critical pressure vessels, and heavy-duty equipment where maximum strength and excellent weldability are essential.

Compared with Q420R, Q460R offers 40 MPa higher yield strength, enabling significant thickness reduction and weight savings in pressure vessel design while maintaining superior reliability and safety under the most demanding service conditions.

Yield 460MPa Fine-grain Weldable -20 C Impact

Core Advantages

  • Highest strength among Q-series (460 MPa yield)
  • Standard -20 C impact testing (60 J)
  • 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 Q460R, the American ASME standard, or the European standard P460NH/P460NL1, we can provide accurate technical communication.

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 Q460R 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.

Hot-rolled ~15 days
Normalized ~30 days
Max thickness 60mm


 Applications

Ultra-high-pressure boilers
Critical pressure vessels
Heavy-wall reactors
LPG storage tanks
Industrial gas storage
Pressure shells and heads


 Stock Resources

Normalized plates: 12-60mm (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)
12-60 2000/2200/2500 11000-12500
Hot-Rolled Coils
Thickness (mm) Width (mm)
5-16 1500/1800/2000

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

Q460R Chemical Composition (max %)

C Si Mn Cu Ni Cr Mo Nb V Ti P S
<=0.20 <=0.60 1.30-1.70 <=0.20 <=0.20 <=0.30 <=0.30 <=0.05 <=0.10 <=0.030 <=0.020 <=0.010

Q460R - Alloying Elements and Roles

per GB/T 713.2-2023
C Carbon <=0.20%

Influences strength and hardness.

Si Silicon <=0.60%

Increases strength, deoxidizer.

Mn Manganese 1.30-1.70%

Enhances strength and toughness, desulfurizer.

P Phosphorus <=0.020%

Harmful element, reduces toughness.

S Sulfur <=0.010%

Harmful element, causes hot shortness.

Cu Copper <=0.20%

Improves corrosion resistance.

Cr Chromium <=0.30%

Improves corrosion resistance and hardness.

Ni Nickel <=0.20%

Enhances toughness and low-temperature properties.

Mo Molybdenum <=0.30%

Improves high-temperature strength and corrosion resistance.

Nb+V+Ti Microalloying Total <=0.220%

Combined addition refines grain structure and improves strength. Nb<=0.05%, V<=0.10%, Ti<=0.030%.

Q460R typical ranges (wt%): C <=0.20, Si <=0.60, Mn 1.30-1.70, P<=0.020, S<=0.010, Cu<=0.20, Cr<=0.30, Ni<=0.20, Mo<=0.30. Microalloying total (Nb+V+Ti) <=0.220%. Cu+Cr+Mo <=0.45. Alt >=0.035%.

Q460R Mechanical Properties and Impact Test

Thickness (mm) YS (MPa) TS (MPa) Elong (%) Impact -20 C (J)
6-20 >=460 630-750 17 >=60
>20-30 >=440 610-730 17 >=60

Q460R High-Temperature Mechanical Properties (Rp0.2 or RcL, MPa)

Thickness (mm) 100 ℃ 150 ℃ 200 ℃ 250 ℃ 300 ℃ 350 ℃ 400 ℃ 450 ℃
6-20 420 390 355 325 300 280 260 -
>20-30 405 375 345 315 290 270 250 -

Note: High-temperature tensile properties available upon request.

Q460R vs P460NH

Item Q460R P460NH
Standard GB/T 713.2 EN 10028-2
Yield Strength (6-16mm) >=460 MPa >=460 MPa
Tensile Strength 630-750 MPa 610-760 MPa
Impact mandatory Yes (-20 C, >=60J) Yes (0 C, >=40J)
Specified temp -20 C 0 C

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, heavy equipment
Yield >=420 MPa - Tensile 590-720 MPa
Charpy -20 C (60 J)
vs Q370R: 50 MPa higher yield
Q420R details

Q460R

Ultra-high pressure, critical equipment
Yield >=460 MPa - Tensile 630-750 MPa
Charpy -20 C (60 J)
Highest strength among Q-series
[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: Q245R (economy) -> Q345R (standard) -> Q370R -> Q420R -> Q460R (ultra-high strength) ; Low-temp branch: 16MnDR (-40 C)

Quality Control and Inspection

Mill Test Certificate 3.1 Chemical analysis Mechanical testing Charpy V-notch -20 C High-temp tensile UT optional

Customizable Specification Range for Q460R

Thickness
6-60 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 Q460R steel plate used for?

Q460R steel plate is mainly used for ultra-high-pressure boilers, critical pressure vessels, reactors, and heavy-duty equipment where maximum strength (460 MPa yield) is required.

What is the impact test temperature for Q460R?

Q460R steel plates are impact tested at -20 C as standard, with minimum average absorbed energy of 60 J (Charpy V-notch).

What is the difference between Q420R and Q460R?

Q460R offers 40 MPa higher yield strength (460 MPa vs 420 MPa) and higher tensile strength (630-750 MPa vs 590-720 MPa). Q460R is the highest strength grade in the Q-series pressure vessel steels.

What is the delivery condition for Q460R?

Q460R is typically delivered in normalized (N) or normalized + tempered (N+T) condition. Hot-rolled (AR) and controlled rolled (CR) are also available upon request.

Can you provide Q460R steel plates with custom sizes?

Yes. Custom rolling up to 60mm thick, 5200mm wide, 18000mm long. Delivery: 15-20 days hot-rolled, 30-35 days normalized.

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