Products FAQ

For heavy-load vessels and offshore structures:

Ship hulls: decks, sides, hatch coamings, longitudinal and transverse frames

Offshore platforms: jackets, legs, deck modules

Special-purpose vessels: container ships, bulk carriers, oil tankers, polar vessels, naval vessels.

Storage: Due to the lengthy shipbuilding cycle, the steel plates are prone to rust. They should be stored in a dry, well-drained area and raised on sleepers to prevent contact with soil and standing water. For long-term storage, it is recommended to apply anti-rust oil.

Cutting deformation: Although AH36 is suitable for thermal cutting, due to its microalloying elements, the heat-affected zone is smaller when flame-cutting thin plates (<20 mm). However, when cutting thick plates, care must be taken to control the preheating temperature to prevent microcracks or hardening of the cut edges.

Strength: Standard Grade A steel plates have a yield strength requirement of just 235 MPa, whereas AH36 achieves 355 MPa. This means that, under the same load, using AH36 allows for thinner steel plates, thereby reducing the ship’s weight.

Toughness: Standard Grade A steel is typically tested at room temperature, whereas AH36 requires Charpy impact testing at 0°C or -20°C to ensure that the vessel does not suffer brittle fracture when sailing in cold waters.

Yes, AH36 marine steel plates are required to undergo impact toughness testing at 0°C. For lower temperatures, we recommend using grades such as DH36 (-20°C) or EH36 (-40°C).

1. Check the Material Test Certificate (MTC): The steel plates purchased must be accompanied by a Material Test Certificate bearing the official ABS seal.

2. Check the steel plate stamp: The surface of the steel plate should bear a stamp applied by an ABS surveyor, which must include: the manufacturer’s code, material grade (AH32), and furnace number / batch number

3.Third-party verification: You can verify the authenticity of the certificate and the steel plate by entering the reference number on the certificate into the official ABS online database or by contacting your local ABS office.

Due to the low carbon equivalent of ABS AH32 shipbuilding steel plate, it exhibits excellent weldability. It is suitable for most mainstream welding processes, such as submerged arc welding (SAW) and gas shielded arc welding (GMAW/FCAW). However, when welding thick plates, it is still recommended to carry out appropriate preheating in accordance with the specifications to prevent cold cracking.

Due to its high strength, AH32 marine steel plates is primarily used in the following critical structures:

Hull plating, main decks, hatch covers on bulk carriers, offshore platforms and offshore engineering structures

ABS Grade AH32, DH32, EH32 and FH32 shipbuilding steel plates have the same strength. The core difference is low-temperature impact resistance.

Yes, its low-temperature toughness and high strength make it ideal for offshore structures in cold regions.

Yes, provided that HIC/SCC (hydrogen-induced cracking/stress corrosion cracking) testing is carried out.