Steel Industry Glossary

3.1 Certificate
A type of inspection certificate per EN 10204 where the manufacturer confirms material properties based on specific inspection of the supplied product.
ASME SA 240
ASME specification for chromium and chromium-nickel stainless steel plate, sheet, and strip for pressure vessels and general applications.
ASTM A516
Standard specification for pressure vessel plates, carbon steel, for moderate- and lower-temperature service. Grades 60 and 70 are most common.
BQ Plate
Boiler Quality plate, manufactured to standards like SA 516, IS 2002, IS 2062, used in pressure vessel and boiler applications.
Charpy Impact Test
A standardized test measuring the energy absorbed by a material during fracture at specified temperatures. Critical for low-temperature service applications.
Clad Plate
A composite plate consisting of a base metal (usually carbon steel) bonded with a corrosion-resistant alloy layer (stainless steel, nickel alloy) for cost-effective corrosion protection.
Duplex Steel
A family of stainless steels with a mixed microstructure of approximately equal proportions of austenite and ferrite, offering superior strength and corrosion resistance.
ERW Pipe
Electric Resistance Welded pipe — manufactured by rolling steel coil and welding the seam using electric resistance. Used for structural and low-pressure applications.
HIC Test
Hydrogen Induced Cracking test per NACE TM0284, used to evaluate the resistance of steel plates to cracking caused by hydrogen absorption in sour environments.
Hardox
A brand of abrasion-resistant (AR) steel plates made by SSAB, known for combining high hardness with good toughness. Grades include Hardox 400, 450, 500.
IBR
Indian Boiler Regulations — statutory regulations governing the manufacture and supply of boiler components in India. IBR-approved materials carry official stamps.
IGC Test
Intergranular Corrosion test (ASTM A262 Practice E) — evaluates the susceptibility of austenitic stainless steels to intergranular corrosion due to sensitization.
MTC
Mill Test Certificate — a quality assurance document provided by the material manufacturer, confirming chemical composition and mechanical properties as per EN 10204 3.1.
NACE MR0175
Standard from NACE International specifying material requirements for resistance to sulfide stress cracking in sour (H2S) environments.
PED
Pressure Equipment Directive (2014/68/EU) — European directive ensuring safety of pressure equipment. Materials must be sourced from PED-approved manufacturers.
PMI
Positive Material Identification — a non-destructive testing method using XRF or OES analyzers to verify the chemical composition of materials.
PRE Number
Pitting Resistance Equivalent — a formula (Cr + 3.3Mo + 16N) used to compare the pitting corrosion resistance of stainless steel grades.
Super Duplex
High-performance duplex stainless steels (e.g., UNS S32750) with PRE > 40, offering exceptional corrosion resistance in chloride environments.
UT/UTN
Ultrasonic Testing / Ultrasonic Testing for Notch — NDT method for detecting internal flaws, laminations, and inclusions in steel plates and pipes.
Werkstoff Number
German material numbering system (e.g., 1.4301 for SS 304). Used extensively in European specifications alongside UNS numbers.