At low temperatures, steel can become more prone to brittle behavior, making toughness, notch impact strength, and resistance to brittle fracture critical factors. That is why a cold or refrigerated application requires material with verifiable impact values and appropriate certification. Discover below the low-temperature structural steels supplied by Hetraco, suitable for applications such as offshore projects, storage tanks, and refrigeration systems, including custom products and small production runs.
Cold-resistant steel is used in environments where cold temperatures affect a component’s toughness and reliability. At low temperatures, steel can become more prone to brittle behavior, making the right choice of material important for applications where safety and predictable performance are key. Consider components for offshore applications, energy, transportation, storage tanks, pressure vessels, cooling systems, and industrial structures that are exposed to cold conditions. See which low-temperature structural steels are available from Hetraco.
The Importance of Toughness at Low Temperatures
At high temperatures, heat resistance and deformation are the primary factors, but at low temperatures, the emphasis shifts to impact strength, toughness, and resistance to brittle fracture. Structural steel must be able to absorb sufficient energy under cold conditions without unexpectedly cracking or failing. For this reason, in low-temperature applications, material grades with verifiable impact values, appropriate certification, and a design that complies with applicable standards and project specifications are often considered.
Material Selection for Cold and Harsh Conditions
The application determines which type of structural steel is suitable. Will the material be used in a cold outdoor environment, in contact with chilled media, or in a system with fluctuating temperatures? Other factors that come into play include stress, wall thickness, weldability, machining, tolerances, and documentation requirements. Hetraco provides support for orders that require precise coordination of material specifications, such as custom parts, non-standard sizes, small production runs, or components for which traceability and certificates are essential.
Want to learn more about structural steel for low temperatures?
Are you working on a project in which components must be able to withstand cold conditions or low operating temperatures? Please submit your specifications to Hetraco. We’ll help you evaluate the required quality, performance, certification, and delivery options so you can make an informed decision about which material is best suited for your application. Hetraco also works with you to find practical solutions for custom projects or additional project requirements. Our ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications support our approach in this regard.
| Material Number | DIN Standard | Label/Trade Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5662 | X8Ni9 | 5662 (> -200°C) |
| 1.5680 | X12Ni5 | KB (> -120°C) |
| 1.6909 | X5CrMnNiN18-9 | AK / 6909 (> -196°C) |
| 1.7219 | 26CrMo4 | KA (> -60°C) |