What is stainless steel clad plate?

The stainless steel clad plate is a clad steel plate made of a carbon steel base and a stainless steel cladding. Its main feature is that carbon steel and stainless steel form a strong metallurgical bond. It can be processed by hot pressing, cold bending, cutting, welding, etc., and has good process performance.

1.Brief Introduction

The base material of the stainless steel clad plate can use Q235B, Q345R, 20R and other ordinary carbon steel and special steel. Various grades of stainless steel such as 304, 316L, 1Cr13 and duplex stainless steel can be used as cladding materials.

Material and thickness can be freely combined to meet the needs of different users. Stainless steel clad plate not only has the corrosion resistance of stainless steel, but also has the good mechanical strength and processing performance of carbon steel. It is a new type of industrial product.

Stainless steel clad plates have been widely used in petroleum, chemical, salt industry, water conservancy and electric power, and other industries. As a resource-saving product, stainless steel clad plate can reduce the consumption of precious metals and greatly reduce the project cost. Realize the perfect combination of low cost and high performance, and have good social benefits.

2.Production Application

Production Method

How is the stainless steel clad plate produced? There are two main methods for industrial production of stainless steel clad plates, explosive clad and hot rolled clad.

The production process of the explosive clad plate is to place the stainless steel plate on the carbon steel substrate overlappingly, and a certain distance is set between the stainless steel plate and the carbon steel substrate with a mat. Explosives are laid flat on the stainless steel plate, and the energy of the explosive explosion makes the stainless steel plate hit the carbon steel substrate at high speed, generating high temperature and high pressure to realize solid phase welding at the interface of the two materials. Ideally, the shear strength per square millimeter of the interface can reach 400 MPa.

The hot-rolled clad plate process is based on carbon steel substrate and stainless steel plate in a physically pure state and rolled under high vacuum conditions. The two metals diffuse during rolling to achieve complete metallurgical bonding. Of course, in order to improve the wetting effect of the composite interface and improve the bonding strength, a series of technical measures must be taken in the physical and chemical treatment of the interface. The above two manufacturing methods of composite panels are in accordance with GB/T8165-2008 national standard. This standard is not equivalent to the Japanese JISG3601-1990 standard, and the main technical indicators are the same as or higher than the Japanese standard.

3.Process Characteristics

Characteristics of Explosive Composite Process

Since explosive cladding is cold processing, it can produce many kinds of metal clad plates other than stainless steel clad plates, such as titanium, copper, aluminum and so on.
Explosive cladding can produce stainless steel clad plates with a total thickness of several hundred millimeters, such as some large bases and tube plates. However, it is not suitable for the production of thinner composite steel plates with a total thickness of less than 10 mm.
The energy production of explosive compound utilization explosives will cause vibration, noise and smoke pollution to the environment. However, the investment in equipment is small, and there are hundreds of explosive production plants in China. Due to the limitation of weather and other process conditions, the production efficiency of explosive compounding is low.

Features of Hot Rolling Composite Process

It is produced by large medium plate rolling mill and hot continuous rolling mill, so the production efficiency is high and the supply speed is fast. The product has a large format and can be freely combined in thickness. Stainless steel cladding thickness of 0.5mm or more can be produced. But the investment is large, so there are fewer manufacturers.
Due to the limitation of the compression ratio of rolled steel, hot rolling production cannot produce clad steel plates with a thickness of more than 50mm, and it is not convenient to produce various small batches, round and other special shapes of clad plates. Advantages of hot-rolled clad plate 6, 8, 10 mm thin gauge clad plate. Under hot continuous rolling conditions, it can produce composite coils, reduce production costs, and meet more user needs.
Under the current technical conditions, the hot rolling process cannot directly produce titanium, copper, aluminum and other non-ferrous metal composite plates.

To sum up, the two very different production processes have their own characteristics, exist and develop at the same time, and meet the vastly different needs of different users. The explosive rolling method is a combination of the aforementioned two processes, and will not be repeated here.

4.Cold rolled stainless steel clad plate

On the basis of the hot-rolled stainless steel clad plate, after annealing, pickling, cold rolling, intermediate annealing, pickling (or bright annealing) tension leveling and other production processes, the stainless steel clad coil (plate) suitable for the civil field has been produced. The surface of the plate reaches the surface quality of the same series of stainless steel, and the yield strength is better than that of the same grade of stainless steel. The thinnest is 0.6mm.

Stainless steel clad plate has the characteristics of various carbon steel and stainless steel, and is welcomed by users for its excellent performance and price ratio, and has broad market prospects. But what’s interesting is that since the 1950s, after more than half a century of ups and downs in the development process, there are still many people who don’t know it. More people have not used it. It should be said that the market for stainless steel composite panels has gradually entered a mature stage, but there is still a lot of development work to be done. The exploration and efforts of scientific and technological workers to build a resource-saving society will never stop.

5.How wide is the widest stainless steel clad plate in China?

The stainless steel clad plate with a thickness of 12mm and 16mm is both 2060mm wide, breaking the record for the widest section of metal clad materials produced by hot rolling in China.

The stainless steel composite plate is made of carbon steel as the base layer and composited with stainless steel. The product takes into account the mechanical properties of carbon steel and the good anti-corrosion and anti-oxidation properties of stainless steel. It is widely used in urban water supply pipelines, petrochemicals, aerospace and other fields. The market prospect broad. The difficulty in the production of this product lies in not only ensuring good welding of the composite layer without delamination, but also accurately setting rolling parameters suitable for simultaneous deformation of different materials to ensure surface quality. The production process is complicated and the technical requirements are high.

In order to ensure a successful rolling, Handan Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. has set up a rolling team composed of top personnel in technology, equipment and operation. Before rolling, it has simulated and drilled many times to precisely control the tension of the looper, the lead-lag rate of the coiling area, and the side guide pressure. As well as parameters such as the pressure of the winding roller, the production process is optimized, and the technical indicators of the product fully meet the needs of customers.

6.What factors should be considered when looking for stainless steel clad plates suppliers?

Selecting the right supplier for stainless steel clad plates involves considering several important factors to ensure the quality, performance, and reliability of the products. Here are key factors to keep in mind:

Material Compatibility:
- Ensure the supplier offers stainless steel clad plates with compatible materials for the base and cladding layers. The cladding material should be chosen for its specific properties and application requirements.
Quality of Clad Bonding:
- The quality of the bond between the base and cladding layers is critical. Inquire about the supplier’s bonding methods, technology, and expertise in achieving a strong and durable bond.
Experience and Expertise:
- Choose suppliers with a proven track record in manufacturing stainless steel clad plates. Experience indicates a higher likelihood of consistent quality and reliable products.
Certifications and Standards:
- Verify whether the supplier’s stainless steel clad plates meet industry standards and certifications. This ensures the products’ compliance with quality and safety requirements.
Customization Capability:
- Ensure the supplier can provide stainless steel clad plates in the dimensions, thicknesses, and configurations that suit your specific project needs.
Testing and Quality Control:
- Inquire about the supplier’s quality control measures, testing procedures, and certifications. This includes non-destructive testing (NDT) methods to verify the integrity of the clad layers.
Material Selection and Grade:
- Confirm that the supplier offers a range of stainless steel grades and cladding materials to choose from, based on your application’s corrosion resistance, mechanical properties, and other requirements.
Lead Times and Delivery:
- Check the supplier’s lead times for production and delivery. Timely delivery is crucial for meeting project timelines.
Technical Support:
- Choose a supplier that provides technical assistance and expertise in selecting the appropriate clad materials and configurations for your specific application.
References and Case Studies:
- Request references or case studies of similar projects the supplier has worked on. This can provide insights into their capabilities and the performance of their products.
Logistics and Packaging:
- Ensure the supplier has proper packaging and shipping practices to prevent damage during transportation. Ask about their shipping methods and insurance options.
Cost and Pricing:
- While cost is a consideration, prioritize quality and performance over the lowest price. Compare prices from multiple suppliers to ensure competitiveness.
Sustainability and Ethics:
- If sustainability is important to your project, inquire about the supplier’s environmental practices and certifications.
Customer Reviews and Reputation:
- Research online reviews, testimonials, and industry reputation to gauge the supplier’s reliability and customer satisfaction.
After-Sales Support:
- Choose a supplier that provides after-sales support, including addressing any issues, questions, or concerns that may arise after the purchase.

By thoroughly evaluating these factors and conducting due diligence, you can select a stainless steel clad plates supplier that aligns with your project’s requirements and ensures the quality and performance of the clad plates.