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Material designations explained
A drawing or quote often carries codes like S235JR, stainless 316L or aluminium 6082. Look them up below — yield strength, composition and typical application.
Structural steel (EN 10025)
"S" stands for structural steel, the number is the minimum yield strength in N/mm² (MPa). The suffix (JR, J0, J2) is the impact toughness class: the temperature at which the notch impact value is guaranteed — JR at +20 °C, J0 at 0 °C, J2 at -20 °C. The lower that temperature, the tougher the material in cold conditions. The material number ("1.xxxx") is the German/European code from EN 10027-2. Older drawings may also carry the withdrawn Fe designation (Fe + minimum tensile strength Rm in N/mm², e.g. Fe360) or the even older DIN name (Stxx) — the conversion below is the commonly published equivalent, not a guarantee of exact standard equivalence.
| Code | Material no. | Old designation | Yield strength | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S235JR | 1.0038 | Fe360B / St37-2 | 235 N/mm² | General construction without a high toughness requirement. |
| S275JR | 1.0143 | Fe430B / St44-2 | 275 N/mm² | Somewhat heavier-duty construction than S235. |
| S355J2 | 1.0577 | Fe510C / St52-3 | 355 N/mm² | Frames and structures needing higher strength; J2 guarantees impact toughness down to -20 °C. |
Stainless steel — austenitic (EN 10088)
The popular name (304, 316, ...) is the American AISI designation; the European material number starts with "1.4...", and the DIN name spells out the composition directly (X = high-alloy, followed by carbon content and alloying elements). An "L" after the number (316L) means low carbon content — better weldability, less risk of corrosion at the weld seam. Austenitic stainless contains nickel alongside chromium (Cr-Ni), which makes it non-magnetic.
| AISI | EN number | DIN name | Type | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 304 | 1.4301 | X5CrNi18-10 | Austenitic (Cr-Ni) | The most common stainless grade: good general corrosion resistance, indoor and dry environments. |
| 316 | 1.4401 | X5CrNiMo17-12-2 | Austenitic (Cr-Ni-Mo) | Better resistance to chlorides — outdoors, coastal areas, food with salt or cleaning agents. |
| 316L | 1.4404 | X2CrNiMo17-12-2 | Austenitic, low carbon | Better weldability than 316, less risk of corrosion at weld seams. Widely used in practice. |
| 321 | 1.4541 | X6CrNiTi18-10 | Austenitic, Ti-stabilised | Suitable for higher temperatures than 304/316. |
Stainless steel — ferritic (Fe-Cr, no nickel)
Ferritic stainless grades contain chromium only, no nickel (Fe-Cr instead of Fe-Cr-Ni) — cheaper than 304/316, but magnetic and less corrosion-resistant. Recognisable by an AISI number in the 400 range.
| AISI | EN number | DIN name | Type | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 430 | 1.4016 | X6Cr17 | Ferritic (Fe-Cr, no Ni) | Dry indoor applications, decorative and kitchen equipment — cheaper than 304, but magnetic. |
| 409 | 1.4512 | X2CrTi12 | Ferritic (Fe-Cr, no Ni) | Exhaust systems and mildly corrosive environments — the most widely used ferritic grade. |
Aluminium (EN 573)
Aluminium alloys are grouped into series from 1000 to 8000, based on the main alloying element. For sheet metal work, the 5000 series (aluminium-magnesium) and 6000 series (aluminium-magnesium-silicon) are most common. The DIN name (AlMg3, AlSi1MgMn, ...) spells out the alloying elements directly, just like with stainless.
| Alloy | DIN name | Series | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5754 | AlMg3 | 5000 series (Al-Mg) | Good weldability and corrosion resistance — common for sheet metal and marine applications. |
| 5083 | AlMg4.5Mn | 5000 series (Al-Mg) | Like 5754, higher strength — shipbuilding and structures under heavier load. |
| 6060 | AlMgSi0.5 | 6000 series (Al-Mg-Si) | Good machinability, widely used for profiles. |
| 6082 | AlSi1MgMn | 6000 series (Al-Mg-Si) | Higher strength than 6060, heat-treatable (T6) — structural sheet parts. |
Temper codes (heat treatment)
An aluminium alloy is often followed by a temper code describing the heat treatment — important because it determines both strength and formability.
| Code | Meaning | Use |
|---|---|---|
| H111 | Lightly cold-worked / annealed | Stays easy to form — the usual condition for sheet metal that still needs bending. |
| H24 | Cold-worked, partially annealed | Medium strength and formability. |
| T4 | Solution heat-treated, naturally aged | Medium strength, still easy to form. |
| T6 | Solution heat-treated, artificially aged | Highest strength, less formable — usually finished profiles/plates, not for bending afterwards. |
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