16MnDR Low Temperature Pressure Vessel Steel Plate

Product Definition and Standard

This is a grade of steel plate for low-temperature pressure vessels under Chinese national standards.

In practical engineering applications, 16MnDR is commonly used for low temperature pressure vessels, LPG storage tanks, ammonia tanks, petrochemical equipment, energy and gas storage systems, as well as low temperature pipelines and other pressure components. It is a proven and reliable material solution for –40℃ class low temperature pressure vessel applications.

Manufacturing standards: GB/T713.3-2023

Ultrasonic testing standards: NB/T 47013.3-2023

16MnDR Low Temperature Pressure Vessel Steel Plate Equivalent Standards

GB/T: 16MnDR

ASTM / ASME:  A516GR70N / SA516 Gr70N (for reference, not identical)

EN: P355NL1 / P355NL2 (approximate equivalence)

Mechanical Properties and Weldability

16MnDR offers excellent low temperature impact toughness, maintaining reliable performance under cold service conditions and effectively reducing the risk of brittle fracture. Its controlled chemical composition and reasonable carbon equivalent provide good weldability and low crack sensitivity, allowing it to be processed using standard welding procedures commonly applied in pressure vessel fabrication. With a stable balance of strength, ductility and toughness, 16MnDR ensures dependable mechanical performance for long-term service under low temperature and pressure conditions.

Key Advantages of 16MnDR Steel Plate

✅ Excellent Low Temperature Impact Toughness

Maintains stable impact performance at low temperatures, reducing the risk of brittle fracture.

✅ Good Weldability

Controlled chemical composition ensures good weldability and low crack sensitivity.

✅ Stable Mechanical Properties

Balanced strength, ductility and toughness for long-term pressure service.

Applicable Standard

GB/T713.3 – Steel Plates for Low Temperature Pressure Vessels

Mill Test Certificate: EN 10204 3.1

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

Typical Applications

Delivery Condition

Normalizing
Other heat treatment conditions available upon request

Available Dimensions Of 16MnDR Steel Plate

Thickness: 6 – 150 mm

Width: up to 5200 mm

Length: up to 12000 mm

Quality Control & Testing

• Chemical composition analysis
• Mechanical property testing
• –40°C Charpy V-notch impact test
• Ultrasonic testing (UT)

🔬 Role of Each Element in Steel Plate

• Carbon (C) : ≤0.20% — Increases strength but reduces plasticity and weldability. Controlled below 0.20% to ensure good weldability and low-temperature toughness.
• Silicon (Si) : 0.15~0.50% — Deoxidizer, strengthens ferrite. Excessive content may reduce low-temperature toughness and weldability.
• Manganese (Mn) : 1.20~1.60% — Solid-solution strengthening, improves strength and toughness, refines pearlite, enhances low-temperature impact properties.
• Nickel (Ni) : ≤0.40% — Improves low-temperature toughness, lowers ductile-to-brittle transition temperature; an important alloying element for cryogenic steels.
• Molybdenum (Mo) : ≤0.08% — Increases hardenability, improves high-temperature strength; microalloying contributes to grain refinement.
• Acid-soluble Aluminum (Alt) : ≥0.020% — Strong deoxidizer, forms fine AlN precipitates, refines grains, significantly improves low-temperature toughness.
• Nitrogen (N) : ≤0.012% — Forms nitrides with aluminum to refine grains, but free nitrogen deteriorates low-temperature toughness; strictly controlled.
• Phosphorus (P) / Sulfur (S) : ≤0.020% / ≤0.010% — Tightly controlled impurities. Phosphorus causes cold brittleness, sulfur leads to hot shortness, both reduce low-temperature impact toughness and weldability.

💡 Summary: 16MnDR achieves excellent -40°C low-temperature impact toughness and good weldability through strict control of C, P, S and the addition of Mn, Al, Ni and other elements.

Reasons for recommending our company's 16MnDR steel plate

• Professional experience in pressure vessel steel supply
• Stable sourcing from qualified mills
• Export-oriented service and fast response
• Technical support for material selection

1. What is the minimum service temperature of 16MnDR?

According to GB/T 713.3-2023, 16MnDR is impact tested at –40°C and suitable for pressure vessels with a minimum design temperature of –40°C.

2. Is 16MnDR suitable for low temperature pressure vessels?

Yes. 16MnDR is specifically designed for low temperature pressure vessel applications.

3. Can 16MnDR replace Q345R?

The answer is yes. Without additional technical requirements (such as simulated post-weld properties, Z-axis performance, etc.), 16MnDR steel plate can completely replace Q345R steel plate. The reason is that 16MnDR steel plate is delivered in normalized and low-temperature impact (-40℃) condition, while Q345R steel plate is delivered in hot-rolled/normalized condition (usually hot-rolled for ≤36mm), and only requires an impact test at 0℃ (though some are -20℃).

4. Are there any steel plates that are more resistant to low temperatures than 16MnDR?

Of course! In the field of steel plates for pressure equipment, there are indeed steel grades that are more resistant to lower temperatures (lower impact test temperature, higher low-temperature toughness) than 16MnDR. The choice depends mainly on the minimum design temperature requirements and specific operating conditions.

5. What ASME standard material does 16MnDR pressure vessel steel plate correspond to?

This is a question without a standard answer, and your question is one that we have carefully investigated. Strictly speaking, there is no directly equivalent grade. However, you can use SA516GR70 normalized steel plate, supplemented with steel plate that has undergone low-temperature impact testing at -40℃, as a substitute.

The reasons for not prioritizing SA-537 or SA-203 :

SA-537 Class 2 is designed for high strength, not cryogenic applications.
SA-203 (Ni steel) has better cryogenic performance, but significantly increases cost.

6. What welding materials should be selected for 16MnDR?

16MnDR is a low-temperature pressure vessel steel. All welding consumables shall ensure impact toughness at −40°C or lower.

Technical Notes:

• Welding consumables shall be low-hydrogen type.
• Impact toughness of weld metal shall be not lower than base material requirement (−40°C).
• Baking of electrodes is required before welding (typically 350–400°C).
• For thick plates or critical low-temperature service, E5018 or Ni-alloy welding consumables are recommended.
• Welding procedure qualification shall be conducted according to applicable codes.

For 16MnDR steel plates, low-hydrogen welding consumables with verified −40°C impact toughness are recommended to ensure reliable performance in low-temperature pressure vessel applications.

7. How is the weight of 16MnDR steel plate calculated?

Length * Width * (Thickness + Additional Value for Thickness) * Density (7.85)