Material · Carbon, Alloy & Tool Steels
Structural Steel A36
The structural workhorse: cheapest path to welded frames, bases and brackets.
Price index: $
Material properties
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 400–550 MPa |
| Yield strength | 250 MPa (min) |
| Hardness | ~120 HB |
| Density | 7.85 g/cm³ |
Choose it when
For welded structure where the spec is "strong enough and cheap": excellent weldability, wide plate availability, and machining only where mounting faces and holes need it.
Look elsewhere when
Hot-rolled scale and loose composition make it wrong for precision or hardened parts — use 1018 cold-drawn for clean machining stock, 1045/4140 when strength or heat treatment matters.
Compatible finishes
As-Machined
The baseline finish: straight off the machine, fastest and cheapest.
Black Oxide
Black with zero dimensional change: the gauge-and-tool finish for precision steel.
Zinc Plating
The economy rust-stopper: sacrificial zinc keeps protecting even when scratched.
Powder Coating
Baked-on polymer armor: any RAL color, outdoor-proof, the toughest cosmetic coating.
Wet Painting
Any color, any gloss, any substrate: the flexible coat for plastics and appearance prototypes.
Laser Marking
Permanent identification with zero dimensional change: serials, logos and codes burned in, not stuck on.
Typical applications
- Welded machine bases and frames
- Equipment skids and mounting plates
- Non-precision structural brackets
Compared with similar grades
| Property | Structural Steel A36 | Low-Carbon Steel 1018 | Carbon Steel 1045 | Alloy Steel 4140 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 400–550 MPa | 440 MPa (cold drawn) | 625 MPa (cold drawn) | ~1000 MPa (Q&T) |
| Yield strength | 250 MPa (min) | 370 MPa (cold drawn) | 530 MPa (cold drawn) | ~655–800 MPa (Q&T) |
| Hardness | ~120 HB | 126 HB | 179–229 HB | 28–32 HRC (pre-hard) |
| Density | 7.85 g/cm³ | 7.87 g/cm³ | 7.85 g/cm³ | 7.85 g/cm³ |
| Price index | $ | $ | $$ | $$ |
| Machinability | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
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