E36-3 steel

Technical Specifaction

Important: The E36-3 designation alone is insufficient to establish full equivalence with a current EN, DIN or ASTM grade. The original standard and material certificate should be checked before material substitution.

E36-3 Chemical Composition

The exact chemical composition of historical E36-3 steel must be confirmed from the applicable original standard or the manufacturer’s material test certificate.

The following elements are generally controlled in non-alloy structural steels:

Exact percentage limits should not be assigned to E36-3 without confirmation of the original specification. Chemical values from a modern comparison grade must not be presented as guaranteed E36-3 values.

E36-3 Mechanical Properties

The mechanical properties of E36-3 depend on the original manufacturing standard, product thickness, delivery condition and testing requirements.

The main properties to verify include:

Technical note: Guaranteed mechanical values should be taken from the applicable original standard or material test certificate. Values published for S355 grades must not automatically be assigned to E36-3.

Equivalent Grades and Comparison

Because E36-3 is a historical designation, modern structural steel grades may be considered for comparison during material selection.

These grades are not automatically interchangeable. Their suitability must be assessed by comparing yield strength, tensile strength, impact toughness, chemical composition, weldability, thickness and project specifications.

Possible Alternative Grade

Depending on the application and required performance, the following grades may be evaluated as alternatives:

S355JR Steel

S355JR is a non-alloy structural steel specified under EN 10025-2. It is widely used in structural fabrication, industrial frameworks and general engineering.

S355J0 Steel

S355J0 is a structural steel grade with specified impact toughness requirements at 0°C. It may be considered where the design requires this impact performance.

S355J2 Steel

S355J2 is specified with impact toughness requirements at -20°C. It is commonly used in structural applications where improved low-temperature toughness is required.

ASTM A572 Grade 50

ASTM A572 Grade 50 is a high-strength, low-alloy structural steel used in construction, infrastructure and industrial fabrication.

ASTM A709 Grade 50

ASTM A709 Grade 50 is used in structural applications, particularly bridge construction, subject to the relevant specification and supplementary requirements.

Selection recommendation: Confirm the original E36-3 specification and compare all required properties before selecting a replacement grade.

Corrosion Resistance 

E36-3 belongs to the family of conventional structural steels and does not provide the inherent corrosion resistance of stainless steel.

When exposed to moisture, marine environments, chemicals or industrial atmospheres, protective measures may be necessary.

Common corrosion protection methods include:

• Hot-dip galvanising.
• Industrial protective painting.
• Epoxy coatings.
• Multi-layer coating systems.
• Regular inspection and maintenance.

The appropriate protection system depends on the operating environment, exposure category and expected service life.

Heat Resistance

E36-3 is not specifically designed as a heat-resistant or refractory steel grade.

Prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures can affect its mechanical properties. For pressure equipment, furnaces, boilers or other high-temperature applications, a material specifically designed for the required operating conditions should be selected.

Heat Treatment

Heat treatment requirements depend on the original material specification and delivery condition.

Depending on the application, the following processes may be considered:

• Normalising.

• Stress relieving.

• Post-weld heat treatment, where required and permitted.

• Controlled heating and cooling.

Heat treatment should be carried out according to the manufacturer’s recommendations and applicable project requirements to avoid unwanted changes in mechanical properties.

Welding

Non-alloy structural steels are generally suitable for common industrial welding processes, subject to verification of their actual chemical composition and weldability.

Common welding methods include:

• Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW / MMA).

• Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW / MIG-MAG).

• Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW / TIG).

• Submerged Arc Welding (SAW).

Welding procedures should consider material thickness, carbon equivalent, joint design, heat input, preheating requirements and interpass temperature.

Relevant qualification standards may include EN ISO 15614-1 for welding procedure qualification and EN ISO 9606-1 for welder qualification, where applicable.

Machining and Fabrication

Subject to confirmation of the actual material properties, E36-3-type structural steel may be used in various fabrication operations, including:

• Mechanical and thermal cutting.

• Drilling and milling.

• Machining.

• Bending and forming.

• Welding and assembly.

• Surface preparation and protective coating.

Fabrication parameters should be selected according to material thickness, delivery condition and project requirements.

Applications 

Structural steels of this general family are used in a wide range of engineering and industrial applications.

Structural Construction

• Steel frameworks.

• Industrial buildings.

• Load-bearing structures.

• Walkways and access platforms.

Oil and Gas Industry

• Pipe support structures.

• Equipment frames.

• Industrial platforms.

• Secondary structural components.

Mining and Phosphate Industry

• Conveyor support structures.

• Machinery frames.

• Maintenance platforms.

• Mineral processing plant structures.

Power Generation and Petrochemical Industry

• Power plant structures.

• Equipment supports.

• Industrial frameworks.

• Fabricated steel components.

The suitability of E36-3 or any proposed alternative must be established against the design code and service conditions.