AH32 Shipbuilding Steel Plate

⚙️ AH32 Steel Plate: Key Facts at a Glance

🔬 Grade Designation

A: Grade of quality, impact at 0°C |   H: High strength |  32: Yield strength grade, ≥315Pa Yield Strength

📊 Core Performance

• Strength: Yield ≥315 MPa
• Toughness: 0°C Impact Test

🌍 Primary Applications

Standard hull structures of commercial vessels (bulk carriers, container ships), decks, bulkheads, general marine structures.

✅ Certifications & Standards

Complies with ABS, BV, CCS, DNV, etc. 9 major classification societies, EN 10204 3.1 certificate.

🔍 Quick Specs Summary: AH32 Steel Plate

  • Grade & Strength: AH32, 32 Class High Strength Steel
  • Yield Strength (ReH): ≥ 315 MPa
  • Impact Toughness: Tested at 0°C (32°F)
  • Key Property: Excellent Weldability and Formability
  • Primary Use: Standard hull structures, decks, bulkheads of commercial vessels
  • Service Environment: General marine service, non-Arctic conditions
  • Approvals: ABS, BV, CCS, DNV, LR, NK, RINA, KR, IRS
  • Delivery Condition: Normalized (N) or TMCP

AH32 shipbuilding steel plate is a standard high-strength hull structural steel widely used in commercial shipbuilding and general marine applications. It offers a balanced combination of strength, toughness, and weldability for standard marine service conditions with reliable 0°C impact performance.

1. Product Definition and Classification

AH32 belongs to the 32 Class high-strength hull structural steel family with a minimum yield strength of 315 MPa. The prefix A indicates impact testing at 0°C in accordance with classification society rules. The letter H designates steel for hull structural applications. It represents the entry-level high-strength grade in the standard A-grade toughness series.

Applicable Classification Societies

  • ABS – American Bureau of Shipping (United States)
  • BV – Bureau Veritas (France)
  • CCS – China Classification Society (China)
  • DNV – Det Norske Veritas (Norway)
  • IRS – Indian Register of Shipping (India)
  • KR – Korean Register (South Korea)
  • LR – Lloyd's Register (United Kingdom)
  • NK – ClassNK (Japan)
  • RINA – Registro Italiano Navale (Italy)

Note: Listed in alphabetical order by society abbreviation for neutral reference.

2. Key Advantages

⚓ Standard Marine Strength 🧱 Cost-Effective High Strength ❄️ Reliable Low-Temperature Toughness 🔧 Excellent Fabrication Properties
Designed for standard ship hulls and marine structures requiring enhanced strength 315 MPa minimum yield strength provides optimal balance of strength and cost efficiency Maintains stable impact toughness at 0°C per classification requirements Superior weldability and formability for efficient shipyard fabrication

3. Chemical Composition & Mechanical Properties

Chemical Composition (Typical, %)

C Si Mn P S Al
≤0.18 ≤0.50 0.90 – 1.60 ≤0.035 ≤0.035 ≥0.015

* Typical values according to classification society specifications. Actual limits may vary by approval.

Mechanical Properties

Thickness (mm) Yield Strength (MPa) Tensile Strength (MPa) Elongation (%) Impact Test Temperature
≤50 ≥315 440 – 590 ≥22 0°C

4. 32-Class Hull Steel: Toughness Grade Comparison

The following table compares different toughness grades within the 32 Class high-strength hull steel series. All grades share the same minimum yield strength (≥315 MPa) but are designed for different service temperatures.

Steel Grade Impact Test Temperature Yield Strength (Min) Typical Application Environment
AH32 0°C ≥ 315 MPa Standard hull structures in general marine service
DH32 -20°C ≥ 315 MPa Vessels and structures operating in colder waters
EH32 -40°C ≥ 315 MPa Offshore platforms and vessels requiring higher toughness
FH32 -60°C ≥ 315 MPa Extreme low-temperature applications

5. A-Grade Hull Steel Series: Strength Progression

This table shows the strength progression within the A-Grade hull steel series (all grades impact tested at 0°C), illustrating available options for increasing load-bearing capacity while maintaining the same impact toughness level.

Performance Tier Steel Grade Yield Strength (Min) Impact Test Temperature Key Selection Insight
Tier 1: Baseline Strength AH32 ≥ 315 MPa 0°C Recommended choice for standard hull structures requiring 0°C impact toughness with cost efficiency
Tier 2: Enhanced Strength AH36 ≥ 355 MPa 0°C Enhanced strength for higher load-bearing needs while maintaining 0°C impact toughness
Tier 3: High Strength AH40 ≥ 390 MPa 0°C For critical structural components requiring maximum strength with 0°C impact toughness

Choose Your Optimal Marine Steel Grade

Compare key specifications across our high-strength series. Varying parameters are highlighted for quick decision-making.

AH32

CURRENT RECOMMENDATION
Yield Strength ≥315 MPa
Impact Temp 0°C
Key Feature Cost-Effective

AH36

ENHANCED
Yield Strength ≥355 MPa
Impact Temp 0°C
Key Feature Balanced Choice

DH32

LOW TEMP
Yield Strength ≥315 MPa
Impact Temp -20°C
Key Feature Cold Climate

AH40

HIGH STRENGTH
Yield Strength ≥390 MPa
Impact Temp 0°C
Key Feature Max Strength

6. Typical Applications

Standard hull structures of commercial vessels (bulk carriers, container ships, tankers)

Decks and bulkheads in marine engineering

General marine structural components for offshore applications

General marine service environments (non-Arctic conditions)

7. Available Sizes & Supply Conditions

Thickness: 6 – 150 mm

Width: Up to 5,300 mm

Length: Up to 18,000 mm

Delivery Condition: Normalized (N) / Thermo-Mechanical Control Processed (TMCP)

Surface Treatment: As rolled, blasted, or primed (upon request)

8. Quality Control & Certification

Inspection & Quality Control

Chemical composition analysis

Tensile and elongation testing

Charpy V-notch impact testing at 0°C

Ultrasonic testing (UT) for internal quality

Third-party inspection available (SGS, BV, TUV, etc.)

Certification

Each shipment includes:

EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate

Classification society approval certificate

Heat number traceability

Optional EN 10204 3.2 certificate (upon request)

9.Frequently Asked Questions

AH32 is primarily used for standard hull structures, decks, bulkheads, and marine components in commercial vessels like bulk carriers, container ships, and tankers where high-strength steel with 0°C impact toughness is required.

Ordinary A-grade ship plate has 235 MPa yield strength, while AH32 is a high-strength grade with ≥315 MPa yield strength. AH32 offers approximately 34% higher load-bearing capacity with the same 0°C impact toughness, making it suitable for larger vessels and more demanding structural applications.

AH32 is impact tested at 0°C (32°F) in accordance with classification society requirements for general marine service conditions.

We provide EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates along with classification society approval certificates for each shipment.

Yes, we can supply AH32 plates with certifications from major classification societies including ABS (American Bureau of Shipping), BV (Bureau Veritas), DNV (Det Norske Veritas), LR (Lloyd's Register), GL (Germanischer Lloyd), CCS (China Classification Society), NK (Nippon Kaiji Kyokai), KR (Korean Register), and RINA. We can work with your designated classification society to meet specific project requirements.

Yes, we can arrange third-party inspections from organizations like SGS, Bureau Veritas, TUV, or Lloyd's Register upon customer request.

Yes, we specialize in customized solutions. We can supply AH32 plates according to your specified dimensions, thicknesses, and classification society requirements. We also provide EN 10204 3.2 certificates upon request.

Delivery time for customized orders: Approximately 20 days for hot-rolled plates and 35-55 days for normalized plates, depending on specifications.

We offer flexible MOQ options. For hot-rolled plates, typical lead time is around 20 days. For normalized plates, expect 35-55 days depending on specifications and quantity. We do not have a mandatory requirement for the minimum order quantity of shipbuilding steel plates between 10-50mm, and we can basically provide them according to the quantity you need.

The price of AH32 steel plate fluctuates based on raw material costs, thickness, dimensions, purchase volume, and market conditions. For the most accurate and competitive real-time quotation, please contact our sales team with your specific requirements (grade, size, quantity, destination port, and any special certifications needed). We provide competitive pricing and respond within 24 hours.

We maintain a monthly inventory of around 1000-2000 tons of ship plates including AH32. The inventory we maintain is the portion exceeding customer orders; it's not something we actively order from steel mills. For accurate real-time stock levels of AH32, please contact our sales team or use our stock inquiry system.

Request Technical & Commercial Support

We supply classification-approved AH32 shipbuilding steel plate with full traceability, flexible inspection options, and coordinated logistics support.

📋 Certification & Quality

9 major classification societies

EN 10204 3.1 certificates

Third-party inspection available

⚙️ Custom Solutions

Custom dimensions & cutting

Various surface treatments

Flexible certification options

🚚 Logistics Support

Global shipping coordination

Documentation assistance

Technical support

Response Time: We typically respond to all inquiries within 24 hours