16MnDR Low Temperature Pressure Vessel Steel Plate
Product Definition and Standard
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: SA516 Gr70N (for reference, not identical)
EN: P355NL1 / P355NL2 (approximate equivalence)
Additional Information :Both P355NL1 and P355NL2 are fine-grained cryogenic pressure vessel steels conforming to EN 10028-3. The main difference between them lies in their Charpy impact test temperature: P355NL1 is -40°C, while P355NL2 is -50°C; their yield strengths are the same.
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
Low temperature pressure vessels
LPG and ammonia storage tanks
Petrochemical equipment
Energy and gas storage projects
Low temperature pipelines
Delivery Condition
Normalizing
Other heat treatment conditions available upon request
Available Dimensions Of 16MnDR Steel Plate
Thickness: 6 – 150 mm
Width: up to 3500 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)
16MnDR Chemical Composition
| Grade | Chemical Composition (Quality Fraction) / % | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Si | Mn | Ni | Mo | V | Nb | Alt | N | P | S | |
| 16MnDR | ≤0.20 | 0.15~0.50 | 1.20~1.60 | ≤0.40 | ≤0.08 | — | — | ≥0.020 | ≤0.012 | ≤0.020 | ≤0.010 |
16MnDR Mechanical Properties And Processing Properties
| Grade | Delivery Status | Thickness (mm) | Tensile Test | Impact Test | 180° Bending Test b = 2a |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rm (MPa) | ReL (MPa) | A (%) | Temperature (℃) | KV₂ (J) | ||||
| 16MnDR | Normal fire or Normal fire + Tempering | 5～16 | 490～620 | 315 | 21 | ﹣40 | 47 | D = 2a / D = 3a |
| >16～36 | 470～600 | 295 | 21 | |||||
| >36～60 | 460～590 | 285 | 21 | |||||
| >60～100 | 450～580 | 275 | 21 | |||||
| >100～120 | 440～570 | 265 | 21 | |||||
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
FAQ – 16MnDR Steel Plate
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.
| Steel Grade | Q345R | 16MnDR | 09MnNiDR | 08Ni3DR | 06Ni9DR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Impact Temperature | 0℃ / –20℃ | –40℃ | –70℃ | –100℃ | –196℃ |
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.
| Welding Method | Standard | Welding Consumable | AWS Equivalent | Impact Test Requirement | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMAW | GB/T 5117 | E5016 | E7016 | −40°C Impact Qualified | General welding |
| SMAW | GB/T 5117 | E5018 | E7018 | −40°C Impact Qualified | ★ Recommended |
| SAW | GB/T 5293 | H08MnA + HJ431 | — | −40°C Impact Qualified | Shells, thick plates |
| SAW | GB/T 5293 | H10Mn2 + HJ350 | — | −40°C Impact Qualified | Heavy thickness |
| GMAW / MAG | GB/T 8110 | ER50-6 (Low-Temp Type) | ER70S-6 | −40°C Impact Qualified | Automatic welding |
| FCAW | GB/T 10045 | E501T1-Ni | E71T-1Ni | −40°C Impact Qualified | High toughness demand |
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)
Key points of 16MnDR steel plates
1、16MnDR is a Chinese grade of low-temperature (impact test -40℃) pressure vessel steel plate.
2、16MnDR is typically delivered with normalizing and ultrasonic testing (Level I).
3、The corresponding grade for 16MnDR is European standard ENP355NL1. While there isn't a complete direct equivalent in ASME and ASTM standards, SA516GR70 (normalized and cryogenic impact tested) can be used as a substitute.
4、The current manufacturing standard is GB/T 713.3-2023 (the previous standard was GB/T 3531-2014).