What is plate steel? Characteristics and applications of plate steel in life
Currently, steel has many different applications in our daily lives, from building buildings, bridges and roads to manufacturing household appliances. In the construction field, “plate steel” is a type that is widely used. To better understand “plate steel”, Trung Dung Steel will help you have a more general view through the article below:
1. What is plate steel?
Plate steel is a type of steel product manufactured in the form of flat sheets with different sizes and thicknesses. It is one of the most popular steel products, produced by rolling hot or cold steel flat through rollers to achieve the desired thickness.
Structure and composition: Plate steel is usually made from an alloy of iron and carbon, and other elements such as manganese, silicon, nickel, chromium can be added to improve mechanical properties and corrosion resistance.
Size and thickness: Steel plates can range from a few millimeters to tens of millimeters in thickness, and the size of steel plates can be very large, depending on the requirements of use.
2. Types of steel plates
There are many different types of steel plates, each with its own characteristics and applications. Here are some common types of steel plates:
2.1 Hot Rolled Steel Plate:
Hot Rolled Steel Plate has a number of outstanding features, making it a popular material in many industries. Here are the main characteristics of hot rolled steel plates:
Surface: Hot rolled steel plates have a rough, dark gray surface due to the surface oxidation process that occurs during rolling at high temperatures. The surface may have an oxide layer (scale) and be uneven, making it appear rough.
Size and shape: Hot rolled steel plates are usually thicker than cold rolled steel, ranging from a few millimeters to tens of millimeters. The size and shape of hot-rolled steel plates can be flexibly changed depending on the requirements of each application.
Ductility and machinability: Hot-rolled steel plates have higher ductility than cold-rolled steel, making them easy to weld, bend and cut. This makes them suitable for many different mechanical processing processes.
Durability and mechanical properties: Hot-rolled steel plates have good tensile strength and toughness, suitable for high-strength applications. However, the dimensional accuracy and flatness are not as high as cold-rolled steel.

2.2 Cold Rolled Steel Plate:
Cold Rolled Steel Plate has its own unique characteristics that make it different from hot rolled steel plate. Here are the main characteristics of cold rolled steel plate:
Surface: Cold rolled steel plate has a smooth, shiny surface and no oxide layer. This makes cold rolled steel plate suitable for applications that require high aesthetics.
Size and shape: Cold rolled steel plate is usually thinner than hot rolled steel, from less than 0.1mm to about 3mm. The size and shape of cold rolled steel plate are highly precise, meeting strict requirements for size in production.
Durability and mechanical properties: Cold rolled steel plate has higher tensile strength and hardness than hot rolled steel because the cold rolling process increases the density and smoothes the crystal structure of the steel. However, the ductility may be slightly lower.
2.3 Stainless Steel Plate:
Stainless Steel Plate has many outstanding characteristics that make it a popular and important material in many industries and applications. Here are the main characteristics of stainless steel plate:
Corrosion resistance: The most outstanding feature of stainless steel plate is its outstanding corrosion resistance, thanks to its high chromium content (usually at least 10.5%). Chromium reacts with oxygen in the air to form a protective oxide layer, preventing corrosion and oxidation.
Alloy composition: In addition to chromium, stainless steel also contains other elements such as nickel, molybdenum, manganese, and other elements depending on the specific stainless steel grade. Nickel enhances ductility and corrosion resistance, while molybdenum improves corrosion resistance in acidic and chloride environments.
High strength and ductility: Stainless steel plate has high tensile strength and ductility, which enables it to withstand strong mechanical impacts without cracking or breaking.
Smooth and shiny surface: Stainless steel plate has a shiny, smooth surface and is easy to clean, making it suitable for applications that require high aesthetics and hygiene, such as in the food and medical industries.
Heat resistance: Stainless steel has good heat resistance, retaining its mechanical properties at high temperatures, making it suitable for heat-resistant applications.
Easy to work and weld: Stainless steel plate is easy to work with methods such as cutting, welding, bending and stamping. Different grades of stainless steel may require different processing methods and conditions to achieve the best performance.
Sustainability and environmental friendliness: Stainless steel plate is completely recyclable, which helps to minimize the impact on the environment and save resources.
2.4 Alloy Steel Plate:
Alloy Steel Plate has many outstanding characteristics, making it an important material in many industrial and engineering applications. Here are the main characteristics of alloy steel plate:
Alloy composition: Alloy steel plate is made by adding various alloying elements to base steel (usually iron and carbon). These elements include manganese, silicon, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, and others. Each element added improves one or more of the mechanical or chemical properties of the steel.
High strength: Alloy steel plate has higher tensile strength and hardness than regular carbon steel due to the alloying elements. This makes alloy steel plate suitable for high-strength applications.
Abrasion resistance: Many alloy steels are designed to have good abrasion resistance, making them ideal for applications in harsh environments, such as in the mining and cement industries.
Heat resistance: Some alloy steels contain elements such as chromium and molybdenum, which increase their ability to withstand high temperatures without losing mechanical properties. This makes alloy steels suitable for applications in the chemical, oil and gas, and power generation industries.
Corrosion resistance: Elements such as nickel and chromium in alloy steels improve corrosion resistance, making alloy steels suitable for corrosive environments, such as in the marine and chemical industries.
Toughness and impact resistance: Alloy steels often have good toughness and impact resistance, even at low temperatures, making them ideal for applications that require high strength and safety.

2.5 Carbon Steel Plate:
Carbon Steel Plate is a type of steel with a high carbon content, which gives it unique characteristics and wide applications in many industries. Here are the main characteristics of carbon steel plate:
High strength and hardness: The high carbon content increases the hardness and strength of carbon steel plate, making it strong and resistant to wear.
Machinability: Carbon steel plate is easy to process by mechanical methods such as cutting, bending, welding and stamping. However, the high carbon content can also make the steel more brittle and difficult to process when compared to alloy steel or stainless steel.
Heat resistance: Carbon steel plate has a fairly good high temperature resistance, but not as good as alloy steel or stainless steel. At very high temperatures, carbon steel may lose its mechanical properties.
Toughness: The toughness of carbon steel plate depends on the carbon content. Low carbon steel (less than 0.3% carbon) has higher ductility and is easier to process than high carbon steel (above 0.6% carbon).

Corrosion resistance: Carbon steel plate has lower corrosion resistance than stainless steel. To improve corrosion resistance, it is often necessary to galvanize or paint the surface.

2.6 Galvanized Steel Plate:
Galvanized Steel Plate is a type of steel that is coated with a layer of zinc to protect it from corrosion and rust. Here are the main characteristics of galvanized steel plate:
Corrosion resistance: The most outstanding feature of galvanized steel plate is its excellent corrosion resistance. The zinc layer protects the steel surface from environmental influences, preventing oxidation and rust. Even if the zinc layer is scratched, the zinc still protects the steel by acting as a sacrificial protection.

Durability and toughness: Galvanized sheet steel maintains the strength and toughness of base steel, combined with the corrosion resistance of zinc coating. This makes galvanized sheet steel an ideal material for heavy-duty applications and harsh environments.
Shiny and beautiful surface: The zinc coating creates a shiny, smooth and aesthetic surface. This makes galvanized sheet steel suitable for applications that require high aesthetics and good light reflection.
Paintability and surface coating: Galvanized sheet steel can be painted or coated with other protective layers to enhance corrosion resistance and improve aesthetics. The zinc coating helps the paint adhere better and prolongs the life of the coating.
Sustainability and environmental friendliness: Galvanized sheet steel is completely recyclable, helping to minimize environmental impact and save resources.
Accuracy and Uniformity: Galvanized steel plate has high dimensional accuracy and uniformity, ensuring product quality and performance in engineering and industrial applications.
2.7 Wear Resistant Steel Plate:
Wear-resistant steel plate has outstanding characteristics that make it an ideal material for applications in harsh environments and high wear resistance. The following are the main characteristics of wear-resistant steel plate:Alloy composition: Wear-resistant steel plate often contains alloying elements such as chromium, nickel, molybdenum, and manganese. These elements help to increase the hardness and wear resistance of the steel.
High hardness: One of the most prominent characteristics of wear-resistant steel plate is its very high hardness. This makes the steel resistant to wear due to impact, friction, and other mechanical effects. Hardness is usually measured on the Rockwell or Brinell scale.
High tensile strength: Wear-resistant steel plate has high tensile strength, which allows it to withstand tensile forces and pressures without deforming or breaking. This is especially important in heavy industrial applications.
Heat resistance: Many wear-resistant steel plates also have good heat resistance, retaining their mechanical properties at high temperatures. This makes them suitable for applications in extreme temperature environments.
Corrosion resistance: Although not a primary characteristic, many wear-resistant steels also have good corrosion resistance due to alloying elements such as chromium and nickel.

3. Applications of steel plates
• In the construction industry:
Steel plates are widely used in the construction of high-rise buildings, bridges, airports and other industrial structures. They are used to make columns, beams, structural frames and wall panels.
Specific applications include roofing panels, wall panels, load-bearing structural components in factories, warehouses and large buildings.
• Automotive and transportation industry:
In the automotive industry, steel plates are used to manufacture vehicle frames, vehicle structures and other load-bearing parts such as engine bulkheads.
In the transportation industry, they are used to make tanks, mechanical assemblies of ships and other large vehicles.
• Machinery manufacturing and processing industry:
Steel plates are used to manufacture machinery parts such as gears, shafts, pulleys, bearings and other machine components.
Applications in this industry require mechanical properties such as strength, hardness and good heat resistance.

• Electronics and refrigeration industry:
In the electronics industry, steel sheets are used for computer cases, electrical cabinets and other electronic protection devices.

In the refrigeration industry, they are used for making heat contact surfaces, refrigeration and air conditioning equipment.

• Chemical and water treatment industry:
Steel sheets can be used in chemical tanks, high pressure equipment, water treatment systems and other applications in the chemical industry.

• Food and medical manufacturing industry:
In the food industry, stainless steel sheets are used for making food storage equipment, work tables and sanitary equipment.

In the medical industry, they are used in the production of medical equipment, surgical materials and other medical parts.
• Other applications:
Steel plates can also be used in the production of household appliances, sports equipment, interior and exterior decoration, etc.
With its diversity and adaptability to many different requirements, steel plates play an important role in the industrial and construction industries, ensuring the sustainability and efficiency of various applications worldwide.
4. Summary
Through the above sharing, we can see that the importance of steel plates lies not only in providing construction and production materials but also extends to the important role in sustainable development and human happiness through wide applications in many areas of life and production.
After more than 28 years, Trung Dung Steel is proud to be a high-end distributor of major steel manufacturing brands such as: Southern Steel, Pomina Steel, Hoa Phat Steel, VAS Steel, Tung Ho Steel, etc. We are committed to always accompanying and building strong trust for customers with the “Prestige – Dedication – Professionalism” of a high-end distributor to bring the best quality steel products quickly to customers.