QUEND (High Yield Strength Steel)

The Quend high yield strength steels plates are delivered with a yield strength of 700 MPa (Quend 700), 900 MPa (Quend 900) and 960 MPa (Quend 960), with thicknesses ranging from 4 mm to 64 mm and widths from 1,500 to 3,100 mm.

They are designed for lifting and hoisting equipment, truck chassis, handling equipment, trailers, and other applications where high structural strength is of critical importance.

Description and applications

Description and applications Quend is extra high yield strengthstructural steel obtained as a result of quenching and subsequent tempering with minimum yield strength of 700 MPa, 900 MPa & 960 MPa. Quend complies with S690QL, S890QL, S960QL requirements given in the EN 10025-6 standard, where a minimum impact toughness of 27 J is guaranteed at -40°C.

Quend is recommended for the following applications:

  • truck chassis;
  • lifting equipment;
  • handling and charging equipment;
  • truck trailers, etc.

Dimensions

The following Quend  product mix is currently available:

Thickness mm Width
Quend 700
4–64 mm
Quend 900
4–35 mm
1,500–3,100 mm
Quend 960
4–30 mm

Technical characteristics

Tensile properties
Transverse testing
Yield strength, Rp 0,2 Tensile strength, Rm Elongation, A5
Quend 700 700 MPa min. 780–930 MPa 14% min.
Quend 900 900 MPa min. 940–1,100 MPa 14% min.
Quend 960 960 MPa min 980–1,150 MPa 12% min.
Impact toughness
Transverse testing
Yield strength, Rp 0,2 Tensile strength, Rm Elongation, A5
Quend 700 700 MPa min. 780–930 MPa 14% min.
Quend 900 900 MPa min. 940–1,100 MPa 14% min.
Quend 960 960 MPa min 980–1,150 MPa 12% min.
Transverse testing according to EN 10025, option 30. For plate thickness <12 mm subsized Charpy V specimen are used.

Chemical Composition

Steel is grain refined.
Ladle analysis, % (max.)
Grade C Si Mn P S Nb Cr V Ti Ni Al Mo N B
Quend 700 0.20 0.60 1.50 0.02 0.01 0.04 0.60 0.07 0.04 1.00 0.07 0.50 0.014 0.005
Quend 900 0.20 0.50 1.50 0.02 0.01 0.04 0.70 0.06 0.01 1.50 0.06 0.70 0.005 0.005
Quend 960 0.20 0.50 1.50 0.02 0.01 0.04 0.70 0.06 0.01 1.50 0.06 0.70 0.005 0.005

Carbon equivalent

Carbon equivalent, typical values, %
Plate thickness CEV(1) CET(2)
Quend 700 4–15 mm 0.45 0.29
Quend 700 15.01–25 mm 0.44 0.30
Quend 700 25.01–40 mm 0.45 0.30
Quend 700 40.01–64 mm 0.54 0.33
Quend 900 4–30 mm 0.57 0.36
Quend 960 4–30 mm 0.57 0.36

Tolerances and surface properties

Quend offers a unique combination of excellent flatness, tight thickness tolerances and superior surface finish.
Grade
Indicator Quend 700 Quend 900 Quend 960
Flatness EN 10029: class N (standard) and class S
Thickness tolerance Meet and exceed EN 10029.
Tighter tolerances upon request
Shape, length, width and thickness tolerances Comply with EN 10029
Surface properties Exceed existing market standards EN 10163-2 Class B3

Heat treatment

Quend steels obtain their properties through quenching with subsequent tempering. For these properties to be retained, Quend plates should not be used in applications requiring heat treatment or service temperatures above 550°C.

Ultrasonic testing

Ultrasonic testing (UT) is used to identify such discontinuities as inclusions, cracks and porosity. In thickness from 8 mm and higher, all plates are UT tested and controlled against class S2, E2 in accordance with EN 10160.

General processing guidelines

To attain optimal processing productivity for Quend steel plates, it is essential to use the recommended procedures and tools given below.

Thermal cutting

Quend plates can be cut using oxygen, plasma or laser cutting without any restrictions. After cutting, plates should be left to cool down to room temperature. Slow cooling reduces the risk of edge cracking. Never use accelerated cooling.

Cold forming

Due to the homogeneous properties and narrow thickness tolerances of Quend steel plates, variations in springback is kept at alow level:
Thickness (mm) Transverse
to rolling (R/t)		 Longitudinal
to rolling (R/t)		 Trans. width (W/t) Long. width (W/t)
Quend 700
t < 8.0 1.5 2.0 8 9
8 ≤ t < 20 2.0 3.0 8 9
t ≥ 20.0 3.0 4.0 9 10
Quend 900
t < 8.0 2.5 3.0 9 10
8 ≤ t < 20 3.0 4.0 9 10
t ≥ 20.0 4.0 5.0 10 12
Quend 960
t < 8.0 2.5 3.0 9 10
8 ≤ t < 20 3.0 4.0 9 10
t ≥ 20.0 4.0 5.0 10 12

Due to the homogeneous properties and narrow thickness tolerances of Quend steel plates, variations in springback is kept at a low level.
Grinding of flame cut or a sheared edge in the bending area is recommended to further prevent cracking during bending.

Welding

Quend can be welded using any conventional welding method, both manual and automatic.

In the thickness range of up to12 mm, no preheating is required if a heat input of 1.7 kJ/mm is used.

It is recommended to weld Quend plates at ambient temperatures of no lower than +5°С. After welding, the welded parts should be left to cool down to room temperature. Never use accelerated cooling. It is recommended to use only low hydrogen electrodes when welding Quend.

Machining

Quend has superior machinability and can be drilled, counter sinked and milled in the same way as any other 700, 900,960 Mpa, or S 690 QL, S 890 QL, S 960 QL Q&T steels.